Abe apology over comfort women goes only so far
Asia-Pacific Features
By Chris Cermak Apr 28, 2007, 2:36 GMT
Other features coming soon.
Talkback
page: 1 2
Doesn't the US Congress have better things to worry about? Like the war we are actually waging, not one more than half a century ago? Of course we all empathize with the terrible plight of the 'comfort women,' but frankly, it's about time we mind our own business...
What the ?!?
Congress is endeavoring to enact a bill (make a law) demanding that Japan apologize for war crimes that were demeaning to women - people - from other countries?
Yes, kidnapping women and forcing them to service the soldiers IS wrong, an apology is in order BUT! Who do we think we are to demand that Japan kow-tow to THIS Congress and THIS President Bush's demands?!?
'People living in glass houses'....etc., etc.
Just another diversion from the real issues of the day as far as I can see.
Why doesn't Japan just go ahead and make the apology on their own? It's hardly a sign of weakness to acknowledge that your country may have committed wrongs in the past.
'We...will not debate the outcome, as it was decided on the field of battle' - Gen. Douglas MacAurthur, at the signing of the Japanese Armistace. The Japanese Prime Minister was not around when this happened. Japan has apologied.
Congress does this to divert attention away from the dismal job they do on legislation.
Other diversions: Alberto Gonzales, Iraq funding vote.
thank you megan. you will of course be criticized for your comments because they aren't politically correct. but they are correct. your comments reminded me of the huge news debacle about President Bush dancing (rather poorly) and how it could compare to say IRAQ. NBC and ABC are now the new National Inquirer.
P.S. Don't complain that I don't capitalize the words at the beginning of my sentences. That's a cheap shot and this is a comment area. Not a resume.
how come I don't fully believe the assertions?
Megan, U.S. Congress is doing the right thing to mandate that Japan formally apologize to those that suffered during WWII. Haven't you seen or heard some ridiculous bills that US Congress passes year after year? Well, this particular bill, believe it or not, has been closely monitored by many Asian nations. Why? Pretty much all small Asian nations believe U.S. actions against Japan's war atrocities would stop Japan's bullying in the region. Japanese war crimes during early 1900s to mid 1940s made the Nazi holocaust look like child's play. Thus, I hope you show some respect for others before criticizing and trivializing bills such as this one. You might have guessed by now that I fully support for the passage of this bill. The passage will send shock waves throughout the Asian countries, and, perhaps, convince Asian nations that we are still trust-worthy, and care about something we almost forgot:human rights.
Yes, we are watching to see if US hold its human right standards universally. Holding Japan responsible when they are trying to revise history for stupid reasons is greatly appreciated. Our grandparents suffered during Japanese invasion, which was brutal and inhuman, to say the least.
So the Japanese should apologize... when will America apologize for its own slave origins? Lets all just ignore the elephant in the room and point the finger at Japan. And by the way, how's that global nuclear disarmament coming? Hypocrisy has apparently joined our certain inalienable rights.
I can not believe that I, as a tax payer, am paying for this activity! Yes, I have seen some of the most ridiculous things go on in the Senate, but to continue bullying other countries (again!) into doing what we want them to do....when does the crap end?
Some may say that U.S. has no business becoming involved in this issue, particularly since nearly all Americans were unaware of it for the past several decades until now. Maybe it can be argued from the economic point of view. While the 20th century belonged to the Americans, Goldman Sachs (the leading U.S. investment bank) clearly projects the 21st as the Asian century, e.g., it estimates by 2050 China to be the world's biggest economy and Korea to have the world's second highest per capita income. This thorny issue has been, among others, a grave sticking point in the 'harmony' of Asian countries--particularly those that were subject to such injustice by Japan during WWII. Now, U.S. clearly sees an interest to stay involved in this global economic shift to the East, and so such 'trivial' issue can no longer be swept under the rug.
i was just wandering if america has apologized over the bombing of japan, and the atomic boming of hiroshima and nagasaki, i presme they have, but have htey also apologized for the soldirs who are commiting war crimes on american milatry bas on okinawa??
