Japanese Internment

The war in the 1940s between America and Japan was a rough time for Japanese who lived in America at the time. When President FRD instated Executive Order 9066, which called for the relocation of all those with Japanese descent to internment camps throughout the United States to ensure their safety. These camps usually had poor living conditions, which they were forced to live in for months at a time.

Nearly 110,000 Japanese-Americans were relocated to these internment camps. This forced local business owners alike as well as many Japanese run communities to close shop and pack close to nothing. They were also forced to leave the majority of their belongings behind. The primary reason that triggered the relocation during the war was the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The American’s felt as if they had no choice but to contain anybody with Japanese affiliation.

Prisoners were brought to these camps, after all of their possessions were either taken away or sold, and they still were facing indignity and terrible treatment. The Japanese were subjected to loyalty tests when they got to the camps, and this caused many problems for their heritage. The government was giving them an ultimatum: either reject your Japanese ancestry and become a true American, or go to jail. This was a problem because they are asking these prisoners weather or not they want to become a loyal member of a country that is imprisoning them, and this would also diminish their Japanese heritage.

Some people didn’t riot and tried to escape from these camps and go back to the real world, taking any and all measures to ensure they won’t be discovered. For example Fred Korematsu refused to leave his home and go to the internment cam and was later arrested by the army after he was discovered to have gotten plastic surgery to hide his Japanese features. In his court case, the army was given the authority to arrest any person of Japanese ancestry they saw.

During this internment period, the conditions of the camps were very harsh, unsanitary and uncomfortable. Many of the camps did not have adequate facilities for the prisoners. Some families were forced to share a living space in a horse’s stable. They would be living in these types of quarters for months at a time, mostly without a choice.

San Jose State was even a location of one of the internment camps. What is now Yoshihiro Uchida Hall used to be a camp that Japanese were relocated to, along with Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno.

Ruth Asawa, the artist who created the Japanese-American Memorial in Downtown San Jose is a well respected artist who is renowned for this memorial. She was one of the victims of were interned after the FBI arrested her and her family.

The importance of the memorial is very important to San Jose’s history. Many people tend to overlook the memorial, including myself. There are many little vignettes that tell the story of Asawa’s relief.

Fish Out of Water

For my fish out of water assignment, I attended a Bollywood dancing event. The audience was primarily of Indian descent which made me a fish out of water.

I felt uncomfortable at first because I was the only Filipino person there. Everyone was sticking to themselves and enjoying each others company. Although I just walked by, I thought it would have been a good experience for me to stop in.

One thing that I really noticed is the amount of fun they were having while they were dancing. I don’t know the exact significance of this type of dance to their culture, but I do know that it is something they enjoy doing and is a pretty popular form of entertainment do them.

I noticed that they also have ceremonial garments that they wear when they dance and that the women wore clothes that tended to show more skin.

Along with that, the music itself was very upbeat and fun to dance to. I found myself moving with the music, bobbing my head, and tapping my toes to the melodies of each song.

After the event, I was able to talk ask a few questions to some of the people at the event, and I learned that the term “Bollywood” is actually and informal term that is popularly used to refer to Hindi films based out of Mumbai.

Bollywood is actually the combination of Bombay (former to Mumbai) and Hollywood, the home to one of America’s well known film industry.

One thing this event did for me was open my eyes to another culture that I have not fully familiarized myself with. It was an experience for me learn about another cultural dance, while enjoying the show as well.

After this event, I look forward to finding other cultural events to expose me to more of what other people celebrate, so I can learn more about the people that surround me.

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Why Make Marijuana Legal?

You may read the headline of this op-ed and think that I am for the legalization of marijuana. Although, this article will explain the very opposite. Many people believe that legalizing marijuana can open many doors and answer the financial problems that we are facing. Contrary to belief, the drug policies that restrict, and regulate narcotics, have been working well and contribute to the reductions in the rate of marijuana use in our world.

 

With marijuana being the most commonly abused drug in the United States, why would people want it to be legalized? Those who support its legalization, for medical or for general use, fail to recognize that the greatest costs of marijuana are not related to its prohibition; they are the costs resulting from marijuana use itself.

 

There is a common misconception that the principle costs of marijuana use are those related to the criminal justice system. This is a false premise. Caulkins & Sevigny (2005) found that the percentage of people in prison for marijuana use is less than one half of one percent (0.1-0.2 percent).

 

The legalization of marijuana would most likely increase the usage of the drug in order to get high as they please. An analogy can be made comparing the legalization of gambling which altogether increased the amount of activity rather than decreasing it.

