<Begin Segment 44>

AL: Did you talk, did you and Art talk to your kids about your experiences in camp? Some people say they didn't talk to their kids at all, and people say they always did.

AO: Well, they would hear us talking when the family would get together and the sisters would be talking. They'd hear that, but not really sit down and talk about camp. It didn't seem to come naturally. So every time we'd talk somewhere, and there's a chance for them to be present, they'd try to take it in. A couple of my kids in school did write compositions about evacuation. They asked us questions then, and that's about it.

AL: You've talked about never wanting this to happen again. What do you think, in years to come, twenty, thirty, fifty years from now, if someone were to see this interview, what would you want them to know or think about just your life, and as you reflect back on your life?

AO: As I reflect back on my life, it's been a good life. And I've been blessed; things have... without effort on my part, it just all works out for the better, and things have come my way, and it's making life easy. It's like my mother's still looking after me.

AL: How has your faith, or has your faith formed your life? You were talking earlier today about your mother just wanted you to have a God to turn to. Do you think that has changed how you lived your life or responded to your life?

AO: It might be. I think there is a God, and I try to live my life that way. But, you know, I could be a Buddhist, too, and there would be God. So it doesn't matter, 'cause I've tried to learn a little bit about a lot of the religions of the world. And I think all of them are looking at the same God, and it's just a different approach, and different tenets that we live by. Whether it's been dictated by Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, or whoever. So that's my belief.

AL: Is there anything else that you'd like to share with us? We're just down to the last minute or so. Anything else you want us to know?

AO: The evacuation was a difficult time, and an upsetting time. But a lot of good has come out of it, and so I can't make it a totally negative experience for myself. But my reasons for wanting something like this not to happen is it's a blot on America. The Constitution does not allow for this, and I think if we really stuck to the Constitution, a lot of things would be better.

AL: Well, on behalf of Kristen and myself and the National Park Service, and anybody who will see this, I just want to thank you for your time today, for spending so much time with us, actually, five hours just of tape. Amazing, amazing life stories, and so we just really want to thank you professionally, and also Art for welcoming us into your home. Thank you very much.

AO: Thank you.

KL: Thank you.

<End Segment 44> - Copyright © 2013 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.