Afterwards, we were treated to a tour of the museum by a docent which culminated in an origami art project for the kids.  

There is one ongoing exhibit at the museum which is what we received the tour of.  And while the exhibit purports to describe 130 years of Japanese American history up to the present day, the overwhelming amount of time was spent on the experience of Japanese Americans during World War II.  Out of fear that Japanese Americans might decide to aid Japan, Japanese Americans were rounded up and incarcerated in remote places (such as Arizona and Wyoming) for part of the war.  Oftentimes this included their non-Japanese spouses and their children, and it often resulted in the loss of the property and businesses in the meantime.  Truly a painful experience.

I was just surprised that this was the major emphasis in the exhibit.  I remember a few cases of artifacts, luggage, etc. detailing the early days of Japanese immigration to American during the late 19th century.  I don't remember any information on Japanese Americans since World War II.  I trust there must have been something that I missed.  But without a doubt the most time and the most memorabilia was dedicated to the incarceration period during World War II.

Again, this is definitely a crucial aspect of Japanese American's experience.  It must have been hugely traumatic, and there are those that see parallels between this period of US history and our current struggles over illegal immigrants from south of our border.  But I would have been very interested to hear more about the contributions of Japanese Americans after the incarceration.  How has the community rebounded?  What was learned?  Who are prominent Japanese Americans - both as individuals as well as corporations?  What about Little Tokyo just outside the museum - what sort of neighborhood is it and how does it compare with other Japanese enclaves around the nation?  

So much information that I would think is available and would be of interest.  I don't wish to either forget or ignore the past - particularly a past where different people within our borders have suffered different situations in the interest of freedom.  It's a good reminder of what fear can do, and how fear can compromise the principles our nation stands for if we aren't very, very careful.  But I came away wondering whether or not a community or a culture can or should define themselves by moments of great tragedy?  Is there a risk in that preservation of a past identity?  Is it a betrayal to say that whatever indignities and abuses our particular people suffered in the past will not define us?  

Or is it the duty of the offspring to perpetually maintain the injured identity of their ancestors or parents?  Is forgiveness ever possible or desirable?  Or are those ultimately capitulations in a melting pot context?