Smyrna times., 1944-05-04

Well, Well, Well Jimmie! Drib-
bles certainly did enjoy your letter.
This is the first time that the jap
anese-American question has ever
entered this column. However, now
that it has had such solid start,
let's give it a bit of run. To use
your very own expression, Sound
off,"
Soldier, when you are summing
up this question, do not forget that
you can depend pretty much upon
folks back home to watch out for
your interests while you are away
in the Service. Those you left be-
hind are the very same stock from
which you sprung, and although
they may seem asleep at times,
fact is they are just resting. There
are not many of us who have any
more desire to import Japanese
Americans here than you and your
buddies would have. If you have
been keeping up on the situation,
you will have noted that the Della
ware State Grange were not the
only ones who turned thumbs down
on the idea. Of course, there is a
farmer here and there who would
try out the Japs because they sell
their services so cheaply. think,
if 1 recall correctly, in recent
case of this kind over in New Jer-
sey, there was but one farmer who
held out to extremes. That's not a
bad record for a state the size of
that one. You're bound to locate
an exception to prove any rule.
Frankly, the American people are
not partial to the Japanese = not
after reading about happenings out
there in the Pacific. And it will
take quite long time to change
this prejudiced opinion-right or
wrong.
Of course, Jimmie, there crops
up the question of what to do with
naturalized Japanese Americans ?
Since the day that the first foreign
ers came to America, this Country
has been welcoming in strangers to
the melting pot of the world. Quite
a number of mixed nationalities
composed the leaders, rank and file
of the Continental Armies. They
were just simple men, fighting with
courage in their hearts for those
things which they believed to be
just and right. And so on down
through time, all different nation
alities have made up the population
of this United States.
AS wars have occurred, and
drafts have been called, no one
stopped to consider if prospective
soldier, sailor or marine came
from any particular parentage. The
main thing has been, as it is now,
to gather together enough good
fighting men to win a war. In this
our Country has always been sue
cessful. I have often thought about
my own family tree when ancestors
are being discussed. Here I am
with a bit of English, French, Irish,
Scotch and Holland Dutch. This
looks like quite a mixture, even
when you say it quickly. But, so
is America, Jimmie.
Many of those from the nations
which we have hated in the past,
are at this moment our very closest
Allies. That is the way the wheel
of life keeps turning. AS great
Country, America has taken in ma
tionals from most every other divi-
sion of land on the globe. And, out
of the entire lot, strangely perhaps
to say, we have found very few
traitors. Once an American, most
always so. Check and double check
if you like. You'll find it true.
1 read where Representations
are taking part in some of the
European fighting, with still more
to follow them over. Certainly,
son, we must be fair and give
credit where due. Some of the
Japanese Americans have made
very creditable showings under fire
of battle. For this reason, even
though prejudiced, we must not
form too hasty an opinion about
these men. Among the group we
will no doubt find, many loyal,
courageous soldiers, an honor to
the land of their adoption. Those
twenty-eight Japanese Americans
down at Fort Mcclellan who re-
Gently refused to salute the Flag
and take military training, were
only about five percent of the total
group who acted in this manner. ]
agree by all means, this 5 percent
of Japs should have the works
however, the other 95 percent
should be given their chance to
show their worth. Now, what dc
you say Jimmie?
Drop us. line, son, and let all
of us know how things are going
Dribbles will always be glad tc
hear from you whenever you care
to send a letter through. Mean