There are certain un-pleasant aspects of American History that Donald Trump and his followers would like to not dwell on or even teach in school. History includes the good, bad, and ugliness of the past. Trump believes only in teaching the good. He believes ignorance is bliss, but never the less, you can’t ignore the past, and Trump’s immigration policies are racing towards adding to history, especially the ugliness.

We should all be aware of how Nazi Germany began rounding up the “Undesirables” in the mid 1930’s. This model eventually morphed into concentration camps and the mass murder of Jews.

In American history we certainly have not lived thru anything like that which occurred in Germany. However, there are dark examples of how our government has detained and interned American citizens. We are living in one of those times now!

Throughout the 19th century Native Americans were bloodily forced into leaving their homes and land. For over 50 years they were pushed and herded onto reservations by the government. The government separated thousands of children from their parents and forced them into religious schools for the sole purpose of cleansing them of their heritage. These draconian policies were initiated by President Andrew Jackson, one of Trump’s heroes.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 Japanese Americans were forcibly sent to internment camps for the duration of the war. The history of this period can be seen in a documentary film by Williamsport native Lise Yasui.

Now, in July 2025, we have approx. 60,000 “immigrants” in various kinds of detention centers across the U.S. Are all these the people Trump accused of being murders and rapists? By all accounts two-thirds of the detainees have no criminal record. However, they are immigrants and people of color.

We are detaining literally thousands of people who have been working and paying taxes in this country for years. These are the folks that are planting, picking and packing the fruits and vegetables that help feed us. They are the people working under harsh conditions in the beef, pork, and chicken processing plants throughout the country.

It’s a sad dark day when DHS and ICE masked marauders are arresting an Iranian women who has lived here for 50 years and is a leader of her community. It is a sad day when the mothers and fathers of active U.S. military members are being arrested.

But the darkest days might not be here yet. One man (and there are no doubt many more), named Darren Beattie, is a Trump ally, speech writer, and now works in the State Department. How dangerous is he? His words: “Competent white men must be in charge if you want anything to work”. Beattie has also called for the sterilization of “low-IQ trash”. What’s coming next with this bunch?

JOHN YOUNG

Stevensville

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom