Finances are of vital importance

It is a true saying that you cannot live without money. Finances are of vital importance in the lives of all the inhabitants of the earth. There may be some places where money is not the medium of exchange, but some form of commerce must be used to meet the necessities of life.

People who do not work or earn money or are not endowed with money must find a way to obtain funds. Very often, people work for the money they receive. Dollars are exchanged for time and experience. They get paid to do a job or some kind of service.

People sometimes beg, borrow, or steal to get what they need or the money to buy the things they feel they need. Beggars on the street are not exempt from the need for money. It is something that everyone needs to some degree.

Just as no one will get out of this life without trials, financial hardship can come to most people at some point in their lives. The challenge of securing funds that are not readily available can cause a lot of stress and difficulty. Sometimes it is through no fault of their own that people suffer the consequences of not having enough money.

That’s what happened to Japanese-Americans during World War II, when about 120,000 people of Japanese descent in the United States were forcibly driven from their homes on the West Coast. They were placed in what are known as American concentration camps. Barracks and other hastily constructed buildings in these camps were placed in remote and desolate areas of the country. People were taken there and imprisoned, most of them during the war.

As soon as the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy occurred, Americans and immigrants of Japanese descent were immediately considered enemies. Most of those who lived in the United States were American citizens. Their lives were immediately thrown into chaos when their bank accounts were frozen and their livelihood was threatened. They faced extreme financial difficulties as most of them lost almost everything they owned. Their material assets were stripped away and financial ruin loomed as the likely consequence of their losing their jobs. Life was dark and uncertain.

After spending more than three years in the unjust confinement of the camps, these people were released at the end of the war. They tried to restart their lives and tried to make money again. The financial problems were many and extreme. However, most persevered and eventually made it through.

How they did it? They were successful because they worked hard. Although they continued to face racism and discrimination after the war ended, they did not give up. They faced many adverse financial situations and problems, but they pressed on with determination. Future generations benefited from her determination and hard work.