Ronald Takaki’s anthology of Asian Americans covers A LOT of ground, including full chapters dedicated to each group. As you know, I don’t care for traditional reviews. In every book I’ve read, there is always something that sticks with me, and it is those somethings that I like to write about.

“Watershed of WWII” was the standout chapter for me. Many have said World War II was the turning point of the worlds modern age. Prior to the war the US was not the world power it is today, and a country’s strength was expressed through its Navy. Everything changed after the war. Airpower reigned supreme after the war. The US and USSR became the dominant forces. The nuclear age was born. Change was not lost on Takaki as he quotes Carlos Bulosan a Filipino American, “If I met him again,” says Carlos as he watches his brother leave for the Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, “I would not be the same. He would not be the same either. Our world was this one, but a new one was being born.” The weight of those words was heavier than anyone could have imagined.

The way “white America” would see these Strangers From A Different Shore was being forced to change. Thats not to say everything changed for the better–the myth of “military necessity” for Japanese internment camps is just one example. but people were forced to see, view… perceive Asian Americans differently. Quoting Filipino American Manuel Buaken, “No longer on the streetcar do I feel myself in the presence of my enemies. We Filipinos are the same– it is Americans that have changed in their recognition of us.” The battle for Batan earned the respect of America with Eleanor Roosevelt’s tribute to those who fought, “Fighting in Batan has been an excellent example of what happens when two different races respect each other. Men of different races and backgrounds have fought side by side and praised each other’s heroism and courage.”

So why, several days after reading so many different stories of troubles and triumphs Takaki presents did this particular section stick with me? Perhaps its because of my military background, seeing first hand the effects of war on peoples lives on both sides of a conflict. Experiencing the effects repeated deployments has on people and the way they are disregarded by the government of the country they were fighting for begins to change ones perspective; you see things differently. Either way time marches on and you do what you have to do to get by and help others do the same.

Lives of Asian Americans changed after the war. Lives of Americans changed after the war.