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They Called Us Enemy
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in They Called Us Enemy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
American Democracy and Civic Engagement
Racism and War
History and Education
Family, Community, and Trauma
Summary
Analysis
At the memorial cemetery in Rohwer, Arkansas, George and Brad stand in front of the memorial commemorating Japanese Americans who died in the camp World War II. George thinks of Barack Obama saying that his liberty depends on others being free as well. Obama insists that history can’t “justify injustice” or justify not making progress. Rather, history should be treated like a guide, so that people can avoid repeating past mistakes.
The monument commemorates Japanese Americans who died in Rohwer during World War II—and it’s one of only a few structures that remain where the camp once stood. By ending his narrative with an image of this monument and this quotation from President Obama, Takei reiterates that it’s foolish to forget the past, such as by allowing evidence of Rohwer to simply fade with time. Just as the memoir itself is a way for people to learn about Japanese internment, monuments can do much the same thing. A monument ensures that those who sacrificed their lives and their dignity during this time won’t be forgotten.
Themes
