Category: Government And Politics

Women’s Rights in Afghanistan: Perseverance in ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns

Women’s Rights in Hosseini’s Narrative: The Trials of Mariam and Laila

Throughout history, Afghanistan has been a country in chaos. War, discrimination, and Taliban rule have all had an effect on Afghan people, yet more so on women. In the novel, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini, women are portrayed less than men. Women are seen as a joke, and men are seen as superior. Women in this novel have faced constant trials. Hosseini’s novel is a powerful narrative that combines the horrific story of two women by the name of Mariam and Laila. Both girls in this novel come not only from toxic relationships but also from the atrocities of the Taliban.

Women’s Rights Eclipsed: Mariam’s Struggle for Acceptance & Autonomy

Laila and Mariam, two of the women in the story who suffer greatly under Taliban rule, live two completely different lives. “Mariam was five years old the first time she heard the word “harami.” This is how the main protagonist of the novel is introduced. Harami meaning a bastard. This one sentence gives the readers an idea of the type of life that Mariam will live in the upcoming pages of the novel. Mariam, the main protagonist of the story, is the one who lives a life so horrifically that she doesn’t even know how to handle her own existence. Mariam is the daughter of Jalil. She seeks her independence from her father. Despite what she refers to as unconditional love from her father, her mother constantly reminds her of how unwanted she is.

Her mother will not let her attend school, yet she has someone go to teach Mariam how to read the Koran. “Nana’s bitterness stems from her experience with rejection time after time throughout her life.” The relationship that Mariam shares with her father gives her a sense of hope. A sense of hope that she is able to abscond from such a patriarchal situation. Until one day, he makes her sleep outside. This then changes the way that she sees her father. When her mother passes away, Mariam is bound to have an arranged marriage. Her father arranges that she marry a man twice as old as her.

“It wasn’t easy tolerating him talking this way to her, to bear his scorn, his ridicule, his insults, his walking past her like she was nothing but a house cat. But after four years of marriage, Mariam saw clearly how much a woman could tolerate when she was afraid. And Mariam was afraid. She lived in fear of his shifting moods, his volatile temperament, his insistence on steering even mundane exchanges down a confrontational path that, on occasion, he would resolve with punches, slaps, kicks, and sometimes try to make amends for with polluted apologies and sometimes not. This passage suggests the central theme of the story as Mariam goes through with her marriage and marries a man who is utterly disgusting. Her life with Rasheed is a testimony enough to validate Nana’s warnings that women have no place in a country like Afghanistan.

The Shadows of Women’s Rights: Laila’s Youth and Love

Laila is a girl who is growing up in Kabul. There, in her neighborhood, she becomes extremely close to a boy named Tariq. They grow a connection like no other. Sooner than later, they develop a romantic relationship that eventually sparks feelings between them both. During this time, war strikes on Afghanistan, and Kabul is bombarded by attacks. Both families of Tariq and Laila decide to reside somewhere else and leave Kabul. The breakage of their relationship brings sadness to Laila. While packing to leave Kabul, Laila’s home is bombed, which results in the death of her parents. Laila, who gets severely injured, soon discovers that she is pregnant with Tariq’s baby. Laila is subsequently taken in by Rasheed and Mariam.

The Bond Beyond Suppression: Women’s Rights & Female Solidarity in Crisis

In the novel, Rasheed claims that he wants a young and beautiful second wife to have his baby. He then marries Laila. Mariam’s life goes into shambles when Rasheed takes in Laila as his second wife. “She is no more enthusiastic about this than Mariam.” This is what Mariam and Laila share. They are two women who have been dragged down by the society they live in. Both these women are married to Rasheed not because they love him but because they have no choice. Rasheed is an abusive husband who believes that women are meant to be slaves to men.

Defiance and Sacrifice for Women’s Rights: Mariam’s Ultimate Choice

Later in the novel, Laila learns from Abdul Sharif that Tariq has died. Part of the reason she wanted to marry Rasheed is to make people believe the baby is his and not Tariq’s. Laila gives birth to a little girl, which upsets Rasheed so much because he wants a boy. Laila giving birth to Aziza results in Rasheed abusing her. After one of Rasheed’s outbursts where he lost control of himself, Laila and Mariam knew they were no longer enemies but two girls fighting the same battle to make it out alive of Taliban rules. This marriage seems to be Mariam’s salvation. This reflects the trials that the women of Afghanistan face on a daily basis. Mariam and Laila become two girls who once hated each other, two girls who knew that the life they were living in Afghanistan was a disaster.

Despite their differences, they were motivated by each other to try and survive a life so horrific. Marian and Laila try to escape Rasheed and Kabul but get caught at the bus station. Rasheed finds this as a good excuse to abuse both Laila and Mariam. He even starves them for days, leaving them without any water.

Redefining Women’s Rights: Laila’s Rebuilding Journey

A few years pass, and Rasheed finally gets what he wants. Laila gives birth to Zalmai, Rasheed’s son. During this time, the power of the Taliban rose and set rules on the Afghan population, which prohibited women from appearing in public without a male figure. Many things in Afghanistan are falling apart during the birth of Zalmai. Living conditions in Kabul become extremely hard due to the drought. Rasheed loses his workshop, which then forces him to find jobs he does not like. He decides to send Aziza, Laila’s daughter, to an orphanage, which results in Laila being beaten multiple times on the streets in an attempt to see her daughter.

Laila figures out that Rasheed hired someone to tell her that Tariq had died when, in reality, he did not. Rasheed just wanted Laila to marry him. Laila sees Tariq outside her house, which reunites them both. When Rasheed gets home, Zalmai informs him about the visitor, which sparks anger within Rasheed. He beets Laila. As the climax of the story rises, Mariam decides to kill Rasheed as he is attempting to kill Laila. “He’s going to kill her. He really means to. And Mariam could not allow that to happen. He’d taken so much from her. She would not watch him take Laila, too.”

Mariam kept wondering if what she was going to do was the right thing. As stated in the novel, “Mariam raised the shovel high. She turned it so the sharp edge was vertical, and, as she did, it occurred to her that this was the first time that she was deciding the course of her own life.”

Those lines speak to readers on a different level. They allow readers to see that women in Afghanistan have no rights whatsoever and no never do anything for themselves but do things they are told to do, or it will result in their deaths. “The story of these two women, which reaches its climax in an act of extraordinary generosity and self-sacrifice.” After killing Rasheed, Mariam stays in Kabul to take the blame for his death. Mariam gets killed by the Taliban in a horrible act to save the life of Laila. Mariam’s death symbolizes Laila’s future. “Yet, Laila’s knowledge that Mariam not only chose this fate but chose it for Laila’s well-being gives Laila a sense of purpose and allows her to grow beyond the tragedies she has experienced and to choose to devote her life to others and to something as seemingly impossible as the reconstruction of Kabul and Afghanistan.”

After Mariam’s death, Laila and Tariq make the decision to leave Kabul and move to Murree, where life is much safer. Laila is finally living the life that she constantly dreamed of with Tariq. Yet, one day, they heard about the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and everything the news was saying about Afghanistan and the Taliban. This event scared Laila and Tariq, that they decided to move back to Kabul. They return to Kabul, where they rebuild the town and renovate the orphanage. Laila becomes a hero in her town and is constantly talked about. Laila turned Afghanistan around and helped so many people overcome the atrocities that the country faced. At the end of the novel, Laila is said to be pregnant.

Hosseinis’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is a remarkable novel that embarks on the life of women in Afghanistan. The author does a remarkable job of allowing the readers to vividly imagine what the women have to face on a daily base. Through oppression, abuse, and neglect, readers are able to grasp an idea of the trials that the Taliban rule brings upon women. Yet this novel brings people to the realization that women are stronger together than apart.

References:

1. Hosseini, K. (2007). A Thousand Splendid Suns. New York: Riverhead Books.

Illegal Immigration: ‘The Immigration Paradox’ Revealed

Possibly one of the most significant films of the century. The Immigration Paradox takes a critical and detailed look at immigration: one of the most upsetting issues in global human history. On a hunt for answers to this complex social issue, filmmaker Lourdes Lee Vasquez set out to understand why people would risk their lives to come to the United States. However, over the course of 7 years, searching for answers and interviewing an array of people from various backgrounds, her expedition takes a surprising twist. This documentary moves beyond the villain or victim scenario to reveal the bigger picture: immigrants searching for a better life for themselves and their families.

Unveiling the Human Stories Behind Illegal Immigration

Immigration is not just problematic in Arizona but all over the U.S. An illegal immigrant or alien is defined as a non-citizen who has entered the U.S. without government permission or who has stayed beyond the termination date of their Visa. The film shows the Americans on one side of the street and the immigrants on the other in what looks like a riot while much-shielded police officers walk the roads between them.

People hold placards stating, “No human being is illegal,” while others shout, “Get out. The border is that way. Come back legally.” This shows how these people feel about the situation at hand, but it is not all who feel this way. There are some Americans who actually sympathize with the immigrants and say, “Mexicans should be able to come and work under a structured program.” There need to be more Americans like those who understand.

America’s Polarized Immigration Views

Vasquez then went and looked into the situation and tried to get solutions from different think tanks in Washington, DC. Two of the three she visited agreed to legalize immigrants with illegal status. I strongly agree with this because everyone needs to survive. Money may be considered the root of all evil, but nothing can be done without it. It makes the world go around. The third think tank wanted to deport all immigrants and decrease all legal channels in place for them to come legally. They feel immigrants are the ones responsible for everything happening in the U.S., including Global Warming and even obesity. I fail to believe this. These immigrants know they are in the country illegally, so they keep out of trouble and keep a low profile.

