On May 4, 1942, Ben's brother Dave and his wife sit in the living room of their home in Syracuse listening to a radio broadcast from the White House. President Roosevelt addresses the nation.
"My fellow Americans. The past five months have been very difficult for us and there will be more dark days ahead before we will achieve our ultimate goal of complete victory. But be assured, that day will come. Today, I want to inform you and the world that we have discovered a new potential enemy, our neighbor, Mexico. I say potential because, up to this point, it has done us no harm. However, Mexico is developing a super bomb that could cause a great deal of death and destruction to the United States. We can not stand idly by and do nothing. We must act to stop this threat. Therefore, I am giving the Mexican government until tomorrow at 9:00 AM, the fifth of May, to turn over the scientist who's at the bottom of this crisis, a man named Julius Karchevsky. If it does, no harm will come. If not, we will have no choice but to enter Mexico, find him, and make sure he does not create his bomb. My fellow Americans, do not be alarmed. Your government will not permit another sneak attack such as Pearl Harbor."
Dave clicks off the radio and turns to his wife who has a very worried look on her face.
"I wonder where our boy Harry is?"
Patricia sits alone in the living room of Rita's house listening to the radio. President Comacho makes a speech to his nation.
"People of Mexico. Today, President Roosevelt accused Mexico of planning to attack the United States. Please believe that there is no truth to this. Mexico has always wanted to live in peace with its neighbors. However, as you know, many times in the past, the United States has invaded our country. And what was once the northern half of Mexico is now part of the United States. What more do they want? We cannot stand idly by and do nothing while they make threats. And their deadline is Cinco de Mayo, the day we defeated the French Army at the Battle of Puebla eighty years ago. If the Americans come, we Mexicans will defend our homeland. Do not fear, my people. Be strong."
Patricia is crying.
Meanwhile, Ben and Maria are frolicking in the blue Gulf waters by the beach near their cottage. They jump around, grabbing at each other and kissing. He picks her up in his arms and they fall backwards into the warm water. Ben and Maria are full of joy. Finally, they return to the deserted beach where they had left their blanket. They open their picnic basket and take out some fruit.
Rita says, "I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. I have everything I want...you."
"I love you so much, Rita."
They lie down and start to make love.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Executive Order 9066
On February 19, 1942 (74 days after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor and 76 years ago tomorrow), President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which stated in part, "I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War...to prescribe military areas...from which any or all persons may be excluded. The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be necessary."
"As a result of the above order, approximately 120,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry were evicted from the West Coast of the United States and held in American concentration camps." More than half were American citizens. The rest had lived in the USA for at least a generation. If you had at least one great, great grandparent who was of Japanese ancestry, you were considered to be of Japanese ancestry and were sent to a concentration camp.
Although Japanese Americans constituted nearly 40% of the total population of Hawaii at the outbreak of the war (423,000), "only a few thousand were detained there." It would have devastated the local economy if 170,000 local Japanese Americans had been sent to concentration camps in Hawaii.
What was the reason for the concentration camps? Japanese Americans and other Japanese residents were considered to be security risks as the USA was fighting a war against Japan. This was in spite of a presidential commission which reported to Roosevelt one month before Pearl Harbor that, "The local Japanese are loyal to the United States."
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese fighter pilot crash landed his plane on the remote Hawaiian Island of Niihau. He was detained by local residents in the house of the only three Japanese Americans on the island who spoke both English and Japanese. Later, the pilot convinced the three to help him escape. However, other islanders foiled the escape attempt, killing the pilot. One of the three Japanese Americans committed suicide. The other two were held in US custody for most of the rest of the war, even though they were never charged with any crime.
As a result of the above incident, the US Navy issued a report which stated that there was a "likelihood that Japanese residents previously believed loyal to the United States may aid Japan." About three weeks after the publication of this report, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. Thus, the actions of 3 justified the internment of 120,000. However, "no Japanese American citizen or Japanese national residing in the United States was ever found guilty of sabotage or espionage."
During the war against Nazi Germany, the US also detained 11,000 ethnic Germans out of a total population of 12,000,000 living in the USA. However, most of the detainees were German citizens. So, why the difference between the treatment of ethnic Japanese and ethnic Germans by the US government?
