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bvar22

(39,909 posts)
44. The Japanese Internment WAS a mistake,
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:15 AM
Apr 2012

...and one that has been acknowledged.

However, it does NOT make FDR a "racist".
It may make him guilty of Hysterical Xenophobia during Wartime,
but more likely, it makes him susceptible to the will of the people.
(Go read some of the speeches and demands being made in Congress after Dec 7th)

If you want to continue with the campaign of branding FDR a "Racist", I offer these two challenges:

1)Document FDR's "dislike" of the Japanese as a race prior to 1941.


2)Find ANY statement of Racial, Religious, and Economic Equality
stated as Democratic Party Policy that precedes FDR's State of the Union Address , 1941.
In that SOTU, he makes racial equality official Party Policy, and he did not make an exception for the Japanese.

He makes that Policy statement twice within two paragraphs:


"In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.


After the list of RIGHTS, it is followed again by:
"America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens."


If there is a statement of Racial Equality as official policy of the Democratic Party that precedes FDR's,
I have been unable to find it.


I don't endorse the Japanese Internment during WW2.
However, I do understand it.

I consider the attacks on FDR that attempt to discredit him as a "racist"
to be a cheap shot,
not well thought out,
and previously emanating from the Right Wing,
Unfortunately, it has been recently picked up and repeated by the Democratic Party "Centrists"
who desperately clutch at this in a misguided attempt to somehow make "Centrism" appear more palatable
or look better by comparison.


It is not fair or logical to judge historical figures by our current Social Values.
To do so, we would have to write off every single president prior to LBJ as a "Racist",
even Abraham Lincoln.

We would also be forced to write off the vast majority of Americans in 1941 as "racists" also.
FDR did not act in a vacuum, but went along with the hysterical majority of Americans,
in the street and in Congress. Most Americans believed that FDR did not go far enough with the internments.

Go read some history of life in California immediately after Dec7, 1941,
or, if you don't like to read history,
go see Spielberg's movie, 1941.
(If anything, Spielberg is guilty of understatement with this movie)
The population were absolutely sure that the "Filthy Nips" were going to land on the beaches immediately,
and that the "Japs" had already landed Saboteurs and Agents that were marking targets in California.

It was an insane, hysterical time, and to pull one piece of it out of context,
and use it to smear ANYBODY living in the USA at that time shows a lack of knowledge and discernment.



I will repeat the two challenges:

1) Document FDR's "dislike" of the Japanese as a race prior to 1941.

2) Find ANY statement of Racial, Religious, and Economic Equality
stated as Democratic Party Policy that precedes FDR's State of the Union Address , 1941.





