Question

Look at the photos below and listen to the song, "Kenji," featured on the album, The Rising Tied, by Fort Minor, a side project of Linkin Park band member, Mike Shinoda, a Japanese American whose father's family was interned at a relocation camp during World War II. Read the lyrics to "Kenji" while listening to the song, which includes samples of interviews Shinoda conducted with his father and aunt. In an interview with the Metro Silicon Valley, Shinoda said that he played the song for his family before he made it public, noting that his “…uncle, who is a very stoic Japanese guy, cried when he heard the song” (“Summer of ’42”). How do the lyrics of the song convey the negative effects of internment on the psyche of Japanese Americans? Do you think the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was justified? Why or why not?

link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUBKcOZjX6g&feature=youtu.be​

Answer 1

The song talks about the great turmoil, physical as well as emotional, that imprisonment can cause on an individual(s) who is subjected through it. These effects can be harmful for the well being of an individual for the long run as it not only creates a sense of animosity in the minds of the people as well as an atmosphere of fear and distrust but it also leads to a most common disorder called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that most of the population suffered due to the effects of the war and especially imprisonment.

There is a concept called 'National Interest' in international studies that says that national interest is never static, but always dynamic, it changes from situation to situation, and it also says that there are no constant allies as they to change as the national interest changes. But, national interest is usually used as a euphemism to mask immorality, and to justify pacifist policies.

No, the internment of Japanese was not justified during the World War II, as there were many innocent people who did not want to be a part of the war and wanted nothing but to leave peacefully with their respective family as is so clearly depicted in the song Kenji; but it felt as a necessity to the US during the time of the War as to be on winning side was of the utmost importance.