.......accompanied by the (required) wart-removal. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27855-2005Apr5.html) :rolleyes:

"The Education Ministry on Tuesday approved a controversial new series of school textbooks that critics say whitewash Japan's militaristic past. The move ignited immediate outrage among some of the country's World War II-era victims.

The Chinese ambassador, Wang Yi, lodged a protest with Japan's Foreign Ministry, while officials in Beijing blamed a violent anti-Japanese protest there over the weekend on Japan's "irresponsible attitude" toward history.

The statements and counterstatements were the latest chapter in a decades-long feud between Japan and its neighbors over questions of the island's wartime guilt and responsibility. Critics, mostly in the two Koreas and China, contend that Japan has consistently denied its wartime aggression.

The government approved "the textbook that most faithfully reflects the goal . . . of deepening love towards our country's history," the society said in a statement."

*

I guess you could call it the Reaganization of Japanese-history; substituting facts with half-truths, fairy-tales & bullshit-rhetoric......:rolleyes:

Originally posted by Mr. Shaman

The government approved "the textbook that most faithfully reflects the goal . . . of deepening love towards our country's history," the society said in a statement." ------- I guess you could call it the Reaganization of Japanese-history;

Exactly.

Just as it was with the massive campaign of whitewashing the loathsome policies and actions of the "Gipper" when he died.

By the end of his term in office, 138 Reagan
administration officials had been convicted, indicted or investigated
for misconduct and/or criminal activities.

Reagan ---although you would NEVER read it in a history book-- actively supported the regimes of the most callous monsters ever to walk the earth. Names like Marcos, Duarte, Rios Mont and
Duvalier reek of blood and corruption, yet were embraced by the Reagan
administration with passionate intensity. (And that is without going into the backing of various Death Squads in South America, or the Reagan Administration's creation and training of a fellow named bin Laden) The ground of many nations is salted with the bones of innumerable innocent people murdered by brutal rulers who called Ronnie Reagan a dear friend.

The only way I could despise him [and his bullshit "legacy"] more deeply and completely is if I were twins.

the more shaman and freethinker hate anything the better it must be in the real world.

Interesting you use "Westernization" when to be fair, id say Japan was "Japanization", they are scared to death of diesease and all things foreign that they are their own sub species now.

The whole trading the Yen etc, not to mention their almost brutally clinical way of becomming a citizen, its stupidly hard. and if you get caught over your visa its a long haul jail stay.

I actually love the country and strangely (and i guess this is really weird) but would defend it over england. I dont agree with their constant denying of what they did in their past and i think the deliberate dismissing of it in the history books is a step too far.

its their country, they can do what they want. In our history books and in Chinas the actions of the japanese in WW2 will be well documented, and they have the internet. Its not like they are some communist country, they can come and go when they please and get any information they want about anything. This is just another attempt for the two idiots to take yet another swipe at the west.

Originally posted by Freethinker
Names like Marcos, Duarte, Rios Mont and Duvalier reek of blood and corruption, yet were embraced by the Reagan administration with passionate intensity. (And that is without going into the backing of various Death Squads in South America, or the Reagan Administration's creation and training of a fellow named bin Laden) The ground of many nations is salted with the bones of innumerable innocent people murdered by brutal rulers who called Ronnie Reagan a dear friend.


http://www.insanereagan.com/images/satan_ronnie.gif

It seems that Japanese politics are turning into something quite nasty. Far right groups are using intimidation to terrorize all those who opose them ; their links with yakuza and the growing revisionist movement, trying to wipe out war crimes from people's mind, are a real matter for concern. Japanese people who care for justice and human rights find itharder than ever to express their views.
And, travh, unlike what you seem to believe, very few people rely on american internet sites to get informed about their own history, especially when english is not their native language.
Do you look at italian media when you want to know what happens in your country ?

Originally posted by Lokideviluk
Interesting you use "Westernization" when to be fair, id say Japan was "Japanization", they are scared to death of diesease and all things foreign that they are their own sub species now.
......Accompanied by (what corporate-America would call) the appropriate-degree of materialism!

How ironic that it was (also) corporate-America that wouldn't give Edward Deming (http://author.voanews.com/specialenglish/Archive/a-2002-07-12-2-1.cfm) the time-of-day!!! :p

*


"In general, W Edwards Deming believed that managers who supervised workers -- and not the workers -- were responsible for most production problems. He said effective managers should spend most of their time setting goals for the company. He said managers should communicate with their workers. And he said cooperation, not competition, was important in a company.

