Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Fear Stronger Than Justice!

  This past Monday my Elizabeth and our youngest daughter went to the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center (why the long name?) between Powell and Cody Wyoming.  This is where 14,000 Japenese were relocated during WWII.  They came from the west coast.  There were several other relocation camps around the country.  In all an estimated 120,000 Japanese were up rooted from their homes and businesses and moved to these camps that were surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards in towers.

As I went through the center I was amazed at on comment by a Japanese man.  He stated something like, "Our country (USA) has asked us to do this and so we must do so as good citizens."  Wow! What an amazing attitude.

 We also watched a movie that described the camp days.  Many who are still alive were interviewed.  We learned that all they had left behind at their homes was stolen from them.  All they had was lost because of their national heritage and their slant of eyes.

These are indeed sad pages in our national history.  They are shameful pages for a nation that says,"In God We Trust"!  And if you know me, you know I cherish those words.

Why did this happen?  And how can we avoid such from happening again?

To begin with it happened because fear in this case was more powerful than justice.  Fear was more powerful than doing what was right.  Our Lord has called us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  But fear can be a powerful misguided emotion if not tempered with a cool head and wisdom.

Many of these Japanese served our nation during that war.  Many were heroes.

I would like to say that was the last time in our national history such has happened.  But such is not the case.  The Civil Rights movement is another sad part of our history.  Abortion on demand  still goes on.

As I said, fear is powerful when misguided.  And as I asked above, how can we avoid such from happening again?   The answer is also above.  In God We Trust.  If we but believe and truly practice that we can handle the next time better.

As I heard someone say recently,"Do what is right.  Come what may".

God help us all to love our fellowman.

Gerry

PS for more info go to the Powell Tribune, Powell, WY

1 comment:

  1. Great thoughts, Gerry. It makes me think of when Israel asked for a king because they were scared of the Ammonites (1 Samuel 12:12) and when Saul offered forbidden sacrifices because he was scared (1 Samuel 13).

    "Do what is right, come what may." I like that.

    Grace and peace,
    Tim Archer

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