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VY: Why do you think it's important to document and share your experience with others? Why is this important?

MM: Probably I wouldn't think it's so important really, except that Caitlin asked me, and my mom sort of asked me. So really, I don't know that... I mean, if it can teach anybody anything, that would be great. I don't know that I have anything to teach anybody, and it's kind of like, I hope it's not like a soap opera. It is my experience, but I don't know that anybody really would care about my experience except myself. So I don't know. Basically I'm doing this because I think that there is a value in the future generations knowing what happened. Because unless we knew what happened in Germany, for instance, we wouldn't have that empathy for the Jewish people, for instance. And so on a general level, that would be the thing. Historically, I think, it's important to know what happens. Although history seems to keep repeating itself, so I'm not really sure. But it hasn't gotten that bad yet, but we don't know for sure until after the election, we won't talk about that. But I'm so happy right now because I won't say who I'm afraid of, but anyway, we don't know until after the election. So just generally speaking, we don't want repeat. I think the evolution happens on a very, very slow scale, although it's been accelerating more recently, I think, just having lived my life so long. It seems to be accelerating really fast, and hopefully it'll reach its peak in November and it'll be better. [Laughs] And history won't repeat itself, and hopefully things will get better for everybody, Blacks, browns, everybody. I hope we don't have any conflict. I just would like to live in a peaceful world, that's my biggest hope.

VY: Yes. Well, thank you so much. Are there any other unique or significant experiences that you've had that you'd like to share or anything else that you'd like to say before we conclude today?

MM: Not really. I think I've covered it pretty much. I talk a lot. [Laughs]

VY: We so appreciate that you are willing to come here and talk with us and share everything that you've shared. It is very important and it's so meaningful to be able to spend this time for with you and for other, knowing that other people and students and anybody else who wants to learn about this time in history and different things that you experience in your life, they'll be able to. It's so important. And I just want to thank you so, so much for joining us today.

MM: Thank you for asking me. As you can tell, I don't mind talking about myself. [Laughs]

CC: Thank you.

<End Segment 43> - Copyright © 2024 Densho. All Rights Reserved.