Mister Deming rejected the idea of using inspectors to judge the work of company employees. He denounced company rules that set production limits for workers. He also criticized the system of giving workers money awards.

Mister Deming argued that the real secret to producing better goods is to depend on workers to do the job correctly the first time. He often said people have the right to enjoy their work and feel that they have control over their job. He believed that people do their best work when they are urged to use their minds and their skills on the job. "

Originally posted by astrapol2
It seems that Japanese politics are turning into something quite nasty. Far right groups are using intimidation to terrorize all those who opose them ; their links with yakuza and the growing revisionist movement, trying to wipe out war crimes from people's mind, are a real matter for concern. Japanese people who care for justice and human rights find itharder than ever to express their views.
Sounds like Morning in America (Bush-style), to me!!

I honestly believ it's worse in Japan. The USA have a large number of counter-powers, a good press and many intellectuals willing to express their views. In Japan, the left really seems to be in very bad shape. Another thing is that far right is much more influential in Japan - antisemitism, for example, is growing, and war crimes revisionism. I'm not aware of such movements in the USA on a large scale.

Why would the Japanese have more hatred for the Jews over any other religon outside Shinto/Buddhism?

I think alot of the youth Japanese nowadays are starting to fall away from the ancient practices of the two religions and whilst most likely still consider themselves to embrace buddhism/shinto they are more inclined to adopt a western religion as well.

I honestly dont get why they would go against the Jews though.

It's not a local racial problem since there are very few jewish people in Japan. But antisemitic literature has been flourishing for a few year, in the grand tradition of neo-fascism revival. I don't say the average japanese is antisemitic of course but what's scary is that very few people object to this. Most people just don't feel concerned - which opens the way for more revisionism.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti japanese. But I have japanese friends who are very pessimistic about what their country is becoming.

Originally posted by astrapol2
Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti japanese. But I have japanese friends who are very pessimistic about what their country is becoming.

Im going to holiday there for 3 months before i choose to live their, I will detail you on my first hand experience when i come back (its still a while off though, need to save the money).

The idea is to travel most of it to get an idea of the best place to settle. For english i dont think there is hardly any hatred in the bigger westernized citys, and maybe just the usual foreigner discrimination in the rural areas. im learning the language thought so i have that on my side.

About the antisemitic material flourishing unoticed or unstopped, who is actually publishing and releasing this stuff, do you have any like references to books etc, and why this sudden trend in Jew hating has started.

I couldn't find any english website documenting this ; but here is a french one, very well done, about war revisionism and antisemitism in Japan. You can use Google to translate it and get a rough idea about its content. If you have more specific questions I will be happy to help you.

http://www.amnistia.net/news/articles/negdoss/japnega/japnega.htm

What made you decie to live in Japan ? What o you plan to do there ?
I have a good japanese friend in Tokyo, and two of my french friends are going to livre there next year. I hope to go there as soon as possible (not so easy with two young kids !)

Originally posted by astrapol2
I honestly believ it's worse in Japan. The USA have a large number of counter-powers, a good press and many intellectuals willing to express their views.

?!?!?!!?1

As one of the most --if not THE most-- erudite and intelligent posters here, i am astounded to hear you opine that the US has a ""good press"".

The mainstream Press in America --as was so clearly demonstrated by their refusal to adequately (or even perfunctorily) question the Bush adminstration's phony excuses for going to war in Iraq-- is little more than the propaganda ministry for the extreme Rightwing Bush government.

As to **many intellectuals** expressing THEIR views, any intellectual in this country [examples; Chomsky, Zinn, Parenti, Vidal] who seriously questions or criticizes the status quo or the uber-conservative Powers-That-Be --

a) is villified unmercifully

b) is marginalized and has a campaign of character assassination carried out agaiinst him, and

c) the unwashed masses are trained to studiously ignore them, yet to at the same time revile them

Freethinker
I am not american and i don't live in the USA, so I guess my perception of the American media and intellectuals is far from perfect.
But, from what I know, the USA still have some very good media and journalists. They still are able to ask embarrassing questions to politicians, and to question their own role. I was very impressed by the live broadcasting of the 9-11 investigating commission on CNN.
You may say this is not enough and your media are very biasedd. You may be right, but honestly they still are better than most countries medias, including french. In France, journalists asking embarrassing questions to politicians on TV is very unlikely. And the newspaper lack the depth and quality of american best newspapers.
On the other hand, we don't have the equivalent of fox news ; and advertising and information don't get mixed as easily as on american TV.