Economic Impacts: How Immigrants Shape the U.S. Workforce

Immigration has been a vital part of the country’s overall success and economy since its inception. Without it, the country would have never been founded. The U.S. was colonized and established through immigration. What harm can some humble immigrants cause? Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of the Census state that The United States of America is known for the biggest foreign-born population in the world. Nikki Schwab, reporter for the New York Post, stated, “Immigrants represented 13.7 percent of the population in 2017, up from 13.5 percent in 2015 and the highest percentage since the 14.7 percent in 1910.”

Immigrants in America fill jobs where native-born Americans may not want to work or cannot work. They contribute to Social Services and Medicaid through taxes, and they help provide the backbone of America, especially by working jobs that natives do not consider. In fact, the “laborer category reflects that many immigrants are not only low-skilled compared with natives but that their skills do not transfer easily to the U.S. workplace.” Additionally, in many cases, the job or profession is one that would not appeal to a native-born American, such as lawn services, construction, or janitorial work.

In my opinion, there is one disadvantage to low-priced labor for immigrants. Predictably, some native-born Americans will lose their job to an immigrant willing and able to do it for less. In the end, the blame for this cannot be put on immigrants. It should be placed upon the native-born Americans who were not educated and skilled enough to either keep their job or have a job that is unaffected by that scenario.

Furthermore, according to Orrenius’ article on U.S. immigration and economic growth, “between 2000 and 2002, the foreign-born unemployment rate rose two percentage points to 6.9 percent. This compares favorably with the native unemployment rate, which rose 1.8 points to 6.1 percent.” Statistically, immigrants are not getting all of the jobs and forcing native-born Americans out; they are in the exact same boat.

Cultural and Economic Contributions

Personally, if I had a say in the matter, I would give the opportunity for immigrants to come to the U.S. to better themselves. I would first look into the background they came from before granting approval. Once that went well, I would offer them temporary legal status for about six months while monitoring what they do in the country. If they show that they are just trying to make a better life, then I would offer a permanent legal status but with a clause to state if they are found guilty of any unlawful behavior, no matter the extent of the charge, the status would be revoked and they will be deported.

Immigrants not only go to the U.S. to get better opportunities for themselves and their families, but they also expand and showcase their different cultures by introducing new ideas and customs. Research has been done showing the positive consequences immigrants have on local and national economies. In certainty, immigrants change cultures for the better by introducing new ideas, expertise, customs, cuisines, and arts. Instead of deleting the present culture, they develop it and make it better.

References

1. Vasquez, L. L. The Immigration Paradox.
2. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Definition and classifications of illegal immigrants. USCIS Publications.
3. Arizona Daily News. Protests and opinions on immigration in Arizona. Arizona Daily News Archives.
4. Smith, J. (Year). Think tanks on U.S. Immigration policies. Political Science Quarterly.
5. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Foreign-born population statistics. Government Publication Office.
6. Schwab, N. U.S. immigration statistics 2015-2017. New York Post.

The Tumultuous Landscape of Illegal Immigration in the U.S.

America’s Rich Legacy with Immigrants

Immigration is one of the fundamental building blocks that made America the country it is today. The Europeans traveled to the U.S. in hopes of finding a way to increase their wealth and start a new life. Many other people traveled to the U.S. in hopes of finding a way to escape religious persecution. This group of people is known as “The Pilgrims.” America has always been known as “the land of opportunity,” offering the American dream not only to the people who are born here but also to the people who migrate to the United States.

Immigration has been a popular topic in the U.S. for centuries, but now more than ever, immigration has become one of the most dominant topics in our media outlets due to President Donald Trump and his recent reforms to immigration. Despite all the other concerns going on today in America, the U.S. continues to have a policy that no other country has. It is the responsibility of our government to control what comes in and goes out of the U.S.

19th Century: Foundations of U.S. Immigration Laws

In the 19th Century, many of the immigrants came to America seeking economic freedom. When the United States gained independence from Great Britain, it began an open-door policy to welcome all immigrants. A 1790 law was the first to specify who could become a citizen, limiting this privilege to free whites of “good moral character” who had lived in the U.S. for at least two years. In 1870, the right of citizenship was extended to those of African origin. In the early 80s, Congress passed a law, “The Immigration Reform and Control Act, that legalized many Latin Americans.”

This act paved the way for Haitians and so many other immigrants from smaller countries to seek freedom and provide the opportunity to become gainfully employed and provide for their families, but it also imposed harsh punishment for many employers hiring illegal immigrants. Many Companies’ today are required to submit proper documentation when employing workers. It is the responsibility of the employer to check valid social security cards and employment green cards. Failure to do so a fine will be imposed and possibly six months in jail.

Biblical Insights: Migration in Religious Contexts

In the beginning, all was darkness and void, and the spirit of God moved over the face of the chaos. To move is to migrate. The biblical story is a migration story. The Bible begins with God’s spirit migrating over the face of the water, followed by God, who, after creating the birds, fish, and animals (all of which migrate), moved throughout creation, looking for a caretaker for this world. Not finding one, God said, “Let us create humankind, male and female, in our own image.”

God did just that and created Adam and Eve in God’s own image, gave them dominion over all the earth, and told them to multiply and fill the earth. To do that, it was necessary for them to begin the human migration story. That story is told throughout the Bible and continues to this day in the movement of the migrating pilgrim people of God, who continue to move, multiply, and maintain the earth.

The definition of an immigrant is a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence. Leviticus 24:22 states, “You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country.” In Genesis, when God created the heavens and the earth, there was no nation-state; we were united as one, and we spoke the same language. We are to care for one another because this is the commandment from God. We’re all considered immigrants, and immigrants we shall remain. Genesis explains the story of the Tower of Babel, which tells of the story describing the confusion of languages. It separated the groups in different places, causing many to experience different cultures. Noah and his family experienced a flood that eventually caused them to move to an unknown destination. God blessed Noah and his family.

President Trump’s Controversial Stance on Immigration

In the 2016 presidential election, the presidential nominee, Donald Trump, had a strong opinion and views relating to immigration. He promised to build a wall on the border of Mexico and the United States and to reduce the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States. As the president of the United States, President Trump is attempting to keep the promises he made to his supporters during the election but is finding that as time progresses, this is more difficult to do than it is to promise. However, he is not done trying to do so.

President Trump’s immigration policy continues to be the main topic in the media today. President Trump said during an election campaign that when Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.

President Trump’s opinions have caused Americans to look at immigrants differently. Americans view these immigrants as people who are stealing their jobs and money and bringing more crime to the United States. His views have tainted Americans to no longer look at immigrants as people who are willing to do the jobs that they don’t want to do or bright young people who have the knowledge and power to change the world with new technological advances.

In December 2015, President Trump called “for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.” This ban kept people from Muslim countries from entering the United States, even if they were born in the U.S. Many felt the ban was a violation of human rights; it made people from Muslim countries feel unwanted and unwelcome. Protests were held across the country.

In recent news reports, President Trump has been cracking down on illegal immigrants with an emphasis on Mexicans. ICE has also been a big topic in the news media. There have been multiple videos on social media of ICE agents taking parents away from their children while taking them to school. The agents are shown waiting outside homes or agents walking around asking if they are illegal immigrants. These agents are seen as inhuman. They act like robots tearing families apart right in front of innocent children’s faces.

Disturbing Aftermaths: Children Separated at the Border

Another horrible act that has happened under the Trump administration is the videos and pictures surfacing of children in cages in horrific conditions. One cage had 20 children inside. Scattered about are bottles of water, bags of chips, and large foil sheets intended to serve as blankets. These children were ripped away from their parents and put in a devastating condition to live. These situations and conditions will cause these children to suffer lasting psychological effects. There were stories of parents saying that their children didn’t remember them because they hadn’t seen them in so long.

The type of pain those parents are feeling when their child doesn’t even want to come to them is indescribable. The government has been ordered by a court to return the children to their parents. Most of the children have been reunited with their parents, but reportedly, there are still close to 500 parents who have not been located. Many of these parents have been removed from the country without their children. The government is working but isn’t working fast enough. These children need their parents, and these parents need their children.

DACA and the Plight of the Dreamers

In January 2018, President Trump’s immigration plan was released. President Trump discussed providing an opportunity for millions of children born outside of the country and who came to the U.S. illegally a 12-year extension for citizenship. President Obama created the DACA program to protect what is known as “Dreamers.” This program protected children from being deported. The Trump administration asked Congress to step in and create an alternative solution for the millions of people under the DACA Act.

A Personal Journey: From Haiti to the American Dream

For many, the U.S. is known as the land of opportunity. It is a country for change and economic growth. My parents were born in Haiti, a poor town called Latortue. My father worked as a farmer, and my mother was a maid. My parents made a decision to flee Haiti due to all the pain and suffering they endured and the fall of Baby Doc on February 7, 1986. The country was in total chaos. They ended up in the Bahamas and eventually came to the U.S. on a visa. That same year, President Jimmy Carter granted all immigrants living in the U.S. permanent residency; this was the happiest day of their lives.

