4/22 I haven't read much on the news, what do the Koreans think about
the current situation between China and Japan?
\_ Aren't they mad about that book that got approved that took out
references to comfort women?
\_ The Koreans are pretty mad about the books as well, but they
haven't attacked anything Japanese over it. (2 people cut off
fingers and one guy lit himself on fire) The protests over
comfort women in front of the Japanese embassy are practically
standard by now. The Koreans are also mad because one of the
new text books claims Dokdo, a tiny pair of Korean held
islands, is illegally occupied by the Koreans. -jrleek
\_ Wow, there's still arguments over that island? I remember
learning about it when I was a kid. Koreans actually have a song
that proclaims how Dokdo belongs to Korea.
\_ Yeah. My wife can sing that song. "Dokdo-nun oori ddang!"
I reserve judgement a bit, because I've never heard the
Japanese side of the story, but my understanding is that
the only time the Japanese ever controlled the island was
1905-1945. Since Korea was occupied by Japan in 1906, I
don't really think that counts. -jrleek
\_ This is pretty correct, but those who cut off their fingers did
so because of Dokdo, not because of the history books. Also,
I think there's generally a lot more anger in China and Korea
than over just the issue of sex slavery; there were a whole slew
of war atrocities commited by imperialist Japan--sex slavery
simply appears to be either the only one well vocalized or the
only one covered by the media.
\_ You're right, although I kinda see those as related since
a lot of the Dokdo hubbub is over the textbooks, but
there's also "Takeshima Day" which pissed off a lot of
Koreans. As for the comfort women, I think they get
covered the most because some of them are still alive
(80, I think) and actively protesting. Most war
atrocities result in dead people. Dead people are very
poor at active protesting. -jrleek
\_ My personal opinion is that the best way to resolve the
situation would be for Japan to revise it's text books, and for
China to pay for the repairs to the Japanese embassy. I don't
really think Japan has to continue to atone for it's past sins,
but it shouldn't try to deny them either. However, by allowing
it's citizens to riot and damage the Japanese embassy, China
was in direct violation of it's signed treaties. -jrleek
\_ The problem is that 1) The "honor" thing is very important in
Japanese culture than in mordern Chinese and western cultures
\_ The problem is that 1) The "honor" thing is more important in
\_ FYI it's "its" not "it's" in the context you're using it.
\_ The problems are that 1) The "honor" thing is more important in
Japanese culture than in mordern Chinese and western culture
(don't know about Korean), 2) The monarchy is a continuation of
the one in the past. So it's very hard to make Japan admin they
were evil.
\_ 3) Is Chinese your first language?
\_ Yes. Your point?
\_ Perhaps your opinion might be biased? In any case,
you stereotype of the Japanese is unfortunate.
\_ But in this situation probably pretty accurate, at
least relating to this situation. Putting aside
the whole Yasukuni thing (as there's at least _some_
point to it), what other reasons could you think
of for Japanese schools not wanting to adopt a text-
book which owns up to prettty hideous war crimes?
(and don't start with "the-US-did-this, the-other-
colonial-powers-did-that, there's (a) an order of
magnitude of difference, and (b) most western
countries have or are coming around to admitting
having caused some bad shit. I'm not saying the
Chinese approach is anything less than reprehensibly
opportunistic, but there's sure a lot of potential
for Japan to take the moral high ground. -John
\_ So how do the Germans deal with their history
textbook issues? How is WWII presented in
German schools?
\_ "We really really fucked up and did lots of
bad shit and we have to make sure that it
never happens again". Although the situation
with them is a bit different, as the Japanese
committed widespread wanton brutality, not
really genocide per se. And yes there is a
lot of resistance to the constant guilt thing
in Germany. -John
\_ BTW, your English could still use a bit of work.
\_ When this thing is eventually settled, China WILL pay
for the damage to Japanese properties. Whether Japan
will alter the text book or not, it remains to be see
(highly unlikely).
\_ nah, I doubt China will pay a cent.
\_ what are you willing to bet? -chiry
\_ Didn't the Chinese govt pay for the damaged US embassy?
Of course, that doesn't compare to the laser guided
bomb that landed on the Chinese embassy.
\_ They need to pay for that bomb.
\_ yea, but US is scary country. PRC always try
to avoid conflict with US. Also, US didn't
murder millions of Chinese civilians, or use
them for medical experiments.
\_ No, the PRC has done enough of this themselves.
Also, see recent stories on Uighurs.
\_ Ask people in PRC, and they will say GLP
and GPCR sucked. They will also say the
last quarter century of economic reform
and prosperity was good. What's your
point?
\_ That the PRC is manipulating medium-grade
anger over a text-book written by Right
Wingers in a foreign country to push for
greater bargaining power over oil fields in
ambiguously owned waters while continuing to
stifle any criticism of the PRC's own
atrocities, some of which are ongoing.
Physician, heal thyself.
\_ err ... I think everyone knows that
already.
\_ on a related note, 100 youngsters (in their 20s) came to the
street of tokyo protesting against the textbook. (from hk
newspaper)
\_ Native students or Chinese?
\_ natives plus foreigners from around the earth. |
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