Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place. Today we shine a spotlight on a tremendous act of courage during a time of national hysteria.
This week in 1942, during World War II, President Roosevelt signed a Presidential order that resulted in every Japanese-American citizen living along the West Coast to be forced out of their homes without cause, and relocated into internment camps located in various isolated locations.
As part of the process a Congressional committee traveled to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle to collect the comments of Americans towards their Japanese-American neighbors. The public mood everywhere was overwhelmingly anti-Japanese. But the hearings in Portland stood out because it was the only city without any organized protest against the President's actions. In fact, only one person stood up to publicly support the Japanese-Americans in front of the committee. Her name was Azalia Peet from the city of Gresham. Far beyond appreciating diversity, Ms. Peet risked her life to state the truth when no one wanted to hear it.
Remember, you don't have to travel as far as Gresham, Oregon to find diversity. There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school. Find one today!
