The 442

Today we went to the Japanese American National museum in Los Angeles to see their exhibit about the 442nd regimen of the U.S. army. This is a photo if their insignia.

The 442nd was (and still is, to my knowledge) the most decorated regimen is Army history. By all accounts (presidential included) they were directly responsible for ending WWII months earlier than otherwise possible. The 442 succeeded where many others failed. Most notably, they freed the "lost battalion", and scaled a mountain to break the Gothic Line.

The 442 was mainly made up us Japanese-American citizens whose family were interned incarcerated at internment concentration camps, simply because of their Japanese ancestry . Even though they served their country valiantly, they returned home to "No Japs allowed" signs. It's a truly embarrassing portion of this county's history.

Yet, it reminds me too much of how Muslims are treated in this country, which saddens me.

"The principle on which this country was founded and by which it has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart; Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry." -FDR

I look forward to the day when FDR's quote rings true.