<Begin Segment 34>

TI: So, boy, that's the end of my prepared questions. Is there anything else that you wanted to, to say or mention? When you think about this interview, and this interview will be around for, hopefully, hundreds of years, is there anything you want to tell the future about, about your life or anything?

MT: I think it's a great thing, this Densho program, because so many people are not aware of the hardship, sadness, that the Isseis and Niseis had to go through. And it will be carried on. And here, not too long ago, a friend of mine, a Caucasian family, their daughter lives in Boise. And her daughter, so she's in her teens, wanted to write up about the Japanese. And they got in contact with me and wanted me to send 'em information. And I think it's a great thing that the Caucasian people, some are aware of it, and more and more are getting aware of what can happen, what did happen and what could happen to other minority groups in the country. And so often, with the younger people, when they hear about evacuation and things, so often the question is, "Why did you go? Why didn't you refuse to go?" Times were different, and I think, whether, because we were Japanese ancestry, the background, I think we really had no desire or ability to resist that. Where today, a group, whether we're Japanese Americans or what minority group, it would be pretty hard to convince the American public that we are, as a minority, we're a dangerous group that had to be sent away. And if they tried to do it, I think there would be a lot of people that, not the ones that are being persecuted, but they would fight against the government, against something like that. And I think this is the biggest thing of today, prejudice is not as strong or emotionally involved as they were fifty, sixty years ago. Prejudice against Orientals, definitely very, very strong years ago. Today, there's a certain amount of prejudice against the new immigrants like the... what is it, the Iranians and Arabic people. But I don't think it's as strong as it was against the Orientals of pre-World War II.

TI: And do you think it's because America learned something from what happened to Japanese Americans?

MT: I think they did, and I think we're a little more smarter, we're a little more educated. Prejudice is something that you very, very seldom hear the term "Jap" or "A-rab," derogatory terms. Where there, the beginning of World War II, I mean, not only against Asians, but German or Italian, I mean, the word "Wop," I don't think even a lot of people today, I don't think know what the term "Wop" means. Where I mean, it's a derogatory term towards Italians. Germans, I don't know what they call em, "Krauts" and things. I don't think the younger people would, if you said he's a "Kraut" or he's a "Dago" or a "Wop," I don't think they would even know. So I think we're much more educated and much more refined in our way of thinking. And I think it's a gradual thing that came around, but it's a great thing that it's, it's here with us today. And I don't think there'll ever be a minority group being evacuated or being treated the way the Niseis and Isseis were. Isolated individuals, yes, it's very possible. But as a group, I don't think it'll ever happen.

TI: Well, I hope you're right. And so, Mits, thank you. This was an excellent interview, and I think it's a great way to end the interview, so thank you.

<End Segment 34> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.