Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cheonmunka]

The problem is, I always think, if there's a war breaking out, run. Take your stuff and get away - the same for fist fights and stuff on the streets. Problem is, these people in Nanking thought that since the Japs took over the place, got what they wanted, then apart from indoctrination and assimilation into the Japanese way of life, that would be it. Sadly, that wasn't the case and many young guys in the imperial army became mass murderers, and in that, atrocious killers.
I completely agree that the seemingly widespread playfulness in the Japanese killing methods put them in a different league than US marines in the way of putting down civilian unrest and in carrying out tasks.
I understand that there are and have been indiscriminating killings during the Iraq wars and the Korean War. But, the US govt. doesn't condone it at all, whereas the Jap govt. said, "Do it," and looked askance when soldiers were doing it for fun. That's why it was sick and so was the Japanese govt. at that time and perhaps still a little sick now - if they haven't looked at themselves nor learned anything of themselves.

However, we can't just blame them solely. One of the most portent parts of the video were when it was shown that the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose when foreign investment poured in. It sucks that destruction of people's lives (women and children) creates an immediate personal wealth for others. That is equally sick.

[crescent]

[Suwon23]

[yawarakaijin]

I think the Japanese just have a slightly different way of dealing with past wrongs. While we in the west tend to be analytical and soul searching about past wrongs the Japanese just tend to forget. This works both ways my friends. While the younger generation may not know as much as they should about the war they, for the most part, have no bitter feelings about what was done to them either.

The feeling I have gotten over the years basically boils down to this. They are aware that they did some bad things in the war, they are aware some bad things were done to them, it is in the past.

Let's compare Koreans blaming and hating on America because of perceived slights that happened 50 years ago. Now, walk around Japan and see if you can find ANY of that same sentiment in the Japanese of today. You will find it in the ultra-right wingers but that is about it.

I would also suggest that some of you get off your high horses. On average, what percentage of Canadian/British school children know of their country's role in the fire bombing of Dresden? What percentage of American children have studied, in depth, the decision to drop not one but two nuclear bombs on civilian targets. How much "soul searching" do Americans do over the firebombing of Tokyo?

By no means am I trying to dimishing the horror of the Japanese Imperial army's actions but telling a country how they remember the war is beyond arrogant. The current Japanese constitution bans Japan from taking part in wars of aggression. Not many countries can say they have done that. Including the home countries of some of you trying to vilify Japan for not learning the lessons of war. It seems to me that, in fact, Japan is the only one of WWII's beligerants to have learned it's lessons. Chew on that for bit.

Yes, yes. I am aware that the banning of wars of aggression was a condition imposed by the Americans but Japan has had the power to rescind that article of their constitution for decades. They haven't.

Oh how evil Japan must be for not teaching it's chidren the horror's a completely different generation perpetrated over 50 years ago. Wait, let me grab a beer and turn on CNN to which other countries are currently committing war crimes throughout the world. I'll come back later and lecture you on how effective your countries education systems' are in teaching it's youth about the horrors of war and how they should never be repeated.

[IncognitoHFX]

[crescent]

[Demophobe]

Hirohito was a god....

...that needed glasses.



Rhawn Joseph...the Ed Wood of historical documentaries.

[Julius]

Asians are insanely nationalistic and hyper-patriotic, the lot of them.

I get tired of hearing such infantile BS from them, be they Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Vietnamese. Its really pathetic to hear, to be honest.

Everywhere in Asia.

Every ridiculous country here thinks it is superior to everyone else.
Lets see now:

Vietnam: "we beat the Americans and won all the wars in our region. We are the toughest and we can definitely loot money off all these silly tourists. Everyone else is inferior.".

Thailand: "We were never colonised. The silly tourists think we are smiling at them, but we're just taking their money, haha. Everyone else is inferior"

India: "We are the most cunning and will be a powerful economy soon. We have the best culture in asia. Everyone else is inferior."

Korea: "We are a unique special race and we developed so quickly because we're so intelligent. Everyone else is inferior."

China: "We will be the most powerful country on earth soon. Every other country in Asia is Chinese territory, they just don't know it yet. Everyone else is inferior."

Methinks every country on earth- even if it ranks 250th on the scale of quality of living- thinks it is the most special and important on earth. Must be something in the human psyche that needs to believe that I guess.

[Cheonmunka]

I'm not sure if they are direct quotes or not Julius. I get where you are coming from, but ...

Yawara Kaijin wrote:

[doggyji]

[rocklee]

OK then lets get started on some of the "white" people's atrocities over the years :

- The British, having invaded several countries around the world as their own, tried to control China by introducing opium as a trade from India to corrupt and eventually cripple the once prosperous country. The reason? Britain was suffering a trade deficit with China because they had nothing to sell whereas the British were buying tea, silk and porcelain - products in high demand that Britain could not match.

- The British burnt down several historical places in China including the summer place and the old summer place. Like most imperialists invading countries to merely spread their power and enforce taxes, looting was taking place at every opportunity in Asia, Africa, Australia, America you name it. Wasn't just the British either as the French and Dutch were also at it. Hong Kong was taken where the looting lasted 155 years.

- Kenya, just one of the many African countries occupied by the British, had over 1 million people kept in concentration camps for over 6 years by the British where more than 200,000 were killed either by torture or execution. That was 1960. The British empire ended 3 years later.

- The Aborigines lived peacefully in Australia for centuries until you guessed it the Brits took over. Australia is a "white" country and so is New Zealand, we were all fooled.

- America? Was never independent to begin with, Britain just gave them the baton...with interests of course.

Next white superpower... Australia? Canada? Chuckles...whatever man.

More white atrocities? Well entering another country with barely a qualification and earning more money than my love interest Go-Chan who has 5 jobs is quite simply atrocious.





































Just kidding folks

[travel zen]

Rape in nanking was bad, but OMG! how long will the rancor last about it?

I guarantee you that worse, much worse will come given time. It seems to me that Asia is a mass grave waiting to happen. I can see all governments in Asia ready to sanction genocide on each other over past sins if war ever breaks out.

[Kuros]

The way I see it, its hard for me to get too worked up about Japanese revisionism, even over Pearl Harbor. I mean, after you get a second atomic bomb dropped on your country (the first one was arguably necessary), the nukee is allowed to fudge a bit of history with respect to the nuker.

Anyway, so there's a vocal minority in Japan that is nationalistic and jingoistic. I'm American, so I'm used to such a segment in my own country's population. We call them Republicans (j/k)

[endo]

[yawarakaijin]

Anyone care to wager that quite a few Koreans and Chinese are just a little more than miffed that Japan came out of that war smelling like roses?

A little bit upset at the fact that even AFTER Japan initiated the war, lost it big time and commited numerous war crimes, it is arguably the most "popular" of asian countries with westerners? I mean, it is quite obvious that westerners in general have a deeper facsination with Japanese culture.

I'm not sure about China but can see how in South Koreans' eyes they should be the most respected of the Asian nations. But they aren't