They now had a chance to live freely without worrying if they would be deported. My dad worked a housekeeping job and eventually enrolled in school, where he earned his high school diploma. My Parents were able to help other members of my family by providing them with a roof over their heads and food. My parents desperately wanted us to be given the best education and opportunity that was not available in Haiti. Being born in the U.S. has taught me to be appreciative of what I have and never take anything for granted. Because of the sacrifice my parents made, I’m privileged and fortunate to be able to give back to any immigrant who comes to the U.S. seeking a better life for their family.

Haiti’s Earthquake: Catalyst for Immigration Compassion

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti; about 300,000 lives were lost, and many were injured. The earthquake devastated many families and businesses. Buildings collapsed to the ground, leaving many trapped and unable to escape. In a poor country like Haiti, there were no building codes, and many of the buildings and schools were built to withstand any storm. Haiti was once a rich and thriving country, but due to political and social gain. For years, Haiti has endured an economic crisis, and as a result, nearly 60 percent of the population living below the poverty line, many children are hungry. In fact, half of all Haitians are undernourished, and 100,000 Haitian children, fewer than 5, suffer from acute malnutrition.

As a result of the earthquake in 2010, my Bishop Jacques Mode Jr. had a church in Haiti that was destroyed. All of the members lost their homes and were living in tents with no clean water, food, or clothing. My Pastor made a decision to reach out to immigration to get 14 members of the church called “OMEGA” to come to the U.S. They were granted a visa, and four months later, they arrived in the U.S. Once they arrived, we had to find housing. My Pastor quickly began to search for a home, but he realized all 14 could not be in one home. My husband and I volunteered, and we ended up with five young adults. We’ve never met them a day in our lives, but we were led by God to open up our homes and help immigrants who were in need.

References

1. History.com Editors. (2019). “U.S. Immigration Before 1965”. HISTORY.
2. U.S. Congress. (1790). “Naturalization Act of 1790”.
3. Zong, J., & Batalova, J. (2017). “Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States”. Migration Policy Institute.
4. Holy Bible. (n.d.). Genesis.
5. Holy Bible. (n.d.). Leviticus 24:22.
6. Diamond, J. (2015). “Donald Trump: Ban all Muslim travel to U.S.”. CNN Politics.
7. Shear, M.D., & Davis, J.H. (2018). “Trump Retreats on Separating Families, but Thousands May Remain Apart”. The New York Times.

Roe v. Wade: The Landmark Case Shaping Abortion Rights in America

From Norma McCorvey’s Struggle to the Supreme Court Decision

In August 1969, a waitress in Texas, Norma McCorvey, wanted an abortion after an unexpected pregnancy. At that time in Texas, the laws stated that if you were pregnant as a result of rape, you could legally have an abortion. Thus, her friend advised her to lie about rape so that she could get an abortion legally. However, she failed to provide the required evidence of rape. Therefore, this idea didn’t let her get an abortion. Then, she went to an underground abortion clinic, but she found that the clinic had been shut down by the police. In 1970, Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington sued Henry Wade, the attorney general of Dallas County, Texas, alleging that the state’s abortion laws violated Roe’s right to privacy. Jane Roe is an alias for McCorvey.

As a result, the District Court ruled that the abortion law violated her rights under the Ninth Amendment, but it did not seek an injunction against Texas’s anti-abortion law. They continued to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. Finally, in 1973, the Court held that a woman’s right to an abortion was protected by her right to privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court’s Three-Stage Standard and the Emphasis on Privacy Rights

This case caused society from all walks of life intense dispute. There were three points of contradiction in this case. The United States Supreme Court has recognized that women’s right to abortion is protected by the constitutional right to privacy.

In addition, with regard to restrictions on the right to abortion, the majority opinion of the Court was based on the capabilities and statistics of medical science and technology and proposed a ‘three-stage standard’ to address the balance of interests between the public interest and the right of pregnant women to privacy. During the first trimester of pregnancy, abortion is optional and is not subject to statutory restrictions. After the first trimester of pregnancy, the government may restrict abortion for the purpose of protecting the health of the pregnant woman until the fetus has the activity of the mother, but the means of restriction can only be necessary to protect the health of the pregnant woman. After the fetus has the activity of the mother, the interest of the government to protect the potential life has reached the degree of irresistible interest, so the government can ban abortion.

The majority opinion of the Court focused the judgment on in vitro survivability because, at that time, the fetus may have the capacity to survive outside the mother. Therefore, the majority opinion held that the Texas law prohibiting abortion, which did not distinguish the extent of the prohibition for the different stages of pregnancy, violated the provisions of due process of law of the 14th Amendment and was null and void.

The Enduring Impact and Legacy of Roe v. Wade in Judicial Review

In the judgment of this case, the United States Supreme Court has recognized for the first time that a woman’s right to decide whether to continue her pregnancy is protected by constitutional provisions of personal autonomy and privacy. At the same time, the Supreme Court held that state governments must balance the rights of women to privacy and the interest of protecting potential lives. Thus, for the first time, the United States Supreme Court used the Strict Scrutiny as a direction to propose a ‘three-stage standard.’

Today, the right to abortion is still an important issue. The landmark decision of the Supreme Court to legalize abortion has provoked an unprecedented response. The United States Supreme Court has exercised judicial review rights, reconciled conflicts of legal status, and safeguarded the authority of the United States Constitution. Roe v. Wade argued that the Texas law prohibiting abortion was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that the ban on abortion violated amendment 9th and 14th of the Constitution, and the Texas law on abortion lapsed. Roe v. Wade, in the field of social life, promotes the application of an unconstitutional review system, indicating the maturity of the system. The Supreme Court of the United States exercised judicial review to protect the legitimate rights and freedoms of citizens.

The Supreme Court of the United States has formed the practice and theory of double standards of review in judicial review activities. The controversy over the standards of judicial review in abortion cases is a good example. Roe v. Wade made the system of review of unconstitutionality become a solid system. It was also a landmark decision issued by the United States Supreme Court.

References

1. McCorvey, N., & Meisler, A. (1994). I am Roe: My life, Roe v. Wade, and freedom of choice. HarperCollins Publishers.
2. Greenhouse, L., & Siegel, R. (2010). Before (and After) Roe v. Wade: New questions about backlash. Yale Law Journal.
3. United States Reports, Vol. 410 (1973). Roe v. Wade. U.S. Government Printing Office.
4. Garrow, D. J. (1998). Liberty and Sexuality: The Right to Privacy and the Making of Roe v. Wade. University of California Press.
5. Tribe, L. H. (1992). Abortion: The clash of absolutes. Norton & Company.
6. Chemerinsky, E. (2011). Constitutional law: Principles and policies. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.
7. Balkin, J. M. (2011). Abortion and Original Meaning. Constitutional Commentary.

Impact of Illegal Immigration on American Families

Immigration and Its Impact on Children

People who migrate tend to get caught, or they have kids to care for, and they get taken away by the government because they come to America. Kids do not know what to do when they are in this situation. They are just wondering what is going to happen to them and their family. The immigration laws first started when the number of immigrants started to rise in 1880. The immigration policy started with the Hart-Celler Act, which was based on the whole reuniting families and work. The laws are also harsh on the families.

Families live in fear because they are scared of getting deported, children do not want to get pulled apart from their parents, and their parents do not want their kids to be in a detention center or in foster care. Kids are going to be scared and lonely in foster care or a detention center. There are programs that help immigrants with their hard situation, and there is the DACA program that helps them a lot. How will all of this affect the children in the future? Will they be motivated to do something or just be bad people?

The Harrowing Conditions: Immigrant Families in Overcrowded Jail Cells

Immigrant families stay in a jail cell for 72 hours, and the cell they stay in is only about 15-by-15 feet with 30 people in the cell, so it is really packed in there for 30 people. Families would have to sleep on the floor or next to a nasty toilet. The authorities do not pay attention to their comments or anything the people say. “There was no privacy.” There was a dad and a daughter that were in the cell; the daughter needed to shower, and the dad had no option but to stand next to her while she showered because there were no curtains.

Rising Demand: Migrant Shelters and Churches Offer Respite

There are other shelters and churches for immigrants to stay there, and they are taken care of. There has been an increase in the amount of people who go to the shelters. There are now 700 migrants per week. In Tornillo, Texas, there is a detention center for migrant kids. They stay there until they get reunited with their family.

There is a detention center for children in McAllen, Texas, and children are kept in a cage and they sleep on the dirty floor. There are more than 11,000 kids in the detention center. There are 3,280 females and 8,506 males. There is a new policy that the administration came up with, and it has “zero tolerance.” It was published on May 7. If adults do not enter through the United States port, they are going to be criminally prosecuted. What criminally prosecuted means is that the person was being held for trial, but they did not commit a crime, but they would still be guilty of not going through the United States port. The children do not get prosecuted, but they end up being under the custody of the Refugee Resettlement. They get reunited after everything is done, which would be a long time because the court case would probably take forever to be brought up.

Understanding Immigration Laws: Visa Processes and Constraints

The immigration laws were established by the federal government to know who is and is not able to enter a country and for how long they are able to stay there. The only way that people can go into the United States is by having the visa process approved. If people try to come into the United States, then they HAVE to have their permission. If someone lowers their preference categories, then it can take years to get a visa. “It does not allow foreign citizens to work, go to school, or apply for permanent status.” The migrants could only use their visas to travel, not to get jobs or do anything but travel.

The government makes it harder for them to be people in a different country. The government allows visiting without a visa card, but only for two months. Family can sponsor a family that qualifies for relatives who are like husband or wife or parents, but the sponsor has to be 21 or older. There is an adoption option, too, but the kid has to be younger than 16.

