American Perceptions of People of Japanese Ancestry after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor - Research Paper Example

One article entitled “Japanese Called ‘Unspanked Babies’” written by Reginald Sweetland was published on December 21, 1941 (Japanese Called 'Unspanked Babies') and the other was “Remaining Japanese ‘Frozen’ to Homes’ was published on March 30, 1942 (Remaining Japanese 'Frozen' to Homes). These articles proffered views of Americans on Japanese still living in the United States right after the Pearl Harbor attack. The current essay hereby aims to present the perceptions of Americans on the Japanese who remained within the country in two-time frames: (1) right after the period of the attack (from December 12, 1941, to December 28, 1941); and (2) two to three months after the incident (from February 1, 1942, to March 30, 1942).
In the earlier article, Sweetland, an American journalist, contented that “Japan is a nation of unspanked boy babies” (3). The author likewise added that Japanese people have learned a lot from the United States, mostly in the areas of technological growth: building railroads, electric plants through hydropower, airplanes, and even bombing planes. Sadly, the author indicated that apparently, the Japanese regarded learning from the west as contemptuous. On the other hand, after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Americans have viewed Japanese people living in America with contempt since they were apparently betrayed by these people, who they have helped and assisted in their country’s development and progress.

As revealed from the second article, Japanese were being either evacuated from their homes in the United States or told to remain ‘frozen until further notice. As indicated, “all Japanese, aliens as well as American born, were under Army orders to stay in their own communities” (Remaining Japanese 'Frozen' to Homes A1). This disclosure exemplified that Americans perceived Japanese people who remained in the United States as potential risks to the safety and security of the Americans, in general. In this regard, there were apparent concrete actions to separate them, contain them, restrict them in duly specified locations where their every move could be monitored and guarded.
The two articles presented similarities in Americans’ perception in terms of trying to rationalize the bombing of Pearl Harbor and why Japan, despite America’s technological assistance and contribution to their economy, has vented their rage on Western soil. Sweetland even emphasized that Japanese people have expressed their contempt for the West by disclosing that “… We cannot afford to copy western civilization which is about to perish” (Japanese Called 'Unspanked Babies' 3). The move clearly enforced by the Army, as reported in the second article, aimed to contain Japanese people living in the United States, right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor to ensure that no further violence could be propagated. The incidence of a Japanese home being attacked and other Japanese being held under suspicion for violating enforced curfews acknowledge the increasing distrust of Americans towards Japanese during these periods.

The only apparent diversity in content in both articles is that the first article, during the month of the bombing, manifested perceptions in terms of either communicating through verbal or written discourses the general overview of the situation. In the second article, months after the Pearl Harbor bombing, the increased perceptions of distrust and betrayal of Americans by the Japanese people led to active enforcements that were eminently applied after perceiving Japanese nationals (in general) as suspicious and therefore all necessary precautions need to be exercised to ensure safety and security of the American population.
The essay clearly presented the perceptions of Americans on the Japanese who were still residing in the country after the Pearl Harbor attack as ranging from betrayal, distrust, suspicion, and risks to the national safety and security of the population. The two articles from the Los Angeles Times proved these perceptions as evident from the journalists’ report and from the actions taken by the government to minimize further risks and to ensure the security of Americans in the face of war. Read More