Dwight and WWII

[liz]

In History class on Wednesday we talked mostly about Japanese internment in America during World War II. We mostly talked about the way Japanese-Americans were portrayed. My professor showed the Popeye cartoon "You're a Sap, Mr. Jap" and played the song called "We're Gonna Slap That Dirty Little Jap." Good times in History 110, as usual.

So anyway, I was just wondering, we all know how much Dwight loved his country and he was so honored to be doing it some service. My question is: as patriotic as Dwight was, do you think he bought into this whole "I hate Japanese people" thing? I can't see him doing it, he was such a nice man, but at the same time, he really did love his country...what do you guys think?

I guess I just don't see Dwight as the type of person who would buy into propaganda. :/

[Luna]

Excellent question Liz! I always enjoy sharing philosophy pertaining to those whom I like or admire:) And this certainly fits the bill!

It's difficult to know for certain. Every era has it's propaganda, even the current one in which we live. More often than not those who live in the era tend to be a part of the propaganda- to believe what is being put forth, and with the onset of WWII people of German and Japanese descent were feared greatly and the only reaction toward them seemed to be of the negative sort. This was a strong feeling for many people of that time, and there is a chance that Dwight may have believed this as so many others did. "If" he did I would venture to say that the belief was fear-based, rather than truly being hate-based, as so much propaganda often is. The threat of the war was very real and it could easily cause people to react in a bad way due to fear.

However, being the kind person that he did seem to be I would also say that there is a real chance that he didn't buy into the propaganda at all. Dwight was not one to be easily swayed by what was taking place around him, which is evident in the fact that he avoided living the more wild Hollywood lifestyle which surrounded him. He was grounded in his own very personal belief system and therefore it's likely that while he was patriotic he may have not been as open to propaganda concerning other people.

[Monk's Moll]

I have to agree, if anything it would indeed have been based on fear, a natural reaction. But then again, like Luna said, Dwight was not one to be easily swayed.