Japanese WWII Internment Camps, Arab-Americans & the next BIG attack.

[Silverhair]

In WWII, Americans interred Americans, out of fear. I speak of the Japanese internment camps.

In this last terrorist attack, we saw Arab Americans being singled out to be asked questions by the FBI. All reports that I have heard or read say that the FBI were courteous and professional, but the simple fact that it was happening was the scary part. Notice that few non-Arabe-Americans felt much sympathy for them, and felt that they should willingly cooperate to get the terrorist from among their midst. Whether one accepts that arguement, the fact exists that we singled out a community of fellow Americans for special attention.

What will happen if there is another really major terrorist attack in this country by Islamic Radicals?

I fear that it would well be a dark day for Islamic people in this country. The fear may even reach Europe.

Ethnic cleansing? Could it happen here? If it starts, how can we stop it?

[lazyeyd]

1. It may happen...

There are enough sheeple in this country to be frightened enough to agree that Arab Americans should be placed in internment camps if there is another devastating terrorist attack. However, I also believe that there are enough smart Americans in this country that it wouldn't happen. Thats just my hope.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi lazyeyd!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[La_Serpiente]

2. If there was another attack my radical Muslims

then I will try to make appeals to my family members and extended family for tolerance and understanding. I would make public appeals only if I felt that my life wasn't on the line. A MAJORITY of Arabs are Christian, not Muslim. Although the number of Muslim converts continue to grow, I do not think they are a danger to American society.

[JailBush]

3. Given George Bush, Inc.'s ceaseless attacks on the entire world,

I susupect it's only a matter of time before the terrorists attacking U.S. interests include Europeans, Latin Americans and Asians. Then the Republicans can figure out how they're going to throw the entire population of the U.S. in detention camps.

[TexasMexican]

4. no internment, but...

we shouldnt let anymore into this country.

Myself and most of my family are against the war in Iraq, however we think we should have stricter immigration against people comming from the middle-east, and we should stop trading with them.

That being said, its pretty clear that it is in no way feasible considering our demand for oil.

[interceptor]

14. Yeah, no way

We can't just close our borders. We're a nation of immigrants to begin with. Aside from being unrealistic, it would be ceding many of our core values to the terrorists.

Having been to the Middle East (and having a mom with a Ph.D. in Islam ;) ), I can tell you that "monolithic Islam" does not exist. There's lots of differences between Sunnis, Shiites, Sufis, you name it (mostly coming from the different versions and interpretations of the Hadiths, but that's a different thread). A small percentage are unlikeable and want the rest of us to be Muslim or dead in the worst way, like radical Wahabis. But the vast majority of them aren't, and they'll at least tolerate the existence of other religions and ethnic groups. Most of them want nothing to do with ignorant violence, just like us.

I do believe we can all get along peacefully in America - its just the fringe wackos of any religion you have to watch out for.

[_Jumper_]

15. Amen

I find it ironic to see a person of Mexican descent going to the right of Pat Buchanan on immigration...

You are correct interceptor. American Muslims are assimilating remarkably well. 99.9% of my family is Muslim. The ones that were born or raised here are indistinguishable from your typical American Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, etc. kid.

[Silverhair]

17. Yes, you are completely correct. That's why it would be

such a travesty of justice. Also, in WWII, almost all of the Japanese were loyal Americans. None were ever shown to be spies.

[DrZhivago]

5. How about if instead there's a carefully staged

terrorist attack perpertrated by elements inside our own government that leads to a perpetual war on an unseen enemy ala 1984, along with reduced civil liberties, and a widespread campaign of fear that allows these elements to do what they please with complete immunity

Oh wait that was nine eleven!

[Silverhair]

6. Please, no CTs. I do not believe in LIHOP, much less MIHOP.

There is a difference between incompetence and deliberate action.

[Jim Sagle]

13. So you believe in the coincidence theory.

[Silverhair]

18. Chicanery in the FL election is NOT proof of LIHOP or MIHOP. n/t

[Bucky]

7. Look on the bright side. Maybe it'll be Koreans w/ the next atrocity

Or if white supremacists blow up another federal building, then Ashcroft will start rounding up rednecks. Then Howard Dean really will be the candidate for guys w/ Confederate flags in their back windows.

Now that'd be ironic.

[DrZhivago]

8. I was kidding

half-kidding anyways

[HEyHEY]

9. Anyone have info on the Italians in WW1

I heard...HEARD they were interned too but not to the same degree...could be BS, anyone know?

[_Jumper_]

12. Italians and Germans were interned

However, only a few thousand were and they were interned bcause they were deemed threats based on information, not solely because of their ethnicity. That being said, not a single one of them was found to be involved in treasonous activities.

[KFC]

10. Stupid. Very Stupid.

You may want to wake up.

[Silverhair]

19. Why is it a stupid question? Reasoning please. n/t

[_Jumper_]

11. Almost certainly there will be no concentration camps

People's views have changed since 1945. A poll after 9/11 found that 53% of whites and 49% of blacks opposed profiling of Arabs. I do not recall the number for Hispanics but it a bit higher than the number for whites. If this many people oppose profiling it appears there is no way they will approve of concentration camps. Moreover, American Muslims and Arabs are a strategic asset in the War on Terrorism. Many Muslims and Arabs believe the USA is anti-Muslim and/or anti-Arab. The presence of Arabs and Muslims in the USA helps dispel this myth. The fact that U.S. Muslims and Arabs, as a group, are affluent and successful further helps to dispel it. This is now an interdependent, multicultural world. If we interned Arabs, Muslims, or both, the nation's reputation would be completely destroyed and this would severely damage our economic interests. No major leader, even people like Pat Buchanan and Tom Tancredo, has proposed that Muslim or Arab immigration should be halted. That speaks volumes about the kind of country we live in (I know there is still a lot of racism and I have experienced plenty of it. However, it is clear that the vast majority of Americans are not racist). We all know if that were an issue that would work the Republicans would not hesitate to use it.

That being said, there is still a chance that in fear people will react irrationally, but that number if very low. Remember, the vast majority of Americans opposed the racist backlash against Arabs and perceived Arabs after 9/11. Enough people opposed it to allow a conservative president to condemn such violence.

Arabs were not singled out for questioning by the FBI, Muslims were. The lack of protest is understandable. After all, only immigrants were questioned and Al-Qaeda is an organization that is 100% Muslim and predominantly Arab. Just as efforts against the mafia focused on Italian-Americans, efforts against Al-Qaeda will focus on Muslims, particularly Arabs.

99.9% of my family is Muslim. My uncle immigrated here in 1999--legally--and his wife was questioned (he was not home at the time). The agents or cops were respectful and actually stated at the end of their questioning that my uncle's family should contact them if they experienced any trouble because of the backlash.

I do not approve of profiling per se but the use of ethnicity and especially religion is appropriate in the case of combating Al-Qaeda.

[Silverhair]

20. Interesting. Thank you for sharing that. I hope you are correct

that modern American won't let it happen.

[Flubadubya]

21. Look, if a waiter named Mohammed is sent home by the SS...

at a party for the W, just because his name is Mohammed, I wouldn't dare doubt an out and out Muslim purge should this contry be seriously attacked again.

[AntiCoup2K4]

22. Since Junior's following Adolf's blueprint so far, it wouldn't surprise me

Real estate won't be a problem. Rummy's already planning on vacating a bunch of military bases. More construction contracts for KBR/Halliburton (they built the Gitmo concentration camp)

Of course the camps - look for them to be named something Orwellian like "Freedom Camps" - won't just be for Arab Americans in the end. :scared: