On February 3rd Crossing Borders and Building Bridges and The Marysville Japanese American Citizens League got together and featured Mr. Lon Hatamiya, President and CEO of The Hatamiya Group, Former Secretary of the California Trade and Commerce to talk about the Internment and its relevance today at room 803 Marysville Yuba College campus.
Hatamiya speaks out on his own experience when he felt targeted during the time period of the 911 tragedy saying “This is something I have never shared with anyone before…it invoked a memory of 1942.”
“No American should be treated any different based on their ethnic background.”
Hatamiya describes feeling angry when he thinks about the Internment. “I thought about the sacrifice that the Japanese made. Their strong commitment and bravery.” despite being upset thinking of the Internment Hatamiya says “We should think of this everyday. It’s something we should not forget. We should never forget so we don’t repeat. We should all stand up from inequality and injustice.”
After the presentation staff members and guest went to the reception located in the Library at the Marysville Yuba College Campus where everyone also got to view the Days of Remembrance exhibit which was up all of February.
Walter Masuda Interim Dean of STEM, Treasurer of the Japanese American Citizen League explains why Hatamiya was chosen to present “I think he was chosen because of his achievements. He was the first Asian American to have a high level position in California government.”
Masuda then talks about his parents experience during the Japanese Internment and how it affected him.”This experience has made me more aware of groups that may be experiencing challenges to their civil rights. I’m thinking in particular Muslims….of the Muslim travel ban.”
“Reminds me very much of the Japanese Internment and that’s why it’s important to learn from history so we don’t repeat the same mistakes. It’s important to study the Internment because it reminds us how easily our constitutional rights can be taken away by our own government.” says Masuda “My dad escaped being in the Internment because he volunteered to serve as a medic in the Army. He was part of the 442nd regimental combat team and that was an all Japanese American combat team.”
I was shocked to learn from Masuda that “Cameras were not permitted in Internment camps but somehow I have a picture of my grandmother at the Internment camp looking at a photo of my dad in a Army uniform. You can tell from my grandmas expression that she’s very proud of her son.” then pausing and saying “Could they have smuggled a camera?” A mystery Masuda still thinks of to this day. “I thought it was a very powerful photo. To me it highlights the irony that the country that my father is risking his life to defend is the same country that has imprisoned his mother.”
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