In Defense of Internment
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In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World War II and the War on Terror (ISBN 0-89526-051-4) is a 2004 book written by American conservative columnist, blogger, and pundit Michelle Malkin.
In the book Michelle Malkin discusses the circumstances behind US President Franklin Roosevelt's decision for the Japanese internment in the United States during World War II.
The book has raised a great deal of controversy. In particular, Japanese American groups have been critical of the book.
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[edit] Writing of the book
On her website, Malkin says:
- I was compelled to write this book after watching ethnic activists, historians, and politicians repeatedly play the World War II internment card after the September 11 attacks. The Bush Administration’s critics have equated every reasonable measure to interrogate, track, detain, and deport potential terrorists with the "racist" and "unjustified” World War II internment policies of President Roosevelt. To make amends for this "shameful blot" on our history, both Japanese-American and Arab/Muslim-American activists argue against any and all uses of race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion in shaping current homeland security policies. Misguided guilt about the past continues to hamper our ability to prevent future terrorist attacks.
In researching the book, Malkin examined primary records from the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. She also examined intelligence records from the period including MAGIC intelligence reports on the activity of Japanese agents.
[edit] Response to In Defense of Internment
The book proved to be highly controversial when published, with Asian-American groups in particular being highly critical. John Tateishi, the Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League issued a media release on August 24, 2004 stating "Michelle Malkin's book 'In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World War II and the War on Terror' is a desperate attempt to impugn the loyalty of Japanese Americans during World War II to justify harsher governmental policies today in the treatment of Arab and Muslim Americans."
There was considerable media interest in the book especially on the West Coast of the US and Hawaii where the impact of internment in World War II was greatest. As a result of the interest in the book, it made the New York Times bestseller list in September 2004.
[edit] See also
- Japanese American internment
- Attack on Pearl Harbor
- Executive Order 9066
- September 11, 2001 attacks
- Racial profiling
[edit] External links
- In Defense of Internment Web Site
- Muller and Robinson on Malkin: Two Historians Respond to In Defense of Internment
- "The Turncoats on Niihau Island" by Michelle Malkin
- "Racial profiling in WWII and war on terror"
- "The internment taboo"
- Model Minority article on In Defense of Internment
- Media Matters article on In Defense of Internment
- Michelle Malkin Book Buzz page including statement from John Tateishi and claim of bestseller status