Why shouldn't the US urge Japan to apologize? After all, they still teach their students nothing about Japan's own historic aggressiveness, and so their citizen's are educated to not know about their own real history. At least post-war Germany wrote their history textbooks together with France, Japan has yet to admit anything to anyone - including themselves. Apologizing to the women they captured and raped day in and day out is at least a step. These women were systematically rounded up and tallied as war time 'supplies.'
At least the US has enough sway over Japan that such a bill might actually have some effect; Japan doesn't seem to respect any of its neighbors against whom they have committed such atrocities.
It's so easy, isn't it, to invoke the names of Hiroshima and Nagasaki whenever this subject comes up, but what about Japan's repeated invasions of Korea, their attempt to supplant Korean culture and history, their invasions of China and seizure of Manchuria, and all of the extremely brutal 'pacification' that was done to maintain control over all these regions? They had a stranglehold on Korea politically, economically, and militarily, enslaving the country to their own. They made the decision to initiate an attack on the US.
Invoking those names is implying non-existent innocence on their part.
So how many slaves are in your house, folks? Some people can point to a family tree and see monkeys, baboons and only other simians. Yet many others will find a foreign existenance with surfdom in their history. Yet even fewer others see a history of relatives that left Philedelphia (the Eastern states), in much part to get away from the slavery they witnessed and they moved to places that wopuld become Indiana Michigan Illinois, etc. I think all the folks that stayed in the Eastern and southern states should have to atone their relatives slave days/sins by paying a tax to any other group that can demonstrate any need, however whimsical.
Get my drift. We are not in prison for the debts of our forefathers, no matter how close or far removed, nor did we even choose our relatives.......they are either a source of friction or fantacy, but they are not even alive for 100's of years or just weeks. My relatives were active in the underground movement big-time......but did I do anything similar in my life? and what can I do? more of to help make this a better place?......too much guilt from shallow people, that are wanting something more than the emptiness they enable to exist within their shallow lives. GET A LIFE>>>>> The real net is to bring the slavery to its knees in 2007.......GET IT? IT'S STILL WITH US AND YOU DON'T GET IT>>>>>>>>>The Arab countries with burka's and the killing of young girls because they had sex with an adult man. DO YOU KNOW WHAT's REALLY GOING ON IN THIS WORLD>>>>>>FOLKS WAKE UP. THERE is no end in sight to the murdereous wanton killers in this world and that is just to mention the arab/islam states. There are two kinds of islamic people, one that will blow you up with a bomb and the others...relatives and moderates that watch. GET IT? The real threat is NOW TO US. Keep it up and the day will come when you will wish you were dead.
Some of you are wondering why this issue with 'comfort woman' thing came to surface while Japanese prime minister, Shinjo Abe, is visiting the U.S. I believe this is the reason: Abe just announced a few weeks ago that Japanese government and military units, during WWII, had nothing to do with rounding up these comfort women, nor did they treat them the way the women claimed. This is like president Bush having a press conference and claiming that slavery in this country was, a result of Africans looking for jobs and applying for positions in the United State, so they can be separated from their beloved homeland. And that, the American government and its cotton/tea farm owners had nothing to do with the slavery. Just imagine what would happen if he really said something like that. That's what this is all about.
blah, blah, blah!!
So a branch of the U.S. government, a government which refuses to formally apologize for enslaving hundreds of thousands of people for over *three centuries* want to push through a bill demanding that Japan apologize for it's misbehaviour befuring WW2. Why is it that leaders of other democratic nations accept these things gracefully without daring to mention the industrialization of slavery which took place in the United States.
So, yes, Japan should apologize and they should tell the U.S. they'll do it in a joint press conference where they apologize to millions of descendents of slaves that live in their own country.
since they're on a roll america can also give the native americans their land back and pay reparations to the blacks. oh, and maybe they can also make it public policy to apologize for the systemic oppression of women in their own country. what an awesome country.
As said before ' round and round it goes and where it ends, nobody knows'!!!
page: 1 2
Latest Headlines in Asia-Pacific
- 1. Ousted Thai premier Thaksin arrives in Cambodia (Roundup)
- 2. Taiwan court starts hearing ex-leader's new embezzlement case
- 3. Britney Spears denies Australian miming disaster
- 4. Thai senators file lese majeste complaint against former premier
- 5. Malaysia rolls out red carpet for Chinese president
USA
Your Talkback on this Story