| Some of the attendants of the Asian American Association conference 2002, have decided to visit the site Topaz, former war camp for Japanese Americans. I decided to join them. On a sunny Sunday, we drove from Salt Lake City toward the camp. After a mistake of direction, we finally arrrived on the site at noon. Our young guide was waiting for us. My first impression was the feeling of loneliness and of infinity because it is a desert of wind and of sand surrounding by the snowing mountains. Nobody would guess that many years ago, people had been kept in capture in this place during the last great war. In the group, there was a woman from Japan who especially came to see Topaz where she was born. There were also descendants from the inhabitants of Topaz and tourists like me. Being a migrant myself and knowing the historical background of such a place, I felt very sad. Voiceless people kept in captivity because of their cultural origin, how did the Japanese American community cope with this humiliation? For survival purpose, they might forgive, but should they never forget the past. It was such a trip to the heart of humain being's worse mistakes that I learnt to stand up for causes, such as the Bill AB78 to introduce the "Secret War" in Laos in California schools. Remembering the past as a undeniable lesson is the only way to build the future. Topaz should be kept alive to remind all people that all human beings have the same rights to freedom and dignity whatever culture they belong, language they speak, economic status they live under. |
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"TOPAZ" My Visit to a Former American Concentration Camp for Japanese Americans during the 2nd World War Pictures taken in May 2002, Utah by Kao-Ly Yang, PhD |
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| Class. There are traces of intolerable gun shots on the plaque |
| Trace of a house |
| Our young guide in red shirt was showing the former place serving as bathroom |
| Plaque to remember |
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