Talking about american intellectuals, once more I maybe wrong but people like Noam Chomsky, even if they are marginalized in the USA, still have a lot of influence on European intellectuals.

My point was mostly that, in Japan, things seem to be worse. But to be honest my knowledge of Japan is very limited - Loki, when you're there, please tell us what you think about it !

Originally posted by astrapol2
Freethinker
I am not american and i don't live in the USA, so I guess my perception of the American media and intellectuals is far from perfect.
But, from what I know, the USA still have some very good media and journalists.

I can think of a handful. Perhaps the BEST known among them is a woman named Amy Goodman.

She ---unlike virtually all other alternative, unbiased journalists who just MIGHT be inclined to ask a politicians a tough question-- has a venue for reporting the news on (public access cable) television.

And I would wager that less that 5% of Americans have ever heard of her or have ANY idea who she is, much less who have heard her reporting.

IOW, the system in America is configured in such a way that those **good media and journalists** have ZERO influence on the populace at large.

Originally posted by astrapol2
I was very impressed by the live broadcasting of the 9-11 investigating commission on CNN.

Really?

How impressed were you with the harsh punishments that were subsequently handed out to the thoroughly dishonest fucking bastards who were under investigation???

Oh wait.

NO punishments were handed out.

Strike that question.

Originally posted by astrapol2
You may say this is not enough and your media are very biased. You may be right, but honestly they still are better than most countries medias, including french. In France, journalists asking embarrassing questions to politicians on TV is very unlikely.

Maybe. But what is being overlooked with that comment is the fact that France-- or Japan-- or Germany-- or Italy-- or any of dozens of the world's other developed nations are NOT striding around the globe like an out of control colossus killing anyone and everyone who gets in the way of Corporate profits.

France-- or Japan-- or Germany-- or Italy-- or any of dozens of the world's other developed nations are NOT out to control, thru force of military arms, the entire planet and its petroleum resources.

IOW, the existence of a free and critical Press is --or WOULD BE, there were one-- far more important in the world's number one military superpower than it is in other smaller, less militaristic, less imperialist nations.

Originally posted by astrapol2
Talking about american intellectuals, once more I maybe wrong but people like Noam Chomsky, even if they are marginalized in the USA, still have a lot of influence on European intellectuals.

Quite so, but thta has far more to do with the fact that that group of people ---unlike the vast majority of the American Public-- are rational and capable of critical thought, and have not been trained from birth to think of their nation and themselves as god's chosen people.

Originally posted by Freethinker
France-- or Japan-- or Germany-- or Italy-- or any of dozens of the world's other developed nations are NOT out to control, thru force of military arms, the entire planet and its petroleum resources.
No they (France & Germany) prefer selling rogue nations weapons and goods at a discounted price while leveraging the UN to foster supposed "world order" in an effort to reap their fair share in oil and various other petroleum resources. They're monsters of an entirely different breed...

America is pretty fucking tired of being relegated to cleanup duty. Don't think for one second they don't prop up twisted governments for their own political and financial benefit.

Originally posted by Freethinker

Maybe. But what is being overlooked with that comment is the fact that France-- or Japan-- or Germany-- or Italy-- or any of dozens of the world's other developed nations are NOT striding around the globe like an out of control colossus killing anyone and everyone who gets in the way of Corporate profits.

France-- or Japan-- or Germany-- or Italy-- or any of dozens of the world's other developed nations are NOT out to control, thru force of military arms, the entire planet and its petroleum resources.


Unfortunately, they are. And especially France.
The Praetorian is quite right - France is selling weapons and helping corrupt regimes in many places, and particularly in Africa. And its oil companies have nothing to learn in terms of corruption, human rights violations and greed from american oil companies. Many of its politicians, from left and right, have benefited from dirty money from oil companies and african dictators.
According to a french politician of the french socialist party, "In Congo Brazzaville (where a dready civil war killed hundreds of thousand people), every single bullet way paid by ELF (the french biggest , state owned, oil company).

That does not make me more indulgent for Bush and his govt. But at least I would like to see french politicians, justice and mass media investigate this immediately.
In France, we usually have to wait 10 or 20 years before this kind of scandal is publicly addressed.

