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Canadian Internment Analysis

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When looking back on historic moments, there are always going to be questionable events. Some of these decisions may be viewed as regrettable but necessary as in the case of war. In chapter eight of the Visions textbook they explore the topic of enemy aliens, internment camps, and the RCMP during the second world war. The experience of the Japanese Canadians is particularly emphasised within the various sources used. Thus, it is evident that there are three prominent issues regarding this topic: the racism in Canada during the war, the misconceptions regarding internment, and the impact of internment on Japanese Canadians. During war and international conflicts there is bound to be tension and fear and the Second World War was no different. …show more content…

Some of these fallacies lie within the internment process itself and the experience of it. For instance, there is this notion that Japanese Canadians handled the internment without much protest. For example, in comic published in the 1940s, the Japanese Canadians are depicted as being happy rather than upset as they are lead away from the coast of British Columbia (342). Indeed, this image is misleading as a number of them were upset with this sudden move and it was those who resisted that were placed in these camps first. Sugiman discovers this during her conversation with a Japanese internment camp period survivor, “there was some young men that resisted…they were pilfered out and taken right away. They were the ones sent to the internment camps” (357). In addition to men, women were also seen as passive and not keen on initiating change. This was not the case either, as many …show more content…

It is another instance of blatant racism and suffering of others for Canada’s benefit. For white Canadian’s to ‘feel safe’ the Japanese Canadians had to endure such awful circumstances. Moreover, it is heart-breaking to learn how much these events have affected people’s lives such as David Suzuki’s, “To this day, I don’t like the way I look on television and don’t like watching myself on my own TV Programs” (340). Due to the constant racism and propaganda during the war, Suzuki is left with negative feelings towards his nationality that remain with him. Many view this ordeal as a mistake and it was on Canada’s part. It could have been handled differently or in a better fashion and it is sad that so many had to face hardship during that time. Nevertheless, there is always pressure and tension during times of war and that must be considered when viewing a moment in history such as

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