Meltdown! in Japan

[dales]

The Japanese are a remarkable society but the good and the bad balance out with appalling equality.


They are also among the most racist people on earth and committed atrocities far worse than the Nazis across Asia during their occupation. (most of which they have refused to acknowledge or atone for). They are deeply hated with justice, by even very young Chinese.


yrs,
rubato

Ask the Koreans.

Imperial Japan occupied the Korean Peninsula from 1905-1945.

It was NOT a happy time for the Korean people.

Are any Asian nations providing aid to Japan?

I've yet to hear of any.

[The Hen]

China, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore are giving aid.

[Lord Jim]

committed atrocities far worse than the Nazis across Asia during their occupation.

Atrocities, yes; but they didn't do the one thing that made the Nazis unique....

Applying the principles of industrial assembly line mass production to mass murder...

In any event, talking about the crimes of people misled 70 or 80 years ago has no relevance as regards the present crisis....

None of the people suffering here had anything to do with that; it's completely irrelevant.

[Lord Jim]

committed atrocities far worse than the Nazis across Asia during their occupation.

There's a callous, morally vacuous ugliness inherent in that statement that I believe deserves further comment....

It implies that the people suffering now in Japan, somehow, "had it coming"....

The fact of the matter is that the folks suffering in Japan today had no more to do with "The Rape Of Nanking" or "The Bataan Death March" or any of the other numerous atrocities committed under Imperial Japan in the 30's and 40's than you or I did....

The concept of "collective guilt" (let alone "collective guilt" that would stretch through generations across seven decades) was quite rightly rejected at Nuremberg....

Only ignorant, primitive people think in those terms....that's how "blood feuds" are kept going...

The folks in Japan who have been struck by this tragedy are every bit as much deserving of help as you or I would be in the same situation...they didn't, "deserve it".....

Shame on anyone who thinks otherwise.

[Grim Reaper]

It implies that the people suffering now in Japan, somehow, "had it coming"....

There have been quite a few people trying to label this disaster as some sort of karmic retribution over Pearl Harbor.

[Lord Jim]

There have been quite a few people trying to label this disaster as some sort of karmic retribution over Pearl Harbor.

If so, then those people are idiots.

That score was settled not "karmicly" but directly, in August 1945....twice...

The overwhelming majority of the people living in Japan today had as much to do with the attack on Pearl Harbor as the people of Norway....

And I say that as a person who has full respect for the historical significance of that "dastardly attack"...

I'm the guy who for years every December 7th has posted FDR's "Infamy" speech on these boards.

But it's simply irrational to blame people for things that happened before they were born...

Personally, I don't think that's a really difficult concept to grasp....

[rubato]

committed atrocities far worse than the Nazis across Asia during their occupation.

Atrocities, yes; but they didn't do the one thing that made the Nazis unique....

Applying the principles of industrial assembly line mass production to mass murder...

In any event, talking about the crimes of people misled 70 or 80 years ago has no relevance as regards the present crisis....

None of the people suffering here had anything to do with that; it's completely irrelevant.

It has immediate and powerful relevance for the present and the future. This is a great opportunity to disentangle a lot of the resentments which have been underneath many of the relations in Asia.

For the first time in history the Chinese government has had their press describe the Japanese in sympathetic terms. I think this is an example of how we are bound together as humans by our common understanding of suffering and our ability to show compassion. As long as the Japanese continued to be the "Supermen" of Asia who were the most powerful, richest, highest level of technical achievement their victims could only resent them more. But! When they see their former nemesis suffering, as they have suffered, they can approach them with compassion and offer aid as fellow humans. In accepting their help and compassion the Japanese acknowledge their common humanity, that neither is above the other and all of us can need the support of others. In accepting their help the Japanese are sending a powerful signal that "we are not above you".

The Chinese have not crowed about it, like some on this board did and some unthinking US celebrities did, they have for the first time shown compassion. A very positive step. We should encourage that.

What unites us all, as a species, is an understanding of struggle and suffering. What deepens hatred, in this case hatred which was earned, is for your tormentor to always be above you.

It would have been better for the Japanese to admit their wrongs and try to atone for them, as the Germans have done, but this is a chance to begin the process in a different way.

yrs,
rubato

[rubato]

When someone offers help, and it is accepted, the acceptance is a way of showing respect, of acknowledging the fundamental equality of the 'other'.

When the Chinese offer compassion and help, and the Japanese accept it, it is a powerful act. Signalling to those who have open eyes and ears that they can go forward on better terms than in the past.

yrs,
rubato

[Sue U]

There have been quite a few people trying to label this disaster as some sort of karmic retribution over Pearl Harbor.

If so, then those people are idiots.

There are an awful lot of idiots (as if any further proof were needed):

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/uplo ... merica.php

[oldr_n_wsr]

There have been quite a few people trying to label this disaster as some sort of karmic retribution over Pearl Harbor.

If so, then those people are idiots.

There are an Boyawful lot of idiots (as if any further proof were needed):

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/uplo ... merica.php

IMO, Little Man and Fat Boy settled that score. Other's opinions may vary.

[Big RR]

Actually, the entire war settled the score; yes,fat man and little boy killed a lot of people at once, but the fight to push them back to Japan and strip them of their warmaking abilities was broader than that, and set the stage for the new relationships with Japan.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Then I think we both agree, some people need to "let go".
but never having been in a position of having to kill in order to stay alive (aka war) who am I to judge

[Sue U]

Then I think we both agree, some people need to "let go".
but never having been in a position of having to kill in order to stay alive (aka war) who am I to judge

Virtually none of the morons making the Pearl Harbor comments are old enough to have fought against Japan 65-70 freakin' years ago!

Then there's the other crew of brickheads claiming earthquake/tsunami/irradiation is God's punishment for being not Christiany enough.

People are idiots and say stupid things, all the time, forever, the end. Gah.

[Rick]

I was stationed in Japan (late 70s) for the greatest part of my Naval "Career".

Loved the place.

Alot of the older folks weren't too keen on Americans, I told them I was Canadian.

Worked for all parties concerned.

Weeell maybe not so much for the Canadians...

[quaddriver]

Oddly, I find from watching the new reports, interviews, reading written materials the one thing the Japanese are NOT doing: bitching about it.

Contrast to say, oh I dunno, THIS country after, oh I dunno Katrina......

We might learn a few things? nah.

[loCAtek]

Oh, I love Japan! Been there a lot; had a past life there, loved it!

[The Hen]

interestingly enough I also noted no bitching from Queensland or Christchirch with their disasters.

A link perhaps?

[Rick]

I think it's patently unfair that 1 disaster has come to define disaster aftermath in the US...

[quaddriver]

I think it's patently unfair that 1 disaster has come to define disaster aftermath in the US...

I think 'we' (the citizens of the US) have a sense of entitlement and predisposition to whining. Not to mention the political side of every US issue. After all, George Bush attacked NO with hurricanes and ordered the levees blown up.

[rubato]

I think it's patently unfair that 1 disaster has come to define disaster aftermath in the US...

Only for 1 poster who desired more to make a particular black community look bad than to tell the truth. Merely venting bile.

After the Loma Prieta quake my hometown (which was the second worst-hit area after Watsonville ) was really wonderful. People took care of each other and got to work to re-build with great care and compassion. I am certain this has been so for areas struck by fire, floods, tornados &c in many places in the US.

yrs,
rubato