Gordon Hirabayashi Has Died; He Refused To Go To WWII Internment Camp

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...nternment-camp

"This order for the mass evacuation of all persons of Japanese descent denies them the right to live," Seattle native Gordon Hirabayashi wrote in 1942. "I consider it my duty to maintain the democratic standards for which this nation lives. Therefore, I must refuse this order of evacuation."

With that, Hirabayashi became one of just a handful of Japanese-Americans who defied the government's move to put more than 100,000 of them in detention camps following the attack on Pearl Harbor. For his refusal, he was imprisoned more than a year.
It took four decades for Hirabayashi to be vindicated, with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that the internment policy "had been based on political expediency, not on any risk to national security," as The Associated Press writes.
By then, Hirabayashi had become a respected sociologist and a hero in the Japanese-American community.
Monday, at the age of 93, he died. A son says Hirabayaski had Alzheimer's disease, The New York Times reports.
Later today, All Things Considered plans to air a conversation with one of Hirabayashi's nephews. As we were looking for more about Hirabayashi's stand against the detention order and his life, we came across a winter 2000 University of Washington report with some fascinating details and some of his words about what happened:
— Hirabayashi was convicted [in 1942] and sentenced to 90 days in prison (plus time already served). Getting there, however, wasn't as easy as it sounds. He was assigned to a minimum security prison in Arizona, but there was no money to transport him. 'I asked, Why don't I go on my own?' recalls Hirabayashi. The courts agreed to that, and wrote a letter in case he was questioned along the way. 'I hitchhiked but didn't realize how hard it would be due to severe gas rationing. It took me more than two weeks to get there, sleeping in ditches along the way and with friends where I had some. Finally, around Las Vegas, I gave up and bought a bus ticket.' "
— "When Hirabayashi arrived at the prison — two weeks late — the staff could not find his papers. They tried to send him home, but Hirabayashi balked at the idea, believing that it could lead to more trouble in the future. 'They told me to go out for a nice dinner and a movie while they looked for the papers,' recalls Hirabayashi. 'So I did. By the time I returned, they'd found the papers.' "
— "Did the reversal [of his conviction] change Hirabayashi's view of the United States? Most definitely, he says. 'There was a time when I felt that the Constitution failed me,' he explains. 'But with the reversal in the courts and in public statements from the government, I feel that our country has proven that the Constitution is worth upholding. The U.S. government admitted it made a mistake. A country that can do that is a strong country. I have more faith and allegiance to the Constitution than I ever had before.' "
In 2000, the university honored Hirabayashi at its "Celebration of Distinction, in recognition of exceptional lifetime achievement."


~~Outstanding.

A tip of the hat and brandy drained in honor of Gordon Hirabayashi, a true American and a fit example for us all.

Had more courage than the entire, craven, soulless class of today's politicians.

Ah yes. The Japanese internment camps. Product of a "progress"ive President.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_American_internment

So you think the right-wingers weren't involved in/fully supportive of the racial/ethnic profiling?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Viva Las Espuelas

Ah yes. The Japanese internment camps. Product of a "progress"ive President.....

---

coincidence?

your takeaway from reflection on Gordon Hirabayashi is to bash dems for running internment camps and to point to the word progress ominously.

I note with amusement that using internment camps as a club to beat FDR with, relies on the very progress Mr. Hirabayashi refers to in the OP.

Society changed, his government apologized for what it did, eventually his honor was restored and also, his belief in the US Constitution.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Winehole23

I note with amusement that using internment camps as a club to beat FDR with, relies on the very progress Mr. Hirabayashi refers to in the OP.

Society changed, his government apologized for what it did, eventually his honor was restored and also, his faith in the US Constitution.

---

That was before revising one's view of a course of conduct (now known as flip-flopping) was considered unprincipled.

a foolish consistency and hobgoblins, etc.

fortunately for ourselves and the rest of the world, we're never wrong and wondering about it publicly only shows weakness to the enemy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by boutons_deux

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_American_internment

So you think the right-wingers weren't involved in/fully supportive of the racial/ethnic profiling?

---

I didn't see evidence with that link. Please point out a specific quote.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Winehole23

your takeaway from reflection on Gordon Hirabayashi is to bash dems for running internment camps and to point to the word progress ominously.

---

Who's bashing??? Did it not happen?

I'm sure rapists, killers and molesters apologize for what they've done......

Oooooo. Talking out of ones ass does satisfy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Viva Las Espuelas

Who's bashing??? Did it not happen?

---

nowhere denied

I guess I'm not seeing said club.

I guess I'm not seeing said club nor this supposed bashing.

of course you're too pure for that. my apologies.

(headwinds)

(mmm mmm mmm)

of course you were merely describing, not giving any personal opinion

(choosing what topics to emphasize is an opinion imho)

example:

Quote:

---

FDR! Internment camps! Progress!

---

my criticism wasn't, VLE is mistaken, it was the title of that Stranglers song

Quote:

---

better watch out for the skin deep

---

the explanatory value of the emphasized facts is fairly limited ihmo apart from petty partisan finger pointing

could you maybe fill in your own impression, VLE? I see some dots there but no lines, really.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by boutons_deux

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_American_internment

So you think the right-wingers weren't involved in/fully supportive of the racial/ethnic profiling?

---

Can anyone tell me what Boutons means here? Wilson was a "progressive leader."

I think all boutons meant was, progressive Dems had no monopoly on xenophobia at the time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Winehole23

I think all boutons meant was, progressive Dems had no monopoly on xenophobia at the time.

---

I get that, except the link he provided was of more progressive action.

boutons incoherent? unpossible.

the German internment link was just for completeness, since many people don't know the Germans in US got jailed like the Japanese.

fair enough

still, WC has a point. the link is ill-paired with your commentary.

Ah yes. Good Ol' Woodie. What a wonderful example of "progress"ivism. I just loved how he resegregated the military. Was the first to host movie night at the White House with a showing of Birth of a Nation. A fine example of theLuck_The_Fakers_"most positively viewed political label in America".......
I wonder if the schools and libraries named in his "honor" have any clue about him.

Quote:

---

I wonder if the schools and libraries named in his "honor" have any clue about him.

---

very doubtful

These two guys are considered national heroes in USA, but y'all be surprised how many English hated/hate Churchill and how many French hated/hate de Gaulle. I was.

I pretty much hate Woodrow Wilson.