In 1944, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, upheld the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 in the case of Korematsu vs. United States. Justice Hugo Black wrote for the majority that "(Korematsu) was excluded (from the West Coast) because we are at war with the Japanese Empire and because (the authorities) decided that the military urgency of the situation demanded that all citizens of Japanese ancestry be segregated from the West Coast."
On the other hand, Justice Frank Murphy wrote "I dissent, therefore, from this legalization of racism. Racial discrimination in any form and to any degree has no justifiable part whatever in our democratic way of life."
In spite of being stripped of their freedom and property as a result of Executive Order 9066, thousands of Japanese Americans entered the US military during WWII. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team made up of Japanese Americans fought in Europe and "became, for its size and length of service, the most decorated unit in U.S. military history."
Executive Order 9066 was rescinded by Roosevelt on January 2, 1945, ending a dark chapter in American history. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Civil Liberties Act which offered a formal apology to those Japanese Americans interned and paid out $20,000 to each surviving victim.
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese fighter pilot crash landed his plane on the remote Hawaiian Island of Niihau. He was detained by local residents in the house of the only three Japanese Americans on the island who spoke both English and Japanese. Later, the pilot convinced the three to help him escape. However, other islanders foiled the escape attempt, killing the pilot. One of the three Japanese Americans committed suicide. The other two were held in US custody for most of the rest of the war, even though they were never charged with any crime.
As a result of the above incident, the US Navy issued a report which stated that there was a "likelihood that Japanese residents previously believed loyal to the United States may aid Japan." About three weeks after the publication of this report, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. Thus, the actions of 3 justified the internment of 120,000. However, "no Japanese American citizen or Japanese national residing in the United States was ever found guilty of sabotage or espionage."
During the war against Nazi Germany, the US also detained 11,000 ethnic Germans out of a total population of 12,000,000 living in the USA. However, most of the detainees were German citizens. So, why the difference between the treatment of ethnic Japanese and ethnic Germans by the US government?
In 1944, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, upheld the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 in the case of Korematsu vs. United States. Justice Hugo Black wrote for the majority that "(Korematsu) was excluded (from the West Coast) because we are at war with the Japanese Empire and because (the authorities) decided that the military urgency of the situation demanded that all citizens of Japanese ancestry be segregated from the West Coast."
On the other hand, Justice Frank Murphy wrote "I dissent, therefore, from this legalization of racism. Racial discrimination in any form and to any degree has no justifiable part whatever in our democratic way of life."
In spite of being stripped of their freedom and property as a result of Executive Order 9066, thousands of Japanese Americans entered the US military during WWII. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team made up of Japanese Americans fought in Europe and "became, for its size and length of service, the most decorated unit in U.S. military history."
Executive Order 9066 was rescinded by Roosevelt on January 2, 1945, ending a dark chapter in American history. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Civil Liberties Act which offered a formal apology to those Japanese Americans interned and paid out $20,000 to each surviving victim.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
OHS
In September of 1959 I began my career as a high school student. I had a choice of spending ninth grade (freshman year) either at Oswego High School (OHS) or at Kingsford Park School (K-9), where I had been since my family moved to the west side in 1956. I, along with a majority of my friends and classmates, chose to remain at Kingsford Park.
Even though I was going to classes at my old school that first year, I went to OHS every day for lunch as its cafeteria offered hot and cold food unavailable at Kingsford Park. Nobody said I was eligible to do this, but nobody said I wasn't. There I met Margaret Kunzwiler who ran the cafeteria and who wrote in my OHS yearbook, "to one of the nicest boys I've ever had the pleasure of serving." Too bad she wasn't a pretty young girl my age.
I started at OHS my sophomore year the following summer of 1960. As I had no plans for those months, I decided to get a head start on my course requirements. I took first semester World History and a basic typing class which helped me master the keyboard of the typewriter then and the notebook of today (on which I am writing these words).
I spent three years at OHS until my graduation in June of 1963, almost fifty-five years ago. Besides my friends and classmates, I remember many of my teachers.
The one I remember the most is Frank Bartello, my driver education teacher senior year. By coincidence, his father and brother were my barbers. His relative youth (only eight years older) and casual manner separated him from most of the rest of the faculty. I'm happy he taught me how to drive rather than my father who was a terrible driver.
Once I was driving the school car east on West Bridge Street and Mr. Bartello asked me to turn right at the next intersection. Because of my inexperience, I froze and forgot to slow down. We were headed for an accident until Mr. Bartello pulled on his emergency brake. Thanks!