Emotional Trauma: The Aftermath of Family Separations at the U.S. Border

Children do not know what happens to their parents when they get deported. All they know is that they are getting pulled away from them, and they do not know how to react to it. Children get separated when they are at the United States border because the Trump Administration has decided that Trump does not plan to back down from this idea. There could be long-term trauma for these children, like anxiety and stress, and all of that builds up because of the fear that the children have of getting deported. It most likely gets worse when their parents actually get deported, like they are actually getting pulled apart from their parents, and they do not know what to do at all. They are just in shock.

There are other families that are still keeping a low profile because they do not want to get deported. There are some undocumented people in the United States. That is very scary, and most of the children who get pulled apart from their parents are minors. Families have to live in constant fear most of their lives because they do not have a visa, and they are scared of one day just getting a knock on their door and standing right in front of the thing they feared the most.

Trump’s Travel Ban: Families Divided and Dreams Shattered

There was a family that got pulled apart because the kids were American citizens but not the mom. She said, “I love my country, but the situation there forced me to flee. I just couldn’t risk the life of my children.” Since the father was already an American citizen, the children did not have to stay at a detention center or in foster care. The mom had been waiting to get her visa approved for so many years. She was the only one without the visa. She was watching as her relatives requested their visa but ended up being rejected. She was one of the lucky people who actually got her visa. That was exciting, but the worst part was that her family got split in half because their kids’ passports were going to expire, so they stayed with their dad in the United States, and they could not do anything because of Trump’s Travel Ban (TTB).

What the TTB is is that the applications for the visa are suspended for Muslim countries like Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen and also other countries like North Korea and Venezuela. The family had spent all their money, so they were stuck across the country split. The travel ban was to protect the nation from terrorists entering the United States.

Sometimes, it was referred to as the Muslim ban. There was a downside to this also: millions of people were affected by the Travel Ban, and the country that was affected the most was Iran because a lot of the people of Iran were coming to the United States to study. There were a lot of families that were affected by TTB. A lot of people said they had to leave family behind and they would not be able to visit or come to the United States at all because of the Travel Ban.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE): Lasting Impact on Detained Children

Some children in detention centers stay for 400 days, which is 13 months that they will remember for the rest of their lives. There are 90,000 minors who had to get out of their county because of their situation with immigrants. Obama was responsible for the separation of the migrant children because of the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). “The resulting anxiety led to a subsequent decline in enrollment in the Affordable Care Act and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program among Hispanic households most vulnerable deportation risks.”

People would get stressed because of the programs they could not join that were really important because they were not American citizens, and they were going to risk their lives to join the programs. The ACE program has led to worse long-term behavioral problems.

There were kids who were depressed and had the dysfunctions of alcoholism. There were 2,000 kids that were detained by Border Patrol in just six weeks. Imagine in more weeks how many kids they would have. A lot of kids will be stressed because of their situation. There is no way someone will not be stressed, scared, or depressed, but why would they not be depressed? They got pulled away from their family, which is hard on a child or really anyone. No one deserves to be pulled away from their family. There is no need for that. Why can’t the family just stay together in the detention center so they won’t develop all the stress and anxiety?

The DACA Conundrum: A Beacon of Hope Dimming for Young Immigrants

Another program that helped the immigrants that got started by President Obama in November 2014 is the DACA, which is the Deferred Action for Children Arrivals. The DACA program was for immigrants who came to America and gave them protection from getting deported and a permit so they could get a job, but all of that had an expiration date. The program expired after two years. Some colleges do not accept DACA students.

Every time it would expire, they would have to renew it, but President Trump had got an order to end the DACA program, and they are still getting applications for the renewal. They have not fully closed it yet. The government has no longer accepted applications from people. They are waiting for the last DACA to expire, which would be in March 2020.

The people who would want to get DACA would need to have a clean criminal record, they have to be enrolled in school or have graduated, they can not be older than 31, they would have had to be in the United States before they were 16, etc. The people would have to fill out a 7-page application, and their fee is $495. There are a lot of people who would get rejected for either trying to apply or renew. There are thousands of applicants every year. There are also thousands of little kids that apply. 54% are little kids.

Illegal Immigration and the Struggle to Preserve DACA’s Dreamers

There are people trying to save the DACA program. There are good reasons to save the DACA program, like there would be millions of immigrants in America unemployed and not able to have a license, and all of the hard work that they did in America would go down the drain, and they would lose everything. A lot of families would go back to stressing over getting deported or getting separated. There is a petition that helps save the DACA program. On the website, it has a picture of little kids holding up signs that say “#weallmatter,” and there is another that says “I’m a dreamer.” There are DACA kids who still go to high schools, and they have to face the real world and the problems they are going to have once they are adults. It is going to be really hard for them.

There is going to be a lot of stress coming to them. ‘Democrats are doing nothing for DACA – just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems and start ‘falling in love’ with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS’. Maybe the Democrats do not want to get involved in the crisis and all the protests. They would want to stay out of problems with others if they already have problems of their own.

There is already a lot of illegal immigration, and getting rid of all the programs that benefit immigrants could increase illegal immigration. Most immigrants that want to come in are criminals. There are hardly any kids. They are mostly criminals. They should not be let in other countries, but good people should be let in. A lot of immigrants live in poverty, and poverty is going to cause them to come into America, and that is going to be a huge problem for Trump and America. The people are going to want to feel safe, so they are going to want to migrate to another country. The countries have been threatened to cut foreign assistance and to close southern borders, but if someone shuts down a border, it violates a law.

The problem that immigration has on kids can be avoided. However, it will take time and support from the government. The government needs to realize that everyone is affected by immigration, literally everyone. America is affected by immigration because most of the employees are from other countries. They are in America on the visa they have provided by the government. Kids are the most affected because they start to develop stress and anxiety because of the fact that they have to live in fear of the government, and the fear turns into stress. The anxiety comes from the detention centers they have to be in and the foster care. The kids have to stay in there for three months.

Imagine what three months without their parents does to all those kids in the detention center and all the foster care. The parents are also affected because they do not get to see their kids because they get split apart at the border once they enter America. Another thing that affects people is the ending of the DACA program. The program was to help immigrants get protection from getting deported, and it gives them a permit to get a job but all of that is gone for them the DACA program is going to stop giving those things it all stops in 2020, but this is still a while, but then all the fears come back. People were panicking because of all the DACA stuff.

References

1. Zong, J., & Batalova, J. (2015). Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States. Migration Policy Institute.
2. Passel, J. S., & Cohn, D. (2016). Overall Number of U.S. Unauthorized Immigrants Holds Steady Since 2009. Pew Research Center.
3. Department of Homeland Security. (2017). 2016 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. Office of Immigration Statistics.
4. Krogstad, J. M., Passel, J. S., & Cohn, D. (2017). 5 facts about illegal immigration in the U.S. Pew Research Center.
5. Chen, A. (2017). The Trauma of Facing Deportation. The New Yorker.

Federalism: Contrasting India and Pakistan’s Structures

The choice of federal structure adopted by India and Pakistan after independence was shaped by the unique historical, political, and cultural contexts of each country. While both countries opted for a federal system of Government, there were significant divergences in the way that power was distributed between the central Government and the states or provinces, as well as in the organization of the states or provinces themselves.

India and Pakistan were both formed as independent nations in 1947 following the withdrawal of British colonial rule. Both countries inherited a federal system of Government from the British, with a division of powers between the central Government and the states or provinces. However, the specifics of this federal system differed significantly between the two countries.

Divergences between the federal structure of India and Pakistan

Distribution of power

One of the main differences between the federal systems of India and Pakistan was the way that power was distributed between the central Government and the states or provinces. In India, the central Government has more power and authority, while the states have more autonomy and decision-making power. This is reflected in the structure of the Indian Constitution, which clearly defines the powers and responsibilities of the Central Government and the states. The Constitution assigns certain powers to the central Government (such as defense, foreign affairs, and taxation), while other powers are reserved for the states (such as education, health, and law and order). This system of shared powers is known as a ‘federal balance,’ and it is designed to ensure that the states have a degree of autonomy and control over their own affairs while also giving the central Government the authority it needs to effectively govern the country as a whole.

In contrast, Pakistan’s federal system is more centralized, with the central Government having more control over the provinces. This has often led to tension between the central Government and the provinces, as the provinces have sometimes felt that their autonomy and decision-making power has been limited. In Pakistan, the Central Government has the authority to override decisions made by the provinces, and the provinces have less control over their own affairs. This centralization of power has sometimes led to resentment and resistance from the provinces, particularly in regions such as Balochistan, which have historically been marginalized by the central Government.

Way of organization of States

Another difference between the federal systems of India and Pakistan is the way that the states or provinces are organized. In India, the states are organized on the basis of linguistic and cultural groups, which has helped to promote a sense of identity and unity among the states. This system was designed to recognize and accommodate the diverse linguistic and cultural groups within the country and to give them a greater say in the decisions that affect their lives.

In Pakistan, the provinces are organized on the basis of administrative convenience, and this has sometimes led to tension and conflict between the provinces. For example, the province of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) had a significantly different cultural and linguistic makeup than the rest of the country, and this contributed to the demands for greater autonomy and, eventually, the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

Commonalities between the federal structure of India and Pakistan

Legislature

Despite these differences, there are also some commonalities between the federal systems of India and Pakistan. Both countries have a federal system of Government, with a division of powers between the central Government and the states or provinces. Both countries also have a bicameral legislature, with a lower house (the Lok Sabha in India and the National Assembly in Pakistan) and an upper house (the Rajya Sabha in India and the Senate in Pakistan).

