Anyone familiar with history knows that while the Western world adores Japan, their neighbors in N.E. Asia loathe them. Understandably so --the Japanese did some outrageously heinous things in these parts and deserve full condemnation.But, now that over 60 years has passed, and most of those involved are dead and gone, the question arises: when will Japan's neighbors, especially Korea and China, close the chapter and let the animosity pass?
If drawings by elementary school kids in Seoul, Korea are any indication, not anytime soon. Perhaps even more striking is that these are displayed in subway stations, and thus, government sanctioned. It is also interesting to note that the children have written "Korea" and "Japan" in English. There must have been some instruction from the teacher to do so. Does such maliciousness have a place in public school curriculum? Exactly what generation will Korea deem appropriate to forge a friendship with a former foe?
You can check the site to see the others. My favorite is the one with the giant rabbit taking a shit to create Japan. Niceeeee.
Thanks to Rob York for posting the link on his blog.
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*Added note: For those saying it is just a matter of Japan apologizing, then it might be good to check the history. Japan has been issuing apologies since the 1960's.
11 Comments:
Tell Japan to acknowledge and formally apologize for the atrocities they committed during the war and I'm sure the other countries will be glad to look past it.
When will the blacks forgive the whites for their mistreatment? When will Americans forgive the middle east for their terror situations? When will the Indians forgive Pakistanis for the Mumbai incident? When will the Armenians forgive the Turks for the genocide? When will Jews forgive Nazis for the Holocaust?
Please. Don't be a bigot.
Thanks for the comment, but check your history. They have been apologizing since the 1960's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan
And every time an important figure in Japan does apologize the right-wing seizes that as opportunity to ride nationalist sentiment to higher office (current prime minister Taro A**hole being prime example). Then Koreans get mad again, and nothing is ever settled.
There is no way that I can completely understand the feelings of Koreans towards Japan.
My question is at what point does this become counter-productive to Korea's future in the region, with China looming large on the horizon.
Korea and Japan, in the end, will probably have no choice but to ally with each other.
my fave was the sailor moon pic. seems really ridiculous through all this shit over the years that some kid would draw sailor moon pissed off at her homeland. i still say, and forever will, that the person who owns dokdo, is the person who is willing to buy it for the highest price. if i had the money,i would say here korea, here japan, here is what this pile of rocks is worth. now stop your bitchin and get on with fixing things so you can compete, like mature people with your growing opponent, china. and maybe while you're at it, get rid of that nimrod in the north. kim jong il.
geez.
stupid people teaching seemingly innocent young minds, should be sorrily ass whipped.
Germany has done an excellent job apologizing for WWII and the Holocaust. In fact, a few years ago 60 Minutes had a special about how young Germans feel guilty about what people before them did. They have apologized enough, and yet still carry the burden -- not all, but many do.
I don't think most or even a few Japanese; certainly young Japanese; feel guilty or even know about the past -- even if they were never a part of it. The Japanese sure love Korea for its Drama; like other surrounding nations. Sadly, most Americans never think about the camps we sent Asian Americans to during WWII, as well as dropping two big bombs on two big cities. 'Snow Falling on The Cedars' is a decent read on the camps...
I'm not quite sure what the official record of apology is in terms of Japanes maltreatment of American POW's in the Pacific, let alone Pearl Harbor (which FDR provoked by cutting off oil lines and freezing assets of Japan, amongst other things: keep in mind nothing is more profitable than war for central banks and the billionaires who control them and finance war on both side through them. U.S. Standard Oil sold its grease to both sides...) -- the torture was absolutely brutal and painful, and straight out of the ancient world: things like sticking slits of bamboo up and under fingenails...pretty bad.
We never apologized for the camps or the bombs, they never apologized back for the torture or Pearl Harbor. Somehow, they are one of the two strongest allies in the region. The other being Korea, of course. Japan's significance to us lies in its economy and financial reserve, and its cutting edge manufacturing techniques. Korea and America are the world's largest military alliance, and they just might have to finish a war in a year or two. They have an "outgrown" or arhcaic military significance which meant something a while ago in terms of location-location-location, that perhaps we don't need to be a part of any more, as the Cold War is over. (Gee, stay out of Israel's way now, too?)
If Japan and America need to make up formally; and Japan needs to REALLY, FORMALLY apologize to Korea; I think Korea needs to thank America. They haven't been grateful to us in 40 years, and a recent poll of Korean youngsters shows that if the N and S went to war, many of the young South Koreans say they'd like to fight with the North against AMERICA.
All this recent worry about money and the financial crisis and job loss; this blaming of America; when things could be much worse. Like one Korea run by Kim Jong-Il worse...
America, apologized profusely, paid $1.6 billion in reparations and rebuilt the country through commerce.
Interesting article on the Korea Times today proposed a "Reverse Marshal Plan;" rather, major nations of Asia buy out Americas deep sea of debt. Maybe there's another 'thanks' or 'sorry' hidden in there....
yeah, bobby, that's some f'ed up shit. it's barely even funny. i can't believe those fucking idiot koreans stepped up to the plate to be the lower-minded individuals. if this is the race of people we have to deal with, then i don't mind if i do get fired from every job i ever have in korea. at least i'm hard and i don't let folks run over me. they deserve some american tenacity.
ok...
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