Wow, thank you for your honesty, Astra. Oh, and btw, I completely agree with you. What America is doing overseas is motivated by greed, but then again, as you've admitted, EVERY large industrialized nation does it. It doesn't make it right, but unfortunately, it's a fact.

I'm not so sure every nation acts as bad as the USA or France. Scandinavian countries, for example, seem to behave better.
I guess our two countries have a few common points that make them very likely to have harmful international policies :
- they are big weapon sellers.
- they have big oil companies (and oil market tends to corrupt a lot !)
- and both american and french culture have an "universal" pretention. We both pretend to be the best defenders of "freedom" in the world - a prtext often used for messing with other's countries problems. France has done with Africa somthing very similar to the USa with south america - considering it's his "natural" part to play in the world.
It seems to me that UK has been behaving more intelligently with it former colonies, and that the Commmonwealth is somehow a better cooperation example. But maybe it's just ignorance.

Originally posted by astrapol2
Unfortunately, they are. And especially France.
-- - France is selling weapons and helping corrupt regimes in many places, and particularly in Africa. And its oil companies have nothing to learn in terms of corruption, human rights violations and greed f.........Many of its politicians, from left and right, have benefited from dirty money from oil companies and african dictators.

!!!?!!!

I stand corrected.

I had no idea that any other nation on earth could be a cold-bloodedly murderous and greedy and bullying ---when it comes to protecting Corporate profits--- as the US.

At any rate, the US still holds the record of being the number one exporter of terrorism on the planet.....and neither France nor Japan nor any other nation on earth is within striking distance of overtaking THAT distinction.

Also, I would argue with you on whether or not France is intent on controlling the oil resources of the entire planet, as the USA is.....France has arms, it is true, but not the multi-trillion dollar nuclear arsenal that the US possesses that allows it to beat and bully the rest of the world into submission.

Originally posted by Freethinker
I had no idea that any other nation on earth could be a cold-bloodedly murderous and greedy and bullying ---when it comes to protecting Corporate profits--- as the US.
What you call, "cold-bloodedly murderous, greedy, and bullying" -- most developed nations call business, or if you prefer, "standard operating procedure". The larger the economic interest, the more diversified that country's needs are. France, Germany, and England all have large global economies, and so do we. They have their fingers in dirty pies, and if they want to stay large global economies, then they don't have a choice in the matter. That, in a nutshell, is what I don't understand about the liberal mindset...they fly their ideals in the face of reality, and that's just not the way shit gets done. What is it about business that makes them react like a vampire to holy water?

Originally posted by Freethinker
At any rate, the US still holds the record of being the number one exporter of terrorism on the planet.....and neither France nor Japan nor any other nation on earth is within striking distance of overtaking THAT distinction.
Yes, yes, relax, FT...No one was trying to upstage the US in the atrocities department. Everything, in the last industrial century, has been relative to our economy being the largest by far. If someone else had the title - then they would have been "exporting the terrorism", as you put it...

Originally posted by The Praetorian
France, Germany, and England all have large global economies, and so do we. They have their fingers in dirty pies, and if they want to stay large global economies, then they don't have a choice in the matter.
Here I have to disagree (at last !). I hope morals and economics are compatible. Most of the time, when big companies are linked to wars, mass corruption or huge environmental disasters, there is a political issue at stake. So it is possible to stop them if honest and caring politicians are in charge (nox : do they exist ? It's partly up to us, electors, to decide).

I will develop my previous example of ELF in Africa.
ELF was created by De Gaulle in the sixties, to be the first frech oil company (economic objective - bothing wrong here) but most of all - to keep control of african countries, who were then accessing to independence (political mschievous objective).
Then, for 40 years, ELF set up a very efficient network in Africa, not only depriving oil producers like Gabon from their wealth, but also telling African leaders what to do - and powerful enough to replace them if they were unwilling to cooperate.
Huge amounts of money were taken from oil sales to pay these dictators - ans, in return, the African "friends" of France financed french political parties. All parties - that's why, in 1981, when Mitterrand came to power, the socialist party just removed ELF's CEO to replace him by a friend but changed nothing to the system.
Of course Chirac benifitted from the same criminal networks and still does.

Now ELF has been privatized and sold to its competitor TOTAL. But TOTAL's activities look not better. And France has diversified its contacts in Africa through big companies like Bollore (ships, wood).