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A review by angelarwatts
What Was Pearl Harbor? by Patricia Brennan Demuth
Upon reading 'What Was Pearl Harbor', written by Patricia Brennan Demuth, I found that through the whole book, not once did the author say that the Japanese were at fault for bombing Pearl Harbor. Not once did the author say this act of war was shameful or disgraceful.
I did find, however, that the author shows us how the US ordered Japanese-Americans to be put into camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The author describes this act as 'shameful' on the US's part. The author also says that America atomic bombing Japan was shameful, as well. How can the author write a whole book on Japan attacking Pearl Harbor, and not say that act on Japan's side was shameful? Why is it that when America took action in the war, that was disgraceful? I do agree that the consequences of the nuclear bombs that the US dropped on Japan were shameful- but what the author did not mention was that the US did not know the bombs would have such consequences.
And as for the Japanese-American being put into camps: they were not mistreated. The author does not say this, she only says how 'shameful' this action was, once again, on America's part. It was not shameful- that was the measures of war, fair or not fair, like it or not. Japan bombed America first. It was a precaution on the US's part to separate the Japanese-Americans for safety- I am not saying the Japanese-Americans were not innocent. I am saying that it was not shameful for America to put them in camps during the war. That's how war goes. Not only was it safer that way for America to make sure the Japanese-Americans were not spies/against America- it protected the Japanese-Americans, too. If the Americans were angry at Japan for the attack, it is likely they would have taken it out on the Japanese-Americans in America.
How is it shameful for America to separate the Japanese-Americans into camps, but not shameful for Japan to bomb the US?
I am sorely disappointed with this book, and the way it represented the attack on Pearl Harbor, and how America fought back. I do not think this books gives a fair or truthful statement of what happened, especially for younger readers.
I did find, however, that the author shows us how the US ordered Japanese-Americans to be put into camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The author describes this act as 'shameful' on the US's part. The author also says that America atomic bombing Japan was shameful, as well. How can the author write a whole book on Japan attacking Pearl Harbor, and not say that act on Japan's side was shameful? Why is it that when America took action in the war, that was disgraceful? I do agree that the consequences of the nuclear bombs that the US dropped on Japan were shameful- but what the author did not mention was that the US did not know the bombs would have such consequences.
And as for the Japanese-American being put into camps: they were not mistreated. The author does not say this, she only says how 'shameful' this action was, once again, on America's part. It was not shameful- that was the measures of war, fair or not fair, like it or not. Japan bombed America first. It was a precaution on the US's part to separate the Japanese-Americans for safety- I am not saying the Japanese-Americans were not innocent. I am saying that it was not shameful for America to put them in camps during the war. That's how war goes. Not only was it safer that way for America to make sure the Japanese-Americans were not spies/against America- it protected the Japanese-Americans, too. If the Americans were angry at Japan for the attack, it is likely they would have taken it out on the Japanese-Americans in America.
How is it shameful for America to separate the Japanese-Americans into camps, but not shameful for Japan to bomb the US?
I am sorely disappointed with this book, and the way it represented the attack on Pearl Harbor, and how America fought back. I do not think this books gives a fair or truthful statement of what happened, especially for younger readers.