What was similar in the Holocaust and Japanese internment? What was different about them?

1 answer

The Holocaust and Japanese internment were both instances of mass discrimination and violation of human rights. However, there were some differences between the two events.

Similarities:
- Both the Holocaust and Japanese internment involved the forced relocation and confinement of a specific group of people.
- Both events were fueled by prejudice and discrimination against a particular group of people.
- Both events resulted in the loss of property, homes, and businesses for the affected individuals and families.
- Both events had a significant impact on the lives of those who were affected, causing long-lasting trauma and emotional distress.

Differences:
- The Holocaust was a systematic genocide of Jews and other minority groups, while Japanese internment was a result of fear and suspicion of Japanese Americans during World War II.
- The Holocaust resulted in the death of millions of people, while Japanese internment did not result in any deaths.
- The conditions of the internment camps were different. The Japanese internment camps were generally less harsh than the concentration camps of the Holocaust.
- The aftermath of the events was different. After the Holocaust, there was a widespread effort to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure that such atrocities never happened again. In contrast, the US government did not formally apologize for Japanese internment until 1988.