In both countries, the president is the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of Government. The president is a ceremonial figure who represents the country on the international stage and serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The prime minister, on the other hand, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Government and for implementing policy.

Judiciary

Both countries have a hierarchical system of courts, with the Supreme Court at the top, followed by the High Courts and the lower courts. The judiciary plays an important role in interpreting and enforcing the law, and it serves as a check on the powers of the other branches of Government.

Parliamentary system of Government

Both India and Pakistan have adopted a parliamentary system of Government, with the prime minister serving as the head of Government and the president serving as a ceremonial head of state. In a parliamentary system, the prime minister is appointed by the president and is responsible for forming a government and leading the country. The parliament, which consists of the lower house and the upper house, serves as a forum for debate and for passing legislation.

References

1. Subrata K. Mitra and V.B. Singh. “Democracy and Social Change in India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Electorate.” Sage Publications.
2. Brass, Paul R. “The Politics of India since Independence.” Cambridge University Press.
3. Jaffrelot, Christophe. “The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resilience.” Oxford University Press.
4. Baxter, Craig. “Pakistan on the Brink: Politics, Economics, and Society.” Lexington Books.
5. Bhattacharyya, Harihar. “Federalism in Asia: India, Pakistan and Malaysia.” Routledge.
6. Talbot, Ian. “Pakistan: A Modern History.” St. Martin’s Press.
7. Lutz, Diana. “Federalism in South Asia.” Routledge.

Pearl Harbor and Beyond: December 6th’s Tapestry of Historic Moments

The Evolution and Transformations of The Washington Post: From Democratic Origins to Rebirth under Eugene Meyer

Do people ever wonder what happened on their birthday? Many events have happened in America and throughout the world. Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery for the last time. The King of Pop had medical issues while preparing for a television special. A national park was established, and a popular newspaper today printed its very first edition. A monumental moment in the history of the United States was when our country’s capital moved to Philadelphia from New York. Also, an event that happened technically on December 7 but is too important to be left out is the attack on Pearl Harbor. This attack is something that is very important to our history and brought us into World War II. These things are all important in their own way and happened on the same day, December 6.

Fourteen decades ago was the beginning of “The Washington Post” (Dvorak). 1877 was when “The Washington Post” paper was organized, but mainly for the democrats. Much conflict arose because of the rivalry between others in the community (“The Washington Post”). They brought government issues, things happening outside of America, and even an inside look at our country’s municipality of leadership on December 6, 1877 (Dvorak). The devotion between the Post and the democratic party soon fizzled out in 1889 when the paper was sold (“The Washington Post”). Announcements of the Catholic leader’s sickness were broadcasted, along with hostility in Constantinople. Capitol Hill, spectacles in South Carolina, crashes on water, and anger about King George trying to keep Cuba’s privilege from them were all headliners in the first edition. Of course, for the attention of the public, this newspaper added a little fib to their work. They said an old, single man had passed away from a feline wound fooled by personal idiocy (Dvorak).

However, while the paper was in good standing with credibility and stature, McLean had bought the paper and ran it well until he let his son take over. His son soon ran the paper into the ground, losing its prestige and status among the citizens in the 1920s. Finally, under the leadership and management of Edward McLean, the paper fell into liquidation (“The Washington Post”). However, before there was McLean, Stilson Hutchins, a democratic reporter, was the creator of this prosperous paper but then sold it to John Philip Sousa. Before his career in the Post, he was a Republican mailman and previous Democratic legislator (Dvorak). Thankfully, for the paper’s sake, Eugene Meyer bought The Washington Post from young Mclean (“The Washington Post”).

Pearl Harbor: A Fateful Inflection Point and Catalyst for Global Conflict

Michael Jackson started off his career in a group with his siblings called the Jackson Five. After they gained publicity, Michael turned into a solo act. He was a great musician in the aspect that he was very versatile. He could dance, sing, as well as write his own songs. He had several number-one hits on the charts that came from at least three separate albums (“Michael Jackson”). Misfortune was caused by the famous Micheal Jackson due to the issue of low blood pressure. This incident occurred while he was running through his presumed performance to be streamed over the TV set. News was relayed to the people looking forward to the specialized event through the vice president, Quentin Schaffer. Micheal’s particular medical advisor traveled all the way from California. The HBO team failed to reciprocate the amounts spent on this exclusive event (Stout).

A gift of honor was assigned to have been presented to Jackson that night at the Billboards Award Ceremony. When the medical team arrived, Micheal was awake and responsive, which was a great sign (Stout). As he got older, he started on a type of spiral in his decisions. He was not perceived well by other people by some of his actions. He was accused but successfully missed the charges of child molestation. He later passed away at the age of 50 in 2009 (“Michael Jackson”).

1789 was the year that the Congress of the United States of America was founded (“Congress of the United States”). In 1989, representatives of Congress felt like they needed a city that wasn’t as big as New York. The alternative location was, in fact, Philadelphia because they wanted less space to deal with and a place that was easier to manipulate the growth alongside the federal government (Sokol). The Constitution refers to the Congressional branch as more of a financial part of government. Its job is to receive and obtain money on behalf of the government. They can also declare war, among other things (“Congress of the United States”). It was home for destruction, and people wanted a place that wasn’t as contentious toward slavery (Sokol).

Harriet Tubman’s Courageous Crusade: The Underground Railroad and the Journey to Freedom

Congress is actually not one whole branch. It is two parts that have the same amount of power of ratification of bills. Congressional periods of service last every year from odd to odd. Both sections of this branch work together to form panels to discuss topics that are universal in both (“Congress of the United States”). Another move was made to New Jersey because of accusations toward a governor and his friends who were involved in the war as well. The home for Congress varied around for the next six years until Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had an encounter about this topic. Their final decision was to have a place called the District of Columbia (Sokol).

The Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman’s most successful event of her lifetime. It was used to free enslaved African Americans during the time of the Civil War. Disgrace and abuse was reliable thing to count on for young Minty, a nickname from her also enslaved parents (Rosenberg). Harriet Tubman did not always have this first name. When she was born, she was given the name Araminta, then later changed it to her mother’s name, Harriet (“Harriet Tubman”). While working on these farm acreages, she was continually involved in horrifying beatings that caused severe damage to her later in life.

Later on in her life, she met John Tubman, whom she decided she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, and he was not a slave (Rosenberg). Five years after she became the wife of John Tubman in 1844, she heard that she may be taken away from her home. She made the ultimate choice to leave and run to the state of Philadelphia (“Harriet Tubman”). Nineteen journeys back down to the South bring more and more people to the North with the addition of most of her family members (Rosenberg). The story is that through all the journeys that Harriet made, she never lost a single person out of roughly 300. She started to become revered for her acts by many activists. Bounty rose rapidly until it reached a peak of $40,000 (“Harriet Tubman”).

Everglades National Park: Preserving a Unique Ecosystem and Natural Wonder for Future Generations

This national park is one of the biggest Everglade territories toward the southern portion of Florida (“Everglade National Park”). More specifically, going for 5,000 years, communities of the Everglades stretched as far as Orlando to the Bay of Florida. The Everglades National Park was not created in a brief amount of time. It took lots of time and energy from the population of the surrounding area. They soon fashioned their ideas collectively to save these charming and exclusive places. 1.5 million acres were kept for the park by the government on December 6, 1947 (“A Beginning for the Park”).

Many different attractions pull people to visit this beautiful Everglade park. They have many different displays of the origins of the Everglades. Water activities are beloved among the people who come to visit these parks. More specifically, a popular pathway is the Wilderness Waterway, which is just under one hundred miles long (“Everglade National Park”). Ernest F. Coe had a certain pull to defend the population of the Everglades. Coe established a federation to make this national park a reality (“A Beginning for the Park”). Even though the Everglades National Park was ratified in 1947, it was recognized in the early 1930s. Individual companies provide exploration trips to the guests via water throughout the Everglades. A very large section of the park underwent severe destruction due to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (“Everglades National Park”). It was thirteen years in the making, with the responsibility of finding the financing and acreage, but it all was worth it on opening day in 1947 (“A Beginning for the Park”). Starting after this incident, the park has been put on the World Heritage in Danger list twice (“Everglade National Park”). River of grass is another name some people have used to describe the beautiful Everglades. The name was originally given by a previous writer, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who worked for “The Miami Herald” tabloid, titled her novel Everglades: River of Grass” in 1947. The piece helped everyone believe that these wetlands have a great benefit and should be secured and safe (“A Beginning for the Park”).

Pearl Harbor: A Turning Point in History and the Unforgettable Significance of December 6

In Oahu, Hawaii, at a Navy base was the infiltration of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, by the Japanese. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was enraged at the outbreaks at dawn due to the lack of announcement of battle. It was, however, said to be one of the most well-thought-out affairs of World War II. In retaliation to Japan fraternizing with Hitler and Mussolini, drastic steps were taken toward the situation (Setterfield). Japan thought that the only solution for their industrial issues was for them to push themselves into bordering areas. The Nanking Massacre is only a piece of the many barbarities Japan implemented on China, along with starting a war (“Pearl Harbor”).