Wow, where did this come from? [View all] MadHound Apr 2012 OP
The question isn't where did it come from, but where did it go? baldguy Apr 2012 #1
money is powerful stuff... handmade34 Apr 2012 #2
+1000 DiverDave Apr 2012 #28
This guy is the root of all evil? Art_from_Ark Apr 2012 #34
Bwa-ha-ha. When robbers in France say, "Give me your coalition_unwilling Apr 2012 #49
Good question. sabrina 1 Apr 2012 #11
The deregulated capitalism monster ate all that.... chknltl Apr 2012 #16
Yep, and guess what? The rest of their platform was MIC and deregulation. joshcryer Apr 2012 #19
but where did it go? And WHY? AlbertCat Apr 2012 #39
It began with the resignation sulphurdunn Apr 2012 #60
kr nt bananas Apr 2012 #3
A graphic demonstration of what has happened to politics in this country in the last decades. (nt) enough Apr 2012 #4
k&r bahrbearian Apr 2012 #5
Damn those liberals DJ13 Apr 2012 #6
it is not widely known oldhippydude Apr 2012 #7
I don't think Barry Goldwater ever advocated Milton Friedman's negative income tax. joshcryer Apr 2012 #20
Nixon proposed the negative income tax first. xtraxritical Apr 2012 #43
Another not so known Goldwater quote: Bluenorthwest Apr 2012 #41
Nice try lunatica Apr 2012 #53
This is powerful stuff. Curmudgeoness Apr 2012 #8
A few greedy people are now driving this bus..... Trailrider1951 Apr 2012 #10
marked Schema Thing Apr 2012 #9
Is that real? Nt abelenkpe Apr 2012 #12
The Pendulum Keeps Moving Ever Further to the Right AndyTiedye Apr 2012 #13
your daddy's (grandfather's?) republican party? frankroberts Apr 2012 #14
Here you go: abelenkpe Apr 2012 #15
Wow, just finished it. Night and day. Damn Republicans wanted to privitize the roads. joshcryer Apr 2012 #18
My Grandfather (a Union steward for decades) and dotymed Apr 2012 #65
Did anyone READ the FULL TEXT? Where did that go? They IMPLEMENTED THE REST. joshcryer Apr 2012 #17
Excellent post. Good illustration of the fallacy of the "stopped clock" nonsense. Robb Apr 2012 #22
Those things were uncontroversial at that point in history. joshcryer Apr 2012 #24
Let's go through those bullet points of yours MadHound Apr 2012 #29
We're talking about platforms here. joshcryer Apr 2012 #31
So you essentially agree with the contention that today's Democrat, MadHound Apr 2012 #32
No, because most of todays Democrats aren't for the garbage in that platform. joshcryer Apr 2012 #35
I remember watching the vice presidential debates in 2000.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #45
The President allowed the GWBush cuts to go forward in order to pass the Affordable Care Act. xtraxritical Apr 2012 #46
Ummm, I think that you need to go re-read your history MadHound Apr 2012 #69
Rachel Maddow: bvar22 Apr 2012 #21
Excellent post, thank you! sabrina 1 Apr 2012 #23
Did FDR mean "regardless of race, unless you're Japanese"? Robb Apr 2012 #25
It is common to hear Democrats speak of 'equality and justice' and then state they think Bluenorthwest Apr 2012 #42
The Japanese Internment WAS a mistake, bvar22 Apr 2012 #44
Also, internment may have been to protect them from harm. xtraxritical Apr 2012 #48
That case can certainly be made. bvar22 Apr 2012 #57
I didn't say he was a racist. I said he was a hypocrite. Robb Apr 2012 #55
I see you ran from the two challenges I posted. bvar22 Apr 2012 #56
Giving a SOTU about racial equality while imprisoning a race is hypocritical. Robb Apr 2012 #59
Still running. bvar22 Apr 2012 #64
If you can't handle a little criticism, perhaps you should start a safe haven group. Robb Apr 2012 #68
Have you no mirors in your home? bvar22 Apr 2012 #71
You don't have to "twist" to think the Japanese Internment was a racist construct. Robb Apr 2012 #72
Spinning and twisting into ever tighter misinformed little circles of willful misrepresentation, bvar22 Apr 2012 #74
So FDR liked Japanese people, but put them in camps anyhow. Robb Apr 2012 #75
Do yourself a favor, Robb. bvar22 Apr 2012 #76
So you're running from your premise. Robb Apr 2012 #77
Why has there been no mention of the planned coup against FDR? dotymed Apr 2012 #67
bvar22, you are spot on. dotymed Apr 2012 #66
"...established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed." OnyxCollie Apr 2012 #26
I think that anyone with a knowledge of American history dotymed Apr 2012 #40
Germany's a great place now, OnyxCollie Apr 2012 #50
Amazing. UnrepentantLiberal Apr 2012 #27
You can say that again! nt Poll_Blind Apr 2012 #30
I think I 've heard a few repug critters on the idiot box..... Left Coast2020 Apr 2012 #33
K&R for a modicum of sanity. n/t Egalitarian Thug Apr 2012 #36
Where did it all go you ask? SydBAThule Apr 2012 #37
The Police Union representing Milwaukee officers endorsed Scott Walker a week or so ago. Scuba Apr 2012 #38
Makes one wonder about the Milwaukee police doesn't it? lunatica Apr 2012 #54
Platform statements are very nice. Implementation, not so much. MineralMan Apr 2012 #47
Half of Repubs probably still think that's their platform taught_me_patience Apr 2012 #51
Yikes. BlueIris Apr 2012 #52
Tells the tale of a party spoiled. Zax2me Apr 2012 #58
This makes me homesick varelse Apr 2012 #61
I'm not sure this is real. alphafemale Apr 2012 #62
It's real, MadHound Apr 2012 #70
It is... nadinbrzezinski Apr 2012 #73
That Equal Pay thing still seems odd phrasing for 1956. alphafemale Apr 2012 #78
I know but your Republican Party of 1956 nadinbrzezinski Apr 2012 #79
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Apr 2012 #63
Amazing!! Have to add my name on to this. A huge K&R nt riderinthestorm Apr 2012 #80
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