In Defense of Internment

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In Defense of Internment
Book cover
Book cover
Author Michelle Malkin
Country United States
Language English
Subject(s) Racial profiling in law enforcement--United States--Case studies.
Law enforcement--United States--Case studies.
Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945.
War on Terrorism, 2001-
Publisher Regnery Publishing
Publication date 2004
Pages 376
ISBN ISBN 0-89526-051-4

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 U.S. 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.

Contents

[edit] Writing of the book

On her website, Malkin wrote:[1]

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.

[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 U.S. 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 Best Seller list in September 2004.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ michellemalkin.com, page date 6 Feb 2006, retrieved from archive.org's Wayback Machine

[edit] External links