In retaliation to Japan’s fraternizing with Hitler and Mussolini, drastic steps were taken toward the situation. No affiliation was made involving economic and monetary needs, stopping its equity flow and prohibiting cargo from anywhere (Setterfield). Japan only became more furious, and this fueled their anger by becoming more than insistent on not moving. At this point in time, warfare seemed like it was going to happen no matter how many negotiations were had (“Pearl Harbor”). The response of Japan’s chancellor was to war, and their target was Pearl Harbor. As Admiral Yamamoto pondered upon these acts that were made towards the United States, he says, “I feel all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with terrible resolve” (Setterfield). The statistics for the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack are that America had roughly 320 choppers and carriers that were destroyed, 2,403 casualties were caused, and nearly 1,000 injuries (“Pearl Harbor”).

This is a very interesting set of historical events. Many people believe that nothing happens on their birthday, but that is not the case. December 6 has held many historic events that people have remembered. The attack on Pearl Harbor could have been the most memorable one that everyone is aware of. However, some of these events are very interesting but not publicized now at this point in time. These historical events are all important in their own ways, and people should pay them all a little attention.

References

1. Setterfield, R. (2001). Pearl Harbor: The U.S. Enters World War II. The Rosen Publishing Group.
2. Prange, G. W., Goldstein, D. M., & Dillon, K. V. (1988). At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor. Penguin.
3. Zimm, A. (2016). Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions. Casemate.
4. Lord, W. (2016). Day of Infamy: Attack on Pearl Harbor. Open Road Media.
5. Symonds, C. L. (2005). The Battle of Midway. Oxford University Press.

Pearl Harbor: Women’s Empowerment and Transformation in World War II

Winds of Change: Women’s Resilience and Empowerment in the Midst of World War II

Through the turmoil of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt, along with most Americans, desired to stay away from international disputes; America was isolated. President Roosevelt’s focus was battling against the Great Depression (Shi 893). Despite America’s wishes to remain isolated from international affairs, on December 7, 1949, the sleeping giant was rudely awakened by the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor (Edwards). Thus forcing America to step into World War II (Shi 893). As men were drafted to serve the United States of America, young American women swooped in to fill in the positions of men. The activism demonstrated by the American women was astonishing (Weaks-Baxter et al.). In previous wars, women had served a dutiful role in supporting the American armed forces. However, during World War II, women, in large numbers, flooded the skilled factories and armed forces. While many were paid for their contribution, the majority were volunteers (Weaks-Baxter et al.).

For the first time, women could join the military (Lockhart). The role of women during World War II ignited a turning point in history that changed women forever; women saw that they could liberate themselves and fight for opportunities in America, leading to the roles women serve today in our globalized world. During the war, over six million women entered the workforce, replacing men (Shi 912). The government released a campaign to encourage more women to enter the workforce using “Rosie the Riveter” (912). The Rockford College women, like the majority of women in the United States, put in their war effort to support the American armed forces. They were nurses, donated blood, cared for children, and prepared bandages and surgical dressing along with garments for the combat zone (Weaks-Baxter et al.).

During World War II, it was also the first time women were advertised as strong and capable of working. In 1940, women were advertised as mothers or homemakers in 36% of all the ads containing women, while in 59%, women were not portrayed in hard-working roles with occupations (Lewis and Neville). Into the years of the war, advertisers began promoting working women. From 140 to 1943, wage-earning and working women began to increase, while during those same years, the portrayal of non-working women decreased (Lewis and Neville). When women began entering the workforce, there were many disgruntled men who disapproved of working women. A disapproving legislator man specifically said, “Who will do the cooking, the washing, the mending, the humble, homey tasks to which every woman has devoted herself; who will rear and nurture children?” (Shi 912-3). Despite the discontentment, women were particularly enthusiastic about liberating themselves from domestic chores and earning wages (Shi 913).

Pearl Harbor’s Paradox: Women’s Struggles and Triumphs Against Dual Standards and Discrimination

Despite the encouragement for women to take on male responsibilities, it still imposed double standards by suggesting women take on suitable feminine roles. Women are to be nurses, not doctors (Weaks-Baxter et al.). Brigadier General John M. Willes, from Camp Grant, challenged college students from Rockford to step up and seize the opportunities that women would never have grasped in the past. Yet, he hopes that women will preserve feminine education, “Appreciation of beauty is one of the ultimate parts of life, and philosophy, languages, and the arts must hold their place” (Weaks-Baxter et al.).

Aside from the opposing male perspective, there were also women who were against the war effort. Yet, ironically, it still tended to civilian services. The majority of women in civilian services or Civilian Public Services (CPS) were against the war effort. They were deeply ingrained in the beliefs or teachings taught by historic peace churches (Goossen). Despite receiving the backlash, the years of war have provided women the opportunity to take liberation for themselves, which was empowering on different levels. Liberation from domestic duties allowed women to seize greater control of their lives and realize their ability to shape and change the future (Weaks-Baxter et al.).

There was a perception that the military was too harsh for women. It would ruin a woman’s femininity. “350,000 women volunteered for some branch of military service” (Cornell). Though women filled up clerical duties in the military, thus freeing more men to join combat, women took on many responsibilities that were passed, such as typing and filing reports (Cornell). It was the first time in US history that women had their own branches in the military. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was the first and largest branch; it had approximately 140,000 members. Two female pilots, Jaqueline Cochran and Nancy Love, created Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

The primary mission of WASP was to fly aircraft to military stations for piloted men and instruct an antiaircraft crew (Atwood). Despite the effort, WASP was not considered to be a part of the military, thus receiving no armed benefits besides pay. The program was shut down in 1944 (Atwood). Women volunteered to be nurses at home and abroad. At the end of the war, women served in all branches of the military and all over the world where the US military was deployed (Cornell). However, it was not just white women who joined the fight to support the war effort.

The United States was fighting a war against Fascism and Nazism, which both demonstrated racial prejudice and racial bigotry was rampant in the United States. African Americans have taken note of irony through the war in how the United States battles racism abroad while accepting it at home (Shi 914). Despite the racial prejudice, many blacks saw this war as a way to prove their loyalty to the United States of America (Moore). Before World War II, African Americans were not included in the armed forces (Moore). African Americans, men and women both volunteered to serve in the armed forces were racially segregated (914).

With so many men fighting in combat, recruiting women to the military was imperative; the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) was created in March 1942 (Moore). Upon arriving at Fort Des Moines, segregation was immediate. The colored girls had to eat at a table marked “Colored.” The women refused to be treated differently from the rest, and they turned their plates over. The signs were removed within a week.

Some of the WAAC members believed they must work harder to prove that black women can do better than men and white women. (Mullenbach). Later, WAAC was converted to WAC (Women’s Army Corps), and most black women joined WAC because the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) accepted only a few black women (Moore). Though black women’s efforts count as much as any other person’s effort, many would still face blatant discrimination after the war. Some people would still not be able to see past the skin color and see the person who served the country (Mullenbach).

Pearl Harbor’s Impact: Challenging Racial Discrimination and Redefining Women’s Roles in Society

Not only were black women treated differently. Japanese American women, after the Pearl Harbor incident, faced their own challenges that were similar to the blacks, yet different. Japanese Americans even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese people were blatantly mistreated as well. Japanese who settled in Hawaii had more opportunities versus the ones who settled on the mainland (“Serving Our Country”). There were laws that restricted Japanese immigrants from owning agricultural land, and the treatment towards them only worsened because of the war (“Serving Our Country”). Before the war, Nisei women wanted to be American; they tried their hardest to be American (National Japanese). Nisei are second-generation Americans of Japanese descent. Nisei women were recruited to join WAC in November of 1942, when it was originally established in July 1942.

Double standards stood tall; women of German or Italian descent were inducted without prohibitions, while at the same time, the United States was at war against Germany and Italy. Nisei women, unlike African American women, were not segregated. They were fully incorporated into WAC. Nisei women shared their experience in WAC; they claimed they felt no hostility or discrimination at all against them (“Serving Our Country”). American Japanese women, despite the guilt looming over their heads, seek to fit into American Society and prove their loyalty (National Japanese). World War II, though the United States wished to remain isolated from the rest of the world’s boiling conflicts, it was rudely pushed into the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Conflict was inevitable.

What problem gave rise to American women, no matter what color? Young white women stepped up to the plate to fill in the roles of women in all aspects of life. Even in the military. However, it was quite different for colored women. African American Women were rejected by the white-dominated society, even when opportunities were lush. It was only when there was a need for more people it was imperative to recruit the colored women. Nisei women faced fewer challenges, but Japanese stigma from the bombing of Pearl Harbor and existing discrimination was existent. They were later accepted in the military after German and Italian women, people who were descended from the Axis powers.

The enemies America was fighting against. Double standards stood tall in America for colored women. However, women changed from World War II. They seized control of their own liberation, not only proving themselves worthy of opportunities, but for colored women, it was proving they were equal to men and white women. With men gone to combat zones, women had a taste of breaking the traditional roles that kept them at bay. Without a doubt, World War II, though deadly, was a breaking point for women. Women did not stop fighting after the war; they fought even harder after the war for the right to be accepted as equal to men and equal to all races.

