<Begin Segment 21>

TI: Going back to Tanforan, any other memories or stories about Tanforan?

FH: Well, not so much except that the one thing that I noticed, people lose things. So I said, "What we need here is kind of a center for lost and found." And the second thing I said, "People just came with what they could carry, and they're now asking how can they order some stuff? We need a catalog, Montgomery-Ward and Sears and Roebucks so they can order." So we got those books and kind of hut to, one of those little place, little barrack.

TI: So it became like a little, little ordering place.

FH: So we started the Center for Lost and Found and Ordering. And that was the first week we got that going, I still remember that. Second thing I remember was that there's people in the other world, outside world, that owned the hotel, owned businesses, big shots, in camp they're just a number and nobody even talked to them. I said, the same people, big shots over there, and everybody would kowtow, here in camp, there's no longer the powerful person. I said, "Boy, power is fleeting, circumstantial." Now we're all equal, we're just numbers. Before, they had all this influence. They'd get jobs, they'd get cars. So I noticed that. That's the second thing I noticed.

TI: And what did you think about that? Was that kind of a good feeling, or what did you...

FH: Well, I just thought that... well, I just thought, "That's the reality of life." And so just kind of... but I do remember thinking about that.

TI: How power and money...

FH: And the people that were powerful out there, you'd expect them to wield their influence to help the camp? No. They're lost. So circumstances changes the influence of individuals. Therefore, if you depend on wealth to give you power, well, if the wealth is a value there, but here it isn't, and money's equal. We get free food, free lodging, so you don't need wealth.

TI: So in those circumstances, what was important? If it wasn't wealth or money or connections, what were the important things?

FH: We're willing to serve and care. Love and caring was important. And this is why I have spoken to thousands, ten thousand people in, throughout the United States. My message, my message is that bombs and war will beget more bombs and war. The only answer for one safe world, a secure world, is love, fellowship, and caring. I don't know any other answer. So whenever I have a chance to get on a platform, that's my message. I put it different ways, but that's the message. You'll get tired of hearing me.

TI: [Laughs] Okay, back to Tanforan, you were talking about things you remembered. The second thing you mentioned was the, how wealth and power...

FH: Well, I just, yeah, it didn't count in camp.

TI: Right.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.