Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2013-10-24 Oct 24, 2013In the twentieth century, the United States government forced 100,000 United States citizens into concentration camps. In 1941, American citizens of Japanese descent were herded into concentration camps run by the United States government. Like the victims of other mass deportations, these Americans were allowed to retain only the property they could carry with them. Everything else—including family businesses built up over generations—had to be sold immediately at fire-sale prices or abandoned. The camps were “ringed with barbed wire fences and guard towers.” During the war, the federal government pushed Central and South American governments to round up persons of Japanese ancestry in those nations and have them shipped to the U.S. concentration camps. ... the incarceration of Japanese-Americans continued long after any plausible national security justification had vanished. ... what if the war had gone differently? What if a frustrated, angry America, continuing to lose a war in the Pacific, had been tempted to take revenge on the “enemy” that was, in the concentration camps, a safe target. Would killing all the Japanese be a potential policy option? In 1944, by which time America’s eventual victory in the war seemed assured, the Gallup Poll asked Americans, “What do you think we should do with Japan, as a country, after the war?” Thirteen percent of Americans chose the response “Kill all Japanese people.”~ David B. KopelFifty-one percent of a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still remain democratic.~ Erik von Kuehnelt-LeddihnDemocracy in itself does not define or guarantee a free society. History has told many stories of democratic societies that have degenerated into corruption, plunder, and tyranny.~ Richard M. Ebeling Oct 23, 2013In war, truth is the first casualty.~ Aeschylus[W]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall of choice dismiss the olive branch and unfurl the banners of War.~ Alexander HamiltonNo protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.~ Alexis de Tocqueville Oct 22, 2013The great writers to whom the world owes what religious liberty it possesses, have mostly asserted freedom of conscience as an indefeasible right, and denied absolutely that a human being is accountable to others for his religious belief. Yet so natural to mankind is intolerance in whatever they really care about, that religious freedom has hardly anywhere been practically realised, except where religious indifference, which dislikes to have its peace disturbed by theological quarrels, has added its weight to the scale.~ John Stuart MillThere is not anything, which has contributed so much to delude mankind in religious matters, as mistaken apprehensions concerning supernatural inspiration or revelation; not considering that all true religion originates from reason, and cannot otherwise be understood, but by the exercise and improvement of it.~ Ethan AllenEvery man prefers belief to the exercise of judgment.~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca Oct 21, 2013But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.~ Andrew JacksonAny philosophy worth considering must attempt to account for the existence of evil in the world.~ Elie KedourieCivilization is nothing else but the attempt to reduce force to being the last resort.~ José Ortega y Gasset Oct 18, 2013I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.~ Adam SmithAny fool can criticize, condemn and complain -- and most fools do.~ Dale CarnegieWhat is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print