Speech #920248613

Many came as picture brides to strange and unknown men in a strange and alien land. Wherever and to whomever they came. these gentle women from the Far East brought warmth and stability and a semblance of family life. Though handicapped by language differences. and confronted with racial and ethnic antagonism. and hampered by the fact that being the latest of the immigrant groups to appear in America. they had to compete with earlier arrivals who had already established themselves. these sturdy. hard working Japanese immigrants contributed significantly to the early development of western America. In the State of Utah the development of the mines. the establishment of the sugar factories and the tomato canneries. the marketing of vegetable crops and the maintenance of the railroads. all basic industries in the early growth of Utah. were aided and enhanced by the labor and the ingenuity of the first generation Japanese immigrants. Perhaps more important than the material progress was the transmission of the cultural identity. the spirit and the essence of the East to enrich the great Western civilization. For to these hardworking Japanese men and gentle Japanese women were born sons and daughters in whose veins flowed the cultural heritage and traditions of old Japan. and yet as full fledged citizens of America. who were ready and anxious to participate in the great experiment to forge a new nation dedicated to the principle of individual freedom and dignity and equal opportunity for all. The Niseisecond generation--children learned early in life from their Issei parents the necessity of work. the meaning of honor and integrity. the value of education. the importance of excellence. Though oftentimes unaware of it. there existed in their selves an innate sensitivity to beauty and artistry and gentle spirituality that characterized much of their ancestors civilization. In the State of Utah. for nearly a half century. the Japanese immigrants from Japan and their American born family lived in peace and cordiality amongst their Mormon neighbors who also had experienced in their early history extreme persecution and hardship and almost insurmountable odds. So when disaster struck on December 7. 1941. and war was declared between their own country and the country of their forefathers. the Japanese Americans in Utah. with the exception of a few isolated incidents. were given very sympathetic treatment. Unlike the west coast where unreasoned hysteria and economic opportunism forced the government to mass evacuation and detention of all persons of Japanese descent.