Another time, we were driving back to Oswego after a sojourn to nearby Fulton when Mr. Bartello caught me speeding. He didn't scream at me, just asked what was I thinking. I believe that was the last time I did that. I was saddened recently when I discovered he died last April at the age of 80.
My favorite English teacher was Jessie Fleischman. She required her students to write lot of compositions, which was not easy for me then. I don't think Mrs. Fleischman ever gave me an A. But, I kept trying to earn her respect as a writer. I wonder what she would think about my blog posts.
Her husband, Philip Fleischman, was my World History teacher. I remember his sense of humor. ("Two piers equal a paradox" or "a pair of docks.") I also remember him philosophizing that if two people were alone on a desert island for a long time, the result would either be love or hate, not ambivalence.
My American History teacher was Francis Riley who had the habit of calling me Joel, my eldest brother's name. This was of course embarrassing, but I always responded as there was no Joel in my class.
Mr. Riley was very interested in politics. Once he said they would eventually build a statue to Senator Joseph McCarthy ("I have a list of members of the Communist Party employed in the State Department"). Thankfully they haven't. When my Physics teacher, Vincent Corsall, successfully ran for Mayor, Mr. Riley was his campaign manager and political adviser.
Mr. Corsall was probably the most popular teacher in the school. He made physics fun. He also had a sense of humor. Once he showed up wearing outlandish socks that didn't match. He and the whole class laughed uproariously. When he ran for mayor, his opponent was Ralph Shapiro, a family friend, which put me in an awkward position. There were suspicions that Mr. Corsall was gay, which was not generally acceptable back in the 1960s.
Frank Reed was my Chemistry teacher senior year. In the beginning, I was having trouble with the subject matter. So much so I decided engineering was no longer a good idea. (I had applied to college as an engineering student. I switched to business.) However, under Mr. Reed's guidance I bounced back and did very well in the New York State Chemistry Regents exam (91). Ironically, it was the reverse of Physics where I did very well during junior year, but was disappointed with my grade in the Physics Regents (81).
Then, there were the Wales sisters, Margaret Wales in math (where I prospered) and Ruth (Wales) Young in Latin (where I struggled). For more on Mrs. Young, see my blog post, Ides of March.
Finally, I remember Ruth Raby, the Assistant Principal, a short little woman who even the toughest kid in school feared. When she entered a room, you could hear a pin drop.
B-U-C-C-A-N-E-E-R-S, Go Buccaneers!
Even though I was going to classes at my old school that first year, I went to OHS every day for lunch as its cafeteria offered hot and cold food unavailable at Kingsford Park. Nobody said I was eligible to do this, but nobody said I wasn't. There I met Margaret Kunzwiler who ran the cafeteria and who wrote in my OHS yearbook, "to one of the nicest boys I've ever had the pleasure of serving." Too bad she wasn't a pretty young girl my age.
I started at OHS my sophomore year the following summer of 1960. As I had no plans for those months, I decided to get a head start on my course requirements. I took first semester World History and a basic typing class which helped me master the keyboard of the typewriter then and the notebook of today (on which I am writing these words).
I spent three years at OHS until my graduation in June of 1963, almost fifty-five years ago. Besides my friends and classmates, I remember many of my teachers.
The one I remember the most is Frank Bartello, my driver education teacher senior year. By coincidence, his father and brother were my barbers. His relative youth (only eight years older) and casual manner separated him from most of the rest of the faculty. I'm happy he taught me how to drive rather than my father who was a terrible driver.
Once I was driving the school car east on West Bridge Street and Mr. Bartello asked me to turn right at the next intersection. Because of my inexperience, I froze and forgot to slow down. We were headed for an accident until Mr. Bartello pulled on his emergency brake. Thanks!
Another time, we were driving back to Oswego after a sojourn to nearby Fulton when Mr. Bartello caught me speeding. He didn't scream at me, just asked what was I thinking. I believe that was the last time I did that. I was saddened recently when I discovered he died last April at the age of 80.
My favorite English teacher was Jessie Fleischman. She required her students to write lot of compositions, which was not easy for me then. I don't think Mrs. Fleischman ever gave me an A. But, I kept trying to earn her respect as a writer. I wonder what she would think about my blog posts.
