By Louis Chan
AsAmNews National Correspondent
It’s safe to say a vast majority of Americans today realize the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was a huge mistake.
This country has come a long ways from the wartime hysteria that lead to the forced removal of American citizens to be imprisoned behind barbed wire for no reason other than the color of their skin. No Japanese American was ever found guilty of spying for Japan during that time. Countless many fought for this country. Many gave their lives as members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service. Some such as the late U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye returned crippled.
Donald Trump would like to lead this country as our next President. He’s a man who wants to take control of our nation’s budget despite filing for business bankruptcy in 1991 and for personal bankruptcy in the early 90’s, 2004, and 2007.
Now he’s a man who can’t say whether he would have supported or opposed the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
“I would have had to be there at the time to tell you, to give you a proper answer,” he said in an exclusive interview with Time. “I certainly hate the concept of it. But I would have had to be there at the time to give you a proper answer.”
When MSNBC on Monday pressed Trump on the issue, he refused to respond.
This is the same man who would like to close the borders to all Muslims. Yes, he wants to ban all Muslims from entering this country.
“At a time when racial tensions are high, Americans are looking for leaders who can productively advance the dialogue around race, not use racial differences as a weapon to fuel bigotry and further divide our country,” said Mee Moua, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice. “As demographics shift, Americans need leaders who can recognize our previous methods of dealing with racial tensions were not effective. Americans are looking for a leader who is going to move our country forward, and that means celebrating America’s rich diversity.”