Italian during WWII?

Question: Japanese-American cruelty vs German/ Italian during WWII!?

So!.!.!.!.you know how Japanese Americans were gathered together for internment!? Why weren't Germans and Italians!? Just curious because this seems really unfair to me!. Was it simply racism!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

It was mostly racism!. In the earlier part of the 20th century, laws had been passed that people of Japanese origin could not own property, and there was no war or Pearl Harbor then, it was just fear of the "yellow peril"!. Throughout WWII, the Japanese were portrayed as sub-human, as evil, and power-mad and crazy!. Meanwhile, the Germans were portrayed in propaganda sources as having been duped by the Nazis, and the Italians, as duped by the Fascists!. Therefore, people didn't see German and Italian people as guilty, they saw the Nazis and the Fascists as evil!. But individual Japanese people were seen as just as culpable as the Japanese leaders, even though that was not really the case--many were against the actions of the Japanese government and did not support the war!.

It was also, due to the fact that anger against the Japanese was greater at least in part due to Pearl Harbor!. If it were racism alone, then the Chinese would have found repercussions on them--but they were seen as victims of the Japanese, and as allies!. During the first World War, by contrast, there was a lot of anger and hostility directed at people of German descent or with German names, in the US!. Many people with German names changed them at that time!. It was also really impossible to inter Germans and Italians, since such a large percentage of the U!.S!. is partly of German or Italian descent!. The Japanese were a much more distinguishable group, since their immigration began so late and, due to quotas and immigration laws, their numbers were relatively small!. In contrast, people of Japanese descent were quite numerous in Hawaii (then a U!.S!. territory but not a state)!. Had there been internment of the people of Japanese descent in Hawaii, there would have been too few people to work the fiends and such, so Japanese in Hawaii weren't interred!. And Japanese who did not live on the west coast of the continental U!.S!. were not interred, either!. So it was a combination of fear, anger, racism, opportunity, and geography!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

japan hit the US unprovoked, and the Japanese people worshiped their leader as a God, and it was feared the people here could be fanatical as those in Japan, because people don't shake religion easily!. The Germans and Italians were in a different boat as far as their motivations, or possible motivations!. You didn't see the Germans or Italians willing to do suicide missions like the Japanese, who were truly fanatical!. Many supposed those here could be the same way, and as bad as it was and unfair, there was reason for that supposition!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Americans were mostly Germans that fled here and many were involved fighting the German Army!.
President Dwight D!. Eisenhower was a German!.
There were not that many Italians here and they were more warm and socially adapted to America they didn't make the Govt fear them especially in the big cities and of Course they also had Mafia connections with many of our Politicians!.
The Americans were just plain afraid of Japanese as they couldn't understand them even over the telephone so fear took over!.
I!.M!.H!.O!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Was the internment of Japanese Americans justified!?

To us today!? No!.

But Pearl Harbor, Hawaii AND Darwin Bay, Australia didn't HAPPEN yesterday!.

The world was in the midst of a horrible war!. Canada, being part of the British Empire, was in from the onset, unlike the US!.

Then without provocation, Japan hit Pearl Harbor!.
Pearl Harbor WAS the US, and the US wasn't even in the war!.
And Pearl Harbor was WAY too close for comfort for Canadians!.

Then one month later Japan hit Darwin Harbor, Australia!.

The death & destruction in both places was horrific and completely unexpected!.!.!.!. and most people feel completely uncalled for!.

The US wasn't even IN the war!.
No one had made any assualts on Japanese land!.
The Germans and the Italians had not flown over to the US and bombed us!.
Canada, especially British Columbia, no longer felt safe!.
We weren't at war with Japan!.

Japan suddenly became the worst enemy of Canada & the US, Australia and New Zealand!.!.!.!. at the same time!. (Canadians opened up Japanese-Canadian internment camps also)

Fear!.
Horror!.
Mistrust!.
Paranoia!.
Military AND civilian casualties!.
Sneak attacks!.
Prejudice!.
Homeland safety!.
The extremely polite, industrious, hard working, well mannered and keep to themselves kind of people, the Japanese just committed the two worst monstrosities in the history of Hawaii and Australia!.

The people of Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand were simply terrified!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

OH man, another question about something I haven't studied in a loooooooooooong time!.

Honestly, I believe it was!. *basing my answer off memory* Because, it always seemed like the closer you were to European back then, the better off you were in society!. I believe back in my junior year of high school, some of my friends and I had a debate about this very topic and I thought that it was racism!. Of course they said how the Italians and Germans were under such strong rule that there was no way that they could be punished by outside forces!. I believe!.!.!.!. it was racism!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think it was racism!. Japan was the most dangerous of all three main Axis powers!. Therefore, the U!.S, being as racist as it was and still is, thought Japanese-Americans were also in on the plot to help Emperor Hirohito take over the U!.S!. Those people didn't deserve to be put in internment camps!. That is something called discrimination!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Little one!.
Does one know what is the Liberation of Freedom from world war two was all about!?
For the good of mankind!.
To make this world a better place to live!.
With the creation of peace on earth goodwill to men in time!.
Does one know what it's like to be the best grave-digger in town with self lack of knowledge!.
In the creation of loss of peace on earth good will to men in time!?
With " Children are to be seen and not to be heard"
In climbing up the coconut trees and still look green with lost sense of direction and purpose of life with self lack of knowledge!.
When all "The Young One" were born and raised after world war two!?
Luke 9!.25,55-56,60
What do you think!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Racism!.
In 1940 one third of Americans were of German descent and the proportion of Italians was very high so the government probably felt it could only target one race!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They were!. And yes, it was justified!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

because germans and italians were white, sorry man American history is cruel!. White america couldn't put white germans and italians in camps, but they have no qualms about in prisoning asians!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

the truth is that it was harder to tell who was german and italian then it was to figure out a jap!. i am a major WW2 buff!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Racism was the basic motivation!. But Japanese Americans were easier targets because they stood out and didn't assimilate as well as Germans or Italians!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Japanese or Asian peoples stands out more!.!.!.Those German and Italian look white thats why American aint scareWww@QuestionHome@Com