References

1. Shi, D. E. (2015). “America: A Narrative History.” W. W. Norton & Company.
2. Edwards, W. (n.d.). “Attack on Pearl Harbor: Facts and Information.” The History Channel.
3. Weaks-Baxter, M. et al. (n.d.). “Women and World War II.” Rockford University.
4. Lewis, J. and Neville, H. (2009). “Mass Communication and American Society.” Taylor & Francis.
5. Cornell, L. (2013). “American Women in World War II: On the Home Front and Beyond.” National Women’s History Museum.
6. Goossen, R. W. (2005). “Challenging the Quaker Peace Testimony: Dutch Mennonite Relief Efforts in Europe after World War II.” Mennonite Quarterly Review, 79(1), 7-32.
7. Moore, B. (2014). “To Serve My Country, To Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African American WACS Stationed Overseas during World War II.” NYU Press.
8. Atwood, A. S. (1983). “Women on the Rise: A Report on the Status of Women in the United States.” US Government Printing Office.

Pearl Harbor Echoes: A Tapestry of December 6th Moments in History

The Washington Post: Chronicles and Controversies of its Inception

Do people ever wonder what happened on their birthday? Many events have happened in America and throughout the world. Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery for the last time. The King of Pop had medical issues while preparing for a television special. A national park was established, and a popular newspaper today printed its very first edition. A monumental moment in the history of the United States was when our country’s capital moved to Philadelphia from New York. Also, an event that happened technically on December 7 but is too important to be left out is the attack on Pearl Harbor. This attack is something that is very important to our history and brought us into World War II. These things are all important in their own way and happened on the same day, December 6.

Fourteen decades ago was the beginning of “The Washington Post” (Dvorak). 1877 was when “The Washington Post” paper was organized, but mainly for the democrats. Much conflict arose because of the rivalry between others in the community (“The Washington Post”). They brought government issues, things happening outside of America, and even an inside look at our country’s municipality of leadership on December 6, 1877 (Dvorak). The devotion between the Post and the democratic party soon fizzled out in 1889 when the paper was sold (“The Washington Post”). Announcements of the Catholic leader’s sickness were broadcasted, along with hostility in Constantinople. Capitol Hill, spectacles in South Carolina, crashes on water, and anger about King George trying to keep Cuba’s privilege from them were all headliners in the first edition. Of course, for the attention of the public, this newspaper added a little fib to their work. They said an old, single man had passed away from a feline wound fooled by personal idiocy (Dvorak).

From the Fall of ‘The Washington Post’ to Michael Jackson’s Medical Misfortunes

However, while the paper was in good standing with credibility and stature, McLean had bought the paper and ran it well until he let his son take over. His son soon ran the paper into the ground, losing its prestige and status among the citizens in the 1920s. Finally, under the leadership and management of Edward McLean, the paper fell into liquidation (“The Washington Post”). However, before there was McLean, Stilson Hutchins, a democratic reporter, was the creator of this prosperous paper but then sold it to John Philip Sousa. Before his career in the Post, he was a Republican mailman and previous Democratic legislator (Dvorak). Thankfully, for the paper’s sake, Eugene Meyer bought The Washington Post from young Mclean (“The Washington Post”).

Michael Jackson started off his career in a group with his siblings called the Jackson Five. After they gained publicity, Michael turned into a solo act. He was a great musician in the aspect that he was very versatile. He could dance, sing, as well as write his own songs. He had several number-one hits on the charts that came from at least three separate albums (“Michael Jackson”). Misfortune was caused by the famous Micheal Jackson due to the issue of low blood pressure. This incident occurred while he was running through his presumed performance to be streamed over the TV set. News was relayed to the people looking forward to the specialized event through the vice president, Quentin Schaffer. Micheal’s particular medical advisor traveled all the way from California. The HBO team failed to reciprocate the amounts spent on this exclusive event (Stout).

Pearl Harbor’s Shadows: The Evolution and Movements of Congress

A gift of honor was assigned to have been presented to Jackson that night at the Billboards Award Ceremony. When the medical team arrived, Micheal was awake and responsive, which was a great sign (Stout). As he got older, he started on a type of spiral in his decisions. He was not perceived well by other people by some of his actions. He was accused but successfully missed the charges of child molestation. He later passed away at the age of 50 in 2009 (“Michael Jackson”).

1789 was the year that the Congress of the United States of America was founded (“Congress of the United States”). In 1989, representatives of Congress felt like they needed a city that wasn’t as big as New York. The alternative location was, in fact, Philadelphia because they wanted less space to deal with and a place that was easier to manipulate the growth alongside the federal government (Sokol). The Constitution refers to the Congressional branch as more of a financial part of government. Its job is to receive and obtain money on behalf of the government. They can also declare war, among other things (“Congress of the United States”). It was home for destruction, and people wanted a place that wasn’t as contentious toward slavery (Sokol).

Congress is actually not one whole branch. It is two parts that have the same amount of power of ratification of bills. Congressional periods of service last every year from odd to odd. Both sections of this branch work together to form panels to discuss topics that are universal in both (“Congress of the United States”). Another move was made to New Jersey because of accusations toward a governor and his friends who were involved in the war as well. The home for Congress varied around for the next six years until Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had an encounter about this topic. Their final decision was to have a place called the District of Columbia (Sokol).

From the Trials of Tubman to the Everglades: Stories of Liberation and Conservation

The Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman’s most successful event of her lifetime. It was used to free enslaved African Americans during the time of the Civil War. Disgrace and abuse was reliable thing to count on for young Minty, a nickname from her also enslaved parents (Rosenberg). Harriet Tubman did not always have this first name. When she was born, she was given the name Araminta, then later changed it to her mother’s name, Harriet (“Harriet Tubman”). While working on these farm acreages, she was continually involved in horrifying beatings that caused severe damage to her later in life.

Later on in her life, she met John Tubman, whom she decided she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, and he was not a slave (Rosenberg). Five years after she became the wife of John Tubman in 1844, she heard that she may be taken away from her home. She made the ultimate choice to leave and run to the state of Philadelphia (“Harriet Tubman”). Nineteen journeys back down to the South bring more and more people to the North with the addition of most of her family members (Rosenberg). The story is that through all the journeys that Harriet made, she never lost a single person out of roughly 300. She started to become revered for her acts by many activists. Bounty rose rapidly until it reached a peak of $40,000 (“Harriet Tubman”).

This national park is one of the biggest Everglade territories toward the southern portion of Florida (“Everglade National Park”). More specifically, going for 5,000 years, communities of the Everglades stretched as far as Orlando to the Bay of Florida. The Everglades National Park was not created in a brief amount of time. It took lots of time and energy from the population of the surrounding area. They soon fashioned their ideas collectively to save these charming and exclusive places. 1.5 million acres were kept for the park by the government on December 6, 1947 (“A Beginning for the Park”).

Everglades to Oahu: The Preservation of Nature and the Prelude to War

Many different attractions pull people to visit this beautiful Everglade park. They have many different displays of the origins of the Everglades. Water activities are beloved among the people who come to visit these parks. More specifically, a popular pathway is the Wilderness Waterway, which is just under one hundred miles long (“Everglade National Park”). Ernest F. Coe had a certain pull to defend the population of the Everglades. Coe established a federation to make this national park a reality (“A Beginning for the Park”). Even though the Everglades National Park was ratified in 1947, it was recognized in the early 1930s. Individual companies provide exploration trips to the guests via water throughout the Everglades.

A very large section of the park underwent severe destruction due to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (“Everglades National Park”). It was thirteen years in the making, with the responsibility of finding the financing and acreage, but it all was worth it on opening day in 1947 (“A Beginning for the Park”). Starting after this incident, the park has been put on the World Heritage in Danger list twice (“Everglade National Park”). River of grass is another name some people have used to describe the beautiful Everglades. The name was originally given by a previous writer, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who worked for “The Miami Herald” tabloid, titled her novel Everglades: River of Grass” in 1947. The piece helped everyone believe that these wetlands have a great benefit and should be secured and safe (“A Beginning for the Park”).

In Oahu, Hawaii, at a Navy base was the infiltration of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, by the Japanese. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was enraged at the outbreaks at dawn due to the lack of announcement of battle. It was, however, said to be one of the most well-thought-out affairs of World War II. In retaliation to Japan fraternizing with Hitler and Mussolini, drastic steps were taken toward the situation (Setterfield). Japan thought that the only solution for their industrial issues was for them to push themselves into bordering areas. The Nanking Massacre is only a piece of the many barbarities Japan implemented on China, along with starting a war (“Pearl Harbor”).

Awakening the Giant: The Tensions and Tragedy of Pearl Harbor

In retaliation to Japan’s fraternizing with Hitler and Mussolini, drastic steps were taken toward the situation. No affiliation was made involving economic and monetary needs, stopping its equity flow and prohibiting cargo from anywhere (Setterfield). Japan only became more furious, and this fueled their anger by becoming more than insistent on not moving. At this point in time, warfare seemed like it was going to happen no matter how many negotiations were had (“Pearl Harbor”).

The response of Japan’s chancellor was to war, and their target was Pearl Harbor. As Admiral Yamamoto pondered upon these acts that were made towards the United States, he says, “I feel all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with terrible resolve” (Setterfield). The statistics for the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack are that America had roughly 320 choppers and carriers that were destroyed, 2,403 casualties were caused, and nearly 1,000 injuries (“Pearl Harbor”).

This is a very interesting set of historical events. Many people believe that nothing happens on their birthday, but that is not the case. December 6 has held many historic events that people have remembered. The attack on Pearl Harbor could have been the most memorable one that everyone is aware of. However, some of these events are very interesting but not publicized now at this point in time. These historical events are all important in their own ways, and people should pay them all a little attention.

