The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet read and analyze.

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
For a long time, America has allegedly treated its immigrants negatively. The hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet presents the case of how America treats the Japanese and Chinese immigrants prior and after the Second World War. Different immigrant groups continue to raise their voice against these issues and negative treatment but little changes have been made. This paper evaluates two perspectives; one is the treatment of the Japanese immigrants in America prior to the Second World War as well as the issues that arose in the treatment of Japanese immigrants after the Pearl Harbor incident. Prior to the Second World War as well as years later, the treatment of Japanese and other immigrants has been poor and negative.
The reading, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet presents the case of Henry and Keiko who create a bond due to the prevailing situation in their lives. The two have been bullied while living in America due to their race. Although most immigrants are kind and have a strong spirit, the ill treatment towards them brings them down (Clouther 15). Additionally, these individuals are judged according to their appearance and ethnicity. The immigrants are identified by their color and the jobs that they do. Additionally, their predecessors and what they did stereotype these individuals. In this perspective, American citizens maintain a negative view towards the immigrants who mostly form part of the minority groups. Most of the current treatment towards the Japanese immigrants is due to the events during the Second World War.
Racism and prejudice are the events, which followed the relocation that took place following the Second World War. Following the declaration made by the United States and Britain towards Japan, the Executive order 9066 was signed. The order provided that all Japanese immigrants be relocated from America from the West Coast of America. This situation led to the relocation and incarceration of about 122,000 men, women, and children who were of Japanese ancestry. The mass incarceration did not affect some of those who lived in Hawaii despite the events that took place at Pearl Harbor (Sandler 109). The little effects and little movement as well as minimal incarceration of Americans in Hawaii indicated that their mistreatment and mass movement from the American west coast was motivated by other factors other than the military perspective. The movement was motivated by racism. The attack on Pearl Harbor during the war was a scapegoat that other individuals used in order to make a case for the removal of Japanese Americans. Additionally, the real issues included agricultural interests in the land that these individuals had occupied for a long time. In this case, the politicians rallied towards the removal of Japanese Americans from the western coast.
The mass movement of Japanese Americans from their residence on American soil changed the perspective of other immigrant groups. It also depicted how Americans thought of the immigrants who had lived amongst them for a long period. For example, the Japanese felt that they needed to stick together and fight the uproars against them on American soil. Furthermore, the minority groups felt the urge and need to pull together as they saw that the Americans were rising against them (Jane and Harry, 78). For example, the bond between Henry Lee and Keiko Okabe gets stronger and depicts the growing bond between the immigrants during the period after the Second World War. Additionally, prior to the period other immigrants did not find a reason to unite. Different immigrant groups had their daily activities, which did not involve close interactions with the other groups. Furthermore, different immigrant groups viewed that their challenges were personal and could not be handled as a group. The unity among immigrants was not significant during the earlier periods. However, the significance of stable relationships between the immigrant groups is that the resistance increased towards the oppression and harsh treatment from the Americans.
The attitudes towards Japanese Americans who were born in America and those who are immigrants were different. For those who were born in America, the native considered them more loyal than the immigrants. In this perspective, the relationship between these two groups of was not stable, as the local has favored one group while another was victimized and treated negatively. The indifference in treatment and view for both groups made the two groups to treat each other’s differently (Gordon, and Gary, 56). The immigrants were perceived as immigrants and although America was at war with Italy and Germany, the immigrants from these locations were not receiving the same treatment. The preferential treatment towards some individuals in the same situation indicates that Americans have prejudice towards the Japanese Americans. Additionally, the issue of war between the two countries was the most significant factor in this situation, which led to the victimization of the Japanese Americans in American soil.
Clearly, the situation of love and hate is evident in the case of Lee, Okabe, and their environment (Clouther 75). Although the two are desperate to be with each other, it is evident that their environment does not allow them to be long. Harry wears the “I am Chinese button,” because he wants to make a joke about his identity. It indicates that the situation has caused frustration and led individuals to accept themselves as a minority. Furthermore, an individual is judged according to how they appear. For example, recently since the 9/11 immigrants who are Muslim believers have received the harsh treatment. Additionally, the negative treatment extends to immigrants who are from the Middle Eastern region continue to receive similar treatment as their Muslim brothers and sisters. Prejudice appears to be the most significant issue that has led immigrants like Harry to take in the victimization to the next level (Clouther 48). Furthermore, the negative perspective and ill treatment towards these individuals appears to have ill motives such as political reasons rather than valid reasons.
Different immigrant groups have given a hard time for their children who try to intermarry with the immigrants. In most cases, the intermarriages are seen as a search for visa or permanent residency rather than merely love. Furthermore, it is evident that intermarriages are seen in negative light, not only by the parents but also by societies. In this case, marriages mostly take place among individuals who share the same culture or experiences in America. The American citizens intermarry while the immigrants are viewed as ill motived when it comes to love. Furthermore, the differences in culture between the Americans and immigrants indicates that other individuals are not willing to overcome the stereotypes as these individuals are looked down upon. Keiko did not look for Harry because she felt that Harry had changed and she did not like the change. Additionally, the perspective that Harry had taken earlier on therefore offended Keiko, she did not feel like associating further with him.
In most case, the discrimination ranges from security to jobs as immigrant groups are not treated with the respect that they deserve. Furthermore, the treatment of Japanese immigrants in America after Pearl Harbor and the same for Muslims after 9/11 appears similar. In this perspective, the two groups have been treated negatively owing to the generalization of actions taken by members of their larger group (Lyon 89). For example, Muslims have been viewed as violent and terrorists in America and are highly victimized and considered as a security threat in the land. On the other hand, following Pearl Harbor, Japanese immigrants were considered as violent and disloyal aliens who took for granted the peace and welcome that they had received in America. Although the American society is modern and civilized, stereotypes continue to affect the relationship and how other individuals are treated especially in the case of immigrants.
Conclusion
Immigrant groups have fallen victim to generalization and the depiction as inferior groups. In this perspective, any situation linked to an immigrant group in America has led to profiling of the entire lot and the creation of stereotypes for specific groups. Additionally, opportunities are not evenly distributed to all the residents in America. Although the nation prides itself as a land of opportunity and civilization, the treatment of immigrant groups in the country tells a different story. The harsh treatment ranges from free services to commercial services thus indicating that probably the immigrants are not wanted in America.

Works Cited
Clouther, Kevin. “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”. BloggerBurn Press. 2008. Print
Gordon, Linda and Gary Y. Okihiro (eds.), Impounded: Dorothea Lange and the Censored Images of Japanese American Internment. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006.
Lyon, Cherstin M. Prisons and Patriots: Japanese American Wartime Citizenship, Civil Disobedience, and Historical Memory. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2012.
Sandler, Martin. Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans during World War II. New York: Walker of Bloomsbury, 2013.
Jane L. Scheiber and Harry N. Scheiber. “Martial law in Hawaii,” Densho Encyclopedia. 2014. Print.