History we might want to forget, but shouldn’t

Tonight at South Seattle Community College (in West Seattle), the Japanese American Citizens League of Seattle and SSCC presented a program for the Japanese American Day of Remembrance — commemorating the internment order signed February 19, 1942. As the years go by, we have fewer survivors left to tell the story firsthand; one of them, 81-year-old Sam Mitsui, spoke last night about having been interned, and having served as one of the celebrated, decorated WWII Nisei fighters:

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Sam is not only a veteran and internment-camp survivor, but also a UW graduate and Boeing retiree. Though he doesn’t live in West Seattle, SSCC tells WSB he had local ties, teaching martial arts at the West Seattle YMCA in the ’60s and ’70s. Also featured at tonight’s event was Suma Kato Yagi; she was a high-school freshman when her family was ordered to leave Seattle. Suma and Sam were among more than 13,000 Seattle-area residents of Japanese descent who were ordered to the internment camps.

Praying Man-tis-i February 21, 2008 (12:49 pm)

This is most definitely one of those tragedies that one might think would never occur, but it did. I was very curious to see what would happen with people’s attitudes after 9/11 toward other minorities and aside from the few isolated incidents at local mosques – that I’m aware of- I’m thankful it didn’t get ugly.

ms. mcdonald March 3, 2008 (12:50 pm)

Thank you for providing this regognition of those that suffered for a free and positive future for all . The sorrowful reminder of the endangered community members in the past is important to document to prevent and compensate those that where unfairly and brutally effected. Memories about the past are often not spoken of for fear of reenactment, however with group strength the youth may be protected. Let us provide a route to true compensation and opportunity for those that suffered during the war. Review of this tragic history must not be forgotten

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