<Begin Segment 20>

BN: So I want to just... I think we need to wrap it up, and I want to end by asking you a question, in part because I don't know the answer to it and I want to know how to answer it. Which is, given where we are today, what lessons can we draw from what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II, forced removal and incarceration? What value is there, can we take from that today?

AN: Well, I think it's a critical story, and the lessons we can learn, the obvious lessons of what can happen when a group is scapegoated and identified, when those who know better choose not to be stepping up and defending, so the need for justice-minded people to step up and be counted during these periods of time, the importance of us being willing to tell our story and be engaged in the broader scheme of things. And so to me, it continues to be, but it's like how do we move this on? I make the parallel in a very small way with Go For Broke. It's an important story, it's an important chapter, there's so much that can be learned, but it's not a story that stands on its own. As long as the vets are around it becomes outsized in terms of what it is, but fifteen years from now, it'll be part of a story. And it's how do we build it, the key pieces so that it continues to be a part of important stories and not the story. And redress is the same thing. Those of us that are directly involved in the camps, etcetera, we need to continue to be vocal, etcetera, but our perspective is always got to be, how do we extend it so it goes beyond that? The work that Densho's doing is obviously a part of that strategy, but it always concerns me that if you go outside California and the coasts, there are still people that don't understand what happened during World War II, and it's scary. But we're in a bubble, so to speak, and California, very people would say, "Oh, I've never heard of Manzanar." But outside of that, if you look, and especially with Republicans and all that, and the numbers of Republicans who feel the camps were justified, so it's frustrating, but it's figuring out how those of us that are around, that's what bothers me to a degree. That we spend so much time talking about camps and redress, but it's to ourselves. And it's great to see the people, but it's kind of depressing, when I go to something and I know seventy-five percent, eighty percent of the people there. Because you're going, okay, it's good to see everyone and to kind of get new ideas and whatever, but I'd much rather speak to, like I spoke to this Campbell Hall, this high school, to their assembly. That was fun, to speak to a much broader audience, because I've got to tailor the message so it's not so, quote, "JA." But it's got to take the personal stories, but make it relevant to, what would you do in this situation or when confronted with an issue of conscience, I kind of focus on those issues. There are people that stood up against the tide, because they knew it was wrong, and where would you be? So it's trying to personalize it, but that's the frustrating part to me, is that I don't want the story and the importance to die as the generation goes on. I applaud the work that Densho does, and the museum for continuing to tell that story, but it's kind of like how to continue to expand that. And that's something I don't know quite how to do, but we've to go to take, when we find teachable moments, find those opportunities to do that.

BN: Thank you. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

AN: No, I think I've talked quite a bit. Thank you, Brian.

BN: Thanks so much.

<End Segment 20> - Copyright © 2018 Densho. All Rights Reserved.