We don't seem to learn from history

Recently I attended a seminar at College of DuPage titled "Hidden Memory," conducted by Anne Shimojima, who provided insight into the World War II internment of Japanese Americans, on the West Coast of the United States and the suffering these people, both Japanese, that legally emigrated to the U.S. many years earlier, as well as many American citizens of Japanese decent endured while they were interred, as well as the consequences they suffered both before and after they were rounded up and moved to these camps during the war.

One of the startling points, that was brought out was that this decision to inter these people by FDR was made as an executive decision, even though various intelligence experts that advised him at the time had indicated such internment was not necessary or needed to protect the country.

This revelation appears to be just one more example that history can often repeat itself, and the fact that we just never seem to learn from history, as apparently is evidenced now by Mr. Trump's latest executive decision, which appears to be contrary to even what many of his national security experts and advisers had indicated is not necessary to strengthen our border security.

But then again, we are dealing with an individual who does not appear to be well versed in historical fact, among other things, even though he claims to be among the most intelligent people in the world. I wonder how the history books will document this decision 50 years from now? Unfortunately he does not seem to really care about that, but rather only the affirmative coverage he wants to read about himself in present day terms.

Charles Kliche

Lombard