References

1. The Attack: Original radio broadcasts, photographs, and personal testimonials from survivors.
2. Government Documents: Documents detailing the attack, like President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech to Congress.
3. “At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor” by Gordon W. Prange.
4. “Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness” by Craig Nelson.
5. “Day of Infamy” by Walter Lord.
6. Articles from “The Journal of American History” or “Pacific Historical Review” focus on the causes, the attack itself, or the aftermath.

Pearl Harbor: A Place of Waiting, Diversity, and Sacrifice During World War II

Shifting Tides: The Precursor to Pearl Harbor and the Unfolding Drama of Global Involvement

A war was brewing up on the European front, where Germany was rising to power once again, like World War 1. The United States attempted to refrain from entering a war that did not correspond to them. Although the United States did not physically enter the war when it broke out, the United States did offer its help by sending weapons over to Britain. The people from the United States were not fond of entering a war that did not involve them in any way.

It seemed that after World War 1, the war spirits had died down after many lives were lost in order to return peace to the world. The tide changed on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese decided to attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where many lives were lost. This not only opened the doors for the United States’ entry into the war but also to how the world would view the United States after. As well as how Hawaii responded to the changes that it would take on from the start of Pearl Harbor to the end of the war.

To understand why Hawaii became a place where it was neither “home front” nor “war front,” we must comprehend why the Japanese decided to attack on the Pacific side instead of striking against Russia, which at the time was at a weak point. Although the United States was not involved in the war directly, the United States kept a close eye on what was going on in Asia, especially with China. The United States saw China as a trading center and for cheap labor. Around 1937, the Japanese conquered parts of China, which caused the United States to impose an embargo on goods that were being sent to China. This enraged the Japanese because some of the material that was exported to China was needed to keep their military running. By the summer of 1939, the Japanese had plans to push Russians out of China, but those plans were backed up. Instead, it turned into a disaster for the Japanese, causing the neutrality pact to be signed between Russia and Japan in 1941.

Before the Russians and Japanese had signed the neutrality pact, the Tripartite Pact was signed on September 27, 1940. This pact was between Germany, Japan, and Italy, which stated that if any of the three were to be attacked by a non-European nation, then they would back them up. The only reason for this pact was to pressure the United States to retreat from imposing embargos on the Japanese, but in return, they got more sanctions than before. Upon this happening, the Japanese were further angered, so they created a plan that would end the war with the United States and other European countries. Thus, the Pearl Harbor attack was created, which only encouraged the United States to enter the war, which would later change the cards in favor of the Allies.

Cultural Diversity and Conflicting Identities: Hawaii’s Complex Social Landscape Amidst War

Hawaii, at the time of the war, was a territory of the United States that had a natural harbor that housed most of its military and the newest weapon that was created. This was a perfect spot to weaken the United States temporarily. However, this did not affect the United States that much, for most of their weapon was not stationed at Pearl Harbor at the time, but it did cause a culture clash. Along with that, it brought many disillusions for most who were courageous enough to wander outside their comfort zone because the promise of paradise land that Hollywood depicted of Hawaii was nothing to what actual Hawaii was. The Hawaii that many sailors saw, as stated by Bailey and Farber, “‘ Believe me if Paradise is anything like this, I’ll take my chances in Hell’” (Bailey and Farber 32). The reason behind this was that Hawaii was a multicultural mixed race and contained heavy amounts of prostitution.

The island had a mass diversity of races that the mainland did not have. On the island, there were Hawaiians, Japanese, Chinese, Caucasian Portuguese, and Puerto Ricans. The percentage of white people was very minimal on the island, and the highest percentage of colored people was uncomfortable for those who were not used to it. Most sailors who entered the island had never seen such interaction on the mainland. On the mainland, the colored and white people were separate for the most part, as well as had separate sections in the cities where they all lived separated from each other. So, entering a place where everyone enjoyed their freedom to go anywhere was a shocker for most. This mass diversity caused a clash between the sailors and the natives of the island.

The Japanese held the highest percentage of the population, which made it difficult for the Japanese to live there. The reason for this was that the attack on Pearl Harbor was caused by Japan, so most thought the Japanese would betray them at one point. This caused conflicts to occur between sailors and the Japanese. Some Japanese even had to ditch their cultural beliefs and their way of dressing to make sure that people would not call them out. The mainland Japanese were sent to internment camps where their freedom was stripped away from them.

Lauren Kessler states, “In the spring of 1942, 112,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry… [were] ‘relocated’” (Kessler 1). Some of these people were American-born citizens who were raised with American ideology and had never gone to Japan. Simply for having Japanese blood, they were sent off to camps where they lived in the worst conditions ever. For Hawaii, the Japanese who lived there were not stripped of their freedom for the most part because they were needed for the farms or factory work. But for the most part, they were discriminated against for something they had no part in.

Unveiling the Shadows: The Underbelly of Pearl Harbor’s Impact on Hawaii’s Social Fabric

For those who entered Hawaii were sailors around the ages twenty to forty, who did not have a family of their own and were willing to fight in a war. Among these groups were also those who were looking for an adventure or trying to escape from the state they were in due to the depression of 1930. Nevertheless, a place called Honolulu was always packed with sailors either in bars, brothels, or movie theaters. Even though the island was under martial law, the sailor was separated from the downtown area, shopping center, and residential areas.

This was to create less conflict between the natives and the sailors. This meant that the sailors had to waste their money in order to have an adventure, but to most, it was expensive to even wander out of the camp. Most sailors would stay behind and gamble or play a pick-up game in Waikiki Bars. These pick-up games consisted of them sometimes having sex with each other, but it was not considered to be homosexual. The reason behind this was that the women population was very low.

This is where prostitution comes into the picture and has a great influence on how life was in Hawaii during the remainder of the war. There was a district where brothels were located, and it was called Hotel Street. This was the place where the men got their three minutes of satisfaction for only three dollars. Even though prostitution was forbidden for the most part in the United States, strict laws prevented anyone from doing it. For Hawaii, these laws were avoided, such as the May Act of 1941, which was not enforced. Why would this law and many others be avoided because the people of the island and the military thought it was the best way for the soldiers to take out their urges in this brothel than rape young women. Not only that, but the rates of venereal diseases were low.

It seemed that this was not only the reason for prostitution to remain open in Hawaii but also because great amounts of money were behind this industry. Jean O’Hara would soon find out that the chief of police, William Gabrielson, who controlled what brothel, would remain open or closed. The purpose for this was that the madams would pay a quota to Gabrielson to remain open, and they had to remain on the good side of him. For Jean O’Hara, she happened to land on the wrong side of Gabrielson. It went to a point where she was even beaten to near death by him for not following the rules.

These rules consisted, as Bailey and Farber highlight, “…may not visit Waikiki Beach, patronize any bars or better class cafes, own property or an automobile, have a steady ‘boyfriend,’ marry service personnel, attend dances, ride in the front of a taxicab or with a man in the back seat, wire money to the mainland, telephone the mainland without permission if the Madame, [and] be out of the brothel after 10:30 at night” (Bailey and Farber 109). This oppressed the rights of these women, which Jean O’Hara could not stand, which caused her to rebel against these rules for better treatment for all these women in this business.

Unity and Struggles: Diverse Experiences in Hawaii’s Crucible of War and Change

The women of the brothels were not the only ones who suffered through hardships but also African Americans. They seemed to be fighting a double war outside of home and at home. As Bailey and Farber emphasized, “‘It’s awfully hard for one to concentrate all his efforts towards the war when he has such a great battle to fight at home. Yet they tell us we are fighting for freedom. Maybe I am too young to understand” (Bailey and Farber 138-139). Many African Americans were not drafted out of the mainland because the government did not want them to get a taste of freedom and start a revolution at home. Those who were drafted were separated from the white people and given jobs like common laborers or cooking chefs.

The jobs were always lower ranking and jobs that they would never be able to scale up the chain. This led some African Americans like John Hope Franklin to start to not enlist in the army, which was not something that the government wanted. In the end, they had to compromise with them, but it still was not enough for them. For those African Americans who entered Hawaii, they still saw discrimination, but they also saw freedom due to seeing all these colored people walking freely without having to worry about not being allowed in. Even though “approximately 200 [African Americans] lived on the islands” (Bailey and Farber 2), they still did not feel left out.

All these interactions between various cultures and races brought conflicts among each other on the island, but in the end, they were still united for one cause. The cause was the war that the United States was entering to take revenge for the lives that were taken to Pearl Harbor. Everyone took their part in showing their support, and it did not matter if you were a soldier preparing to go to war or a prostitute helping a soldier to enjoy themselves with the little time they had on the island. They all did their part.

Along with this, it also brought up inequality among many races and genders who did not have the same rights as others, which only led to future movements to evolve from this conflict. Hawaii, for the most part, was the middle piece of the war in the Pacific, where the enemy would advance as well as the United States would push them back. In the end, Hawaii was not a “home front” nor a “war front; instead, it was a “place of waiting” (Bailey and Farber 31). A place where most feared being taken under the control of the Japanese and having to go under harsh rule. To a place where the sailors and soldiers would have the last chance to enjoy their last taste of life before they were shipped off to war, where they either came back or died.

References

1. Bailey, B., & Farber, D. (1992). “The Unfinished War: The World War II Service of a Group of Young Men from the American Midwest.” Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
2. Kessler, L. (2002). “Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family.” New York: Random House.