 

Getting high or becoming addicted to drugs not only affects the user themselves, but also the people around them. Legalizing marijuana can, and is known as, the gateway to other drugs which can cause and create problems in their lives.

 

The number one argument on why marijuana should be legalized is its comparison to an already legal substance like alcohol, and how there are rarely reported fatal incidents with marijuana. The truth of the matter is that marijuana, like all other substances can be abused and by keeping it illegal, can reduce the exposure of it to youth.

 

Although I don’t believe in the overall legalization of marijuana, I do believe that it is okay for medicinal use. The fact the more and more doctors prescribe cards to “patients” who illegitimately need them, only promotes that the legalization shouldn’t happen. If marijuana is your treatment, then so be it, but don’t expose the world of the most commonly abused drug, because you want to get high as you please.

 

Thank you.

[Classroom Profile] Weighing in: From an Interest to a Passion

Weighing in: From an Interest to a Passion

Sometimes, all it takes is to be introduced to something for a spark to be ignited. In Floyd Hijada’s case, his trip to the Philippines started a burning passion for the sport of boxing when he met a blind man who used to be a renowned boxer best in his class, during his prime.

“Boxing is something I always wanted to take a jab at… no pun intended”. Hijada said. “It was always something I planned to try before I die”.

From being introduced to the sport 12 years ago, Floyd currently trains with the San Jose State University boxing team in order to pursue his passion.

When asking him what plans were for his future in boxing, he replied, “I don’t plan on being the next Manny Pacquiao, although that would be really cool”.

He explained how boxing as a sport poses certain threats to long term side effects if done for a long period of time. He plans to be an efficient boxer while he is in college, competing and staying in shape. “Self defense is also vital so I figured I can kill two birds with one stone”. Hijada said.

Hijada also explains how there are many takeaways and life lessons that can be learned from training in boxing. Skills such as learning the basics of mechanics, discipline, as even confidence.

“Learning from mistakes is key in the sport”. Hijada said. “You will always make mistakes, but that’s the reason you practice. Practice makes perfect”.

One advantage that Floyd had going into boxing was his background in track and field. Having cardio training in the past made his transition from track and field into boxing an easy one.

“ What made it hard is the mix between cardio and strength workouts”. Hijada said. “Punching has a lot more to it than you think, and like I said earlier, mechanics is really important, so that took some time getting used to.”

Floyd keeps a WordPress blog to document his experience boxing at San Jose State University and can be found at www.boxingwithspartans.wordpress.com/

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere — Zz Packer

I read the short story “Brownies” in Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, a book of vignettes by ZZ Packer.

“Brownies” was a story of girl scouts who attended a camp and found themselves envious of a neighboring troop.

Packer does a great job of painting emotions such as envy, hatred, and even prejudice through her descriptive writing style.

I found that her writing style was very easy to read, and made me want to keep continuing on.

She did a great job in describing visual settings by including the different senses including the “wet smell of a chihuahua”. I thought these types of descriptions really added flavor to her writing style.

Packer does a good job of telling a story that deals with issues of race, injustice, and even kindness.

NPR Radio Analysis

Michelle Williams: The Fresh Air Interview

In this interview, Terry Gross knew that Michelle Williams wanted to act at age 13, and was a star on “Dawson’s Creek” by the age of 15. She used this as a great way to start the conversation and ask probing questions.

She asked open ended questions like, “How did you know?” (referring to acting), and follow up phrases like, “tell me more.”  to get more information.

It was apparent that Gross did her research before interviewing Williams because she would reference things like how she went to a Christian school, and ask how those experiences were like.

Whenever Williams responded, Gross looked for opportunities to create a tangent, for example, when she replied to the question about Christian school, Williams responded saying she was home schooled.

Gross took that as an interesting fact, and asked if being home schooled had taken away from her childhood growing up, etc.

It seemed like most of the questions were answered adequately enough for Gross to move on.

The interviewee seemed comfortable enough with the interviewer and it was apparent. The flow of the interview went smoothly and it seemed like the two were definitely developing a relationship between each other.

The interviewee was happy to answer most if not all of the questions Gross had to ask her.

One thing that I learned from this interview is to have an inclination before you actually conduct the interview. I think the fact that this was over the air gave it a little bit of a different dynamic, although, there are things that could be learned.

For example, the way she probed questions to get more in-depth answers, or listening closely to the responses to create a tangent for a more smooth flowing interview are a few.

 

Blog Post – Mystery Character

I dwell on the west coast of California. To some I may be hot, but to others I may be cold. My name resembles that, and that of a shape. It’s been a good day and I’ve been known for saying that. Did that rhyme? And may I mention I rap. I’ve been a star in many different galaxies, and by galaxies I mean platforms.

Who am I?