Densho Digital Archive - Saburo Masada Interview (denshovh-msaburo-01-0025)

<Begin Segment 25>

KL: My wrap up question is why -- and you've, I mean, if you listen to the whole interview, I think you return to many answers to this question, but why is it important to tell these stories?

SM: Well, I think one of the important things is, I mean, that enhances it, is that people who went through it are able to share their stories, so it's a first, first... account. I mean it's not something in a book or told by somebody else. And since it's a first-hand account it, I think, has more relevancy and power to future generations, who need to know that this happened in our wonderful country and that it can happen to anybody if we are, if we don't remember that these things can happen and that we just keep quiet and just resign to the vocal ones having their way. And so telling the story hopefully will -- like George Santiana said, those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it -- that telling this past will help us not to repeat it in the future. Because the government kept it so quiet, it was important, to me, to let it be known, otherwise we'll repeat the past, we'll be condemned to repeat the past, since we don't know about it or since we've forgotten. So these memorials and your work and different park sites keep us reminded of an important part of our history, which can go wrong if we forget it. Yeah. But I think, of major events in history this seems so minor, but I think hearing it from voices of people who were, went through it, I wish I could hear voices of people in the Civil War telling about their experience or the signers of the Declaration giving their testimony. But we can just read about it in a book, and we don't have too many personal accounts of their experience. So I appreciate the Park Service doing this. Thank you.

KL: Well, I appreciate, from sort of a personal perspective, the chance to get to know you and have time like this and [inaudible] with you.

SM: Thank you.

KL: And on behalf of the National Park Service and anyone who watches this, thank you so much for sharing today and for all the...

SM: You're welcome.

KL: All the other efforts you're making.

SM: Again, Marion's connection with you came into this happening. If it was up to me, it wouldn't have happened.

KL: Oh no. [Laughs]

SM: Again, that's one of the Nisei traits. We just keep things undercover.

KL: You guys strike me as a pretty, pretty neat pair.

SM: Well, I learn a lot of from -- she prods me all the time and I do a lot of the work, but without that I wouldn't have done it. So it's a good teamwork.

KL: Yeah. Well, thank you.

SM: You're welcome.

KL: Thank you, unless there's anything you want to add?

SM: No, that's it.