Otsuka Post 1

Personally I have never ever learned of the Japanese internment camps in america during the 1940's. I believe that this was a huge part of american history that has been hidden and sort of a secret since it happend. I have always heard the story of pearl harbor and the history of WWII but never have I heard of these internment camps. After class on Wednesday I took sometime to ask my sororiy sisters as well as my friends if they have ever heard about the Japenese camps. One person stated that they had no idea what I was talking about, and another said "I know that America had them, but I have no idea what they were for or what happened there.' It shocks me how this event was kept secret from any history textbook I have ever read. In class we talked about this even being a stain on americas hands and they are correct. The novel gives a first hand experience of these camps. I feel that the author used generalized names for the Japenese characters in the book because she wanted us to feel how they felt. I feel that it was done on purpose to show us what Japense Americans felt at this time in history. I could only imagine how much scrutany and negative things the Japense had to face at this time. I believe that this novel was written for a purpose. I feel that this novel was written to show everyone what actually happend, as well as to raise awarness about this nearly invisible time in American History.