During the dark days of the beginning of World War II Americans showed their true colors once again by the forced relocation of any person of Japanese ancestry to prison camps throughout the western United States. We had our own here in Utah, near Delta. Called Topaz, it was for a period of time the largest ‘city’ in Utah. Those who lived within the barbed wire fences were never convicted or even charged with any crime, yet they were locked up and kept under guard. Sound familiar? During one protest over their loss of civil rights a leader of the Japanese Issei within the camp, James Hatsuki Wakasa, was shot to death. His murder was never investigated. No Senate hearing was held or even an outcry from anyone in Utah.
We find a parallel today as citizens and our government are caught up in the hysteria of the war on terror. There is scarce mention of Topaz in Utah history studies. I have not seen it on a map. I have driven past it and not known it was there. There's not much left of Topaz but a few concrete foundations and a monument, which is used mostly for target practice. As one observer said, “Most people have never heard of it, and many of those that have would like to pretend it never happened.”
We cannot undo the past or rewrite history though some try. During these days of the Bush and Cheney regime and given the climate of fear they have nurtured to maintain power, let us not forget our government can and does violate the Constitution. Decency, compassion, and generosity should be the words that describe the richest of all nations and its people on this planet toward any group within our borders.
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