Federal Government Treatment of Japanese Canadians during Wo
Throughout history there are many examples of social injustice such as the treatment of natives in the past, the hanging of Riel, or the Chinese Head Tax. Social injustice occurs when a person or group is treated with cruelty because of prejudgments, racisms, or unfounded opinions. One of the gravest forms of social injustice in Canada occurred during World War II. The Japanese Deportation is one incident that should have been prevented. In its onset, the deportation was referred to as a “military necessity.” However, in recent years, the occurrence is more widely thought of as a social injustice. Perhaps Canada saw some of its darkest days during World War II, for not only was the country at war with Germany, but also with itself. Canadian citizens were turning away fellow citizens of Japanese origin because it was believed that people of Japanese descent posed a threat. The hardships the Japanese endured in the midst of the deportation and discrimination of their race were certainly harsh. The scars of such hurt will never fully heal. Regardless, Canada has done little to help the Japanese-Canadians forgive their treatment they received during World War II. The retribution given the Japanese-Canadians for the suffe
As if these conditions were not horrid enough, the Japanese were in for more discrimination. In 1944, Prime Minister King stated that no one of Japanese descent had caused problems in any way for the country during the war. It seemed as if this declaration would be followed by good news. However, King soon passed a law making it acceptable for Japanese-Canadians to be repatriated if they did not leave British Columbia. Of the 22 000 that were deported, 4000 were stripped of their Canadian citizenship and deported back to Japan. After the war was over, 6000 more were repatriated. They thought that perhaps Japanese Canadians living in Canada were actually spies who would later be the demise of the region. Therefore, they felt it necessary to have the people of that race sent away into internment camps. Prime Minister Mackenzie King, avoiding any sort of conflict from the general society, first had Japanese males between the ages of 14 and 45 deported to a place more than 160 kilometers inland. The main argument was that in a state of war, the country was obliged to protect the security of its citizens. But war gives Canadians no right to persecute people for their ethnic origin. What about the rights of the Japanese Canadians? Were they not citizens? Although they were citizens, the Japanese-Canadians were deported against their will with absolutely no say in the matter. They lost property, possessions, and even small businesses which the government sold to fund the deportation. In many cases families were separated, and the men were sent to work for the government for no pay at all. The
Some topics in this essay:
Japanese Canadians,
British Columbia,
War II,
Mackenzie King,
Germany Canadian,
Japanese Deportation,
Minister King,
Royal Commission,
Tax Social,
Harbor Japanese,
social injustice,
japanese canadians,
world war,
world war ii,
war ii,
prime minister,
22 000,
families lost,
worldly possessions,
injustice canada,
country war,
social injustice canada,
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Approximate Word count = 1087
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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