Watch Conscience and the Constitution

Conscience and the Constitution is a compelling documentary from 2000 that explores the little-known story of the conscientious objectors who refused to fight in World War II. These individuals were primarily Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps by the United States government simply because of their heritage. The film follows the personal stories of several of these men who faced the tough decision to either comply with the government's order or resist in the name of their beliefs.

The film begins by setting the historical context of the time, recounting the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor and the immediate aftermath. The United States government proactively implemented policies to deter potential spies and sabotage, which included the forced internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom had no ties to the Japanese government. The documentary then introduces several former conscientious objectors who describe their experiences during this turbulent period in history.

One of the central figures of the film is Frank Emi, a key organizer of the Japanese American Citizens League who eventually became a leader of the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee. Emi, along with other leaders who shared his beliefs, sought to challenge the loyalty questionnaire that was enforced in all internment camps. This questionnaire required Japanese Americans to answer 'yes' or 'no' to two questions. “Are you willing to serve in the armed forces?” and “Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any and all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power, or organizations?”

Many of the conscientious objectors, influenced by their Buddhist beliefs, were not willing to swear allegiance to any government or take up arms, which the questionnaire demanded. In response, the resistance leaders advised individuals to answer 'no-no' to both questions, effectively stating that they were unwilling to serve as soldiers for the United States or renounce their loyalty to Japan.

The film depicts how these conscientious objectors ultimately came to refuse induction orders, leading to their imprisonment and trial as draft dodgers. This decision was extremely difficult for these young men who were taught to honor and respect authority. Through interviews with the former internees, the viewers can understand the personal dilemmas these men faced as they were forced to confront and reconcile their beliefs with the expectations of their government and society.

One of the fascinating aspects of the Conscience and the Constitution is the historical footage and photographs interspersed throughout the film, which depict the conditions of the internment camps and the military tribunals. This helps to bring the story to life and underscores the stark reality of the injustices committed by the United States government during this time.

Another highlight of the documentary is the diversity of voices, with interviews from surviving conscientious objectors, historians, family members, and legal experts. In addition, the inclusion of writers, poets and artists such as Lawson Fusao Inada, Janice Mirikitani, and Jim Yoshida offer poignant insights into the creative expression of these incarcerated individuals.

Finally, the film ends by providing a historical context to the lasting impact the lessons learned from these early conscientious objectors had on later American social movements such as the Civil Rights Movement, and anti-war activism. Conscience and the Constitution; gives an interesting and fascinating insight into a little-known but significant historical event that tells us about the struggles of individual rights and government authority.

Overall, Conscience and the Constitution is an illuminating film that sheds light on a crucial turning point in American history. It is a poignant reminder of how individual beliefs can be challenged and altered by the forces of war and social pressure, and of the essential role that conscience plays in shaping the course of history.

Conscience and the Constitution is a 2000 documentary with a runtime of 56 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.