Executive Order 9066

     I enjoy the innocence of this poem, In Response to Executive Order 9066.  The opening line of her letter has young and naïve written all over it, “Of course I’ll come. I’ve packed my galoshes and three packets of tomato seeds.”(lines 2-3)  The US government had ordered all Japanese American citizens to relocation centers during WWII to ensure no spies were trading secrets.  And to think this little girl says willingly “Of course I’ll come.” She had no idea what her people were being subjected to, this was a dark time in the United State and segregating our own people, Japanese American citizens that had been here for years is unforgivable. 

     It takes this little girls innocent letter to make one realize that she is not a spy nor is her family.  She is as far removed from being Japanese as her white friend Denise, “I have always felt funny using chopsticks and my favorite food is hotdogs.” (lines 8-9) These thousands of families all had stories like this, none of them came to America to be Japanese they came here to be American. 

     Because of our ignorance, this young girl is shunned by her best friend.  One could blame it on her parents for putting the idea into her head, but the media is more than likely the culprit.  Why else would an average 14-year-old girl say: “You’re trying to start a war, giving secrets away to the Enemy.  Why can’t you keep your big mouth shut?”(lines 18-20)  As if this young Japanese American girl has direct contact with the Japanese Government.  I really can’t compare any experience in my life to what this girl went through, not many people can, and any attempt would be a disgrace to what her and her family went through.  Do I think it’s effective to have this young girls letter representing this complex historical event? No, but it is a lot easier to read than a recount of the deaths and loss the Japanese Americans suffered.