Her husband, Philip Fleischman, was my World History teacher. I remember his sense of humor. ("Two piers equal a paradox" or "a pair of docks.") I also remember him philosophizing that if two people were alone on a desert island for a long time, the result would either be love or hate, not ambivalence.
My American History teacher was Francis Riley who had the habit of calling me Joel, my eldest brother's name. This was of course embarrassing, but I always responded as there was no Joel in my class.
Mr. Riley was very interested in politics. Once he said they would eventually build a statue to Senator Joseph McCarthy ("I have a list of members of the Communist Party employed in the State Department"). Thankfully they haven't. When my Physics teacher, Vincent Corsall, successfully ran for Mayor, Mr. Riley was his campaign manager and political adviser.
Mr. Corsall was probably the most popular teacher in the school. He made physics fun. He also had a sense of humor. Once he showed up wearing outlandish socks that didn't match. He and the whole class laughed uproariously. When he ran for mayor, his opponent was Ralph Shapiro, a family friend, which put me in an awkward position. There were suspicions that Mr. Corsall was gay, which was not generally acceptable back in the 1960s.
Frank Reed was my Chemistry teacher senior year. In the beginning, I was having trouble with the subject matter. So much so I decided engineering was no longer a good idea. (I had applied to college as an engineering student. I switched to business.) However, under Mr. Reed's guidance I bounced back and did very well in the New York State Chemistry Regents exam (91). Ironically, it was the reverse of Physics where I did very well during junior year, but was disappointed with my grade in the Physics Regents (81).
Then, there were the Wales sisters, Margaret Wales in math (where I prospered) and Ruth (Wales) Young in Latin (where I struggled). For more on Mrs. Young, see my blog post, Ides of March.
Finally, I remember Ruth Raby, the Assistant Principal, a short little woman who even the toughest kid in school feared. When she entered a room, you could hear a pin drop.
B-U-C-C-A-N-E-E-R-S, Go Buccaneers!
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Mrs. Miniver
The 1942 film Mrs. Miniver which starred Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon and Teresa Wright won six Academy Awards: Outstanding Motion Picture (MGM), Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actress (Garson), Best Writing-Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Wright) and Best Cinematography-Black and White. It was nominated for, but didn't win, six more Awards, including Best Actor (Pidgeon lost to James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy).
It is the inspirational story of an English family that lives in a small town near London before and during the early stages of World War II. Pidgeon and Garson (Mrs. Miniver) play the husband and wife and parents to three children. Wright falls in love with their eldest, a student at Oxford, who enlists in the RAF when war breaks out in 1939.
"This remarkably touching wartime melodrama (captures) the classic British stiff upper lip and the courage of a middle class English family amid the chaos of air raids and family loss. The film's iconic tribute to the sacrifices on the home front...did much to rally America's support for its British allies (after Pearl harbor)." British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stated that Mrs. Miniver "was more powerful to the war effort than the combined work of six military divisions."
One portion of the film depicts a piece of history unknown to me prior to the first time I saw it. "Together with other boat owners, (Pidgeon) volunteers to take his motorboat to assist in the Dunkirk evacuation."
Britain declared war on Germany in September of 1939 after Germany invaded Poland. Thousands of British troops crossed the English Channel to join with the French and other allies to try to thwart German advances in western Europe. However, by May of 1940 Britain found itself in a precarious position. Churchill ordered an evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from the port city of Dunkirk on the French coast.
While the German infantry did not advance on the British troops waiting on the beach, the Luftwaffe hammered them. Then "over 850 British civilian vessels (took) part in assisting military forces (British and French) off of French soil to awaiting transports in what would become the largest military evacuation in history." Some 338,000 British and allied troops were saved from a German onslaught. A defeat became a victory of sorts. All of this was without the support of the USA which at the time (June of 1940) was a neutral country (before Pearl Harbor).
In 2017 Dunkirk the movie told this remarkable story and received eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture (won by The Shape of Water) and Best Director (Christopher Nolan lost to Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water). Dunkirk the movie won three Academy Awards: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing.
One interesting aspect of Dunkirk the movie was that the words "Germany" or "German" were not used. They were replaced by the words "the enemy." Why do you think?
One interesting aspect of Dunkirk the movie was that the words "Germany" or "German" were not used. They were replaced by the words "the enemy." Why do you think?
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