2012年5月20日日曜日
Very powerful. I enjoyed this 1) as an inspiring film based on a true story in the history of American civil rights that needs to be told, and1 2) as a teacher of "argument" in my college writing and presentation classes. My Japanese university freshmen are going over the basics of argument structure and persuasion this week, and I hope I can introduce this film to inspire them to use their ideas and words as weapons for making a difference in our world.
The "Comfort Women" Monument in NYC
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/nyregion/monument-in-palisades-park-nj-irritates-japanese-officials.html?_r=1
I am confounded by Japan's attempts to stop the comfort women monument.
Why does Japan officially try to oppose these monuments (this one and the one in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul)? It is very hard to understand that mentality of trying to ask groups to "not remember history". The Japan of the past is the Japan of the past. Japan today should fully support monuments for remembering the tragedy of the mistakes made in that era.
When there are thousands of victims, many still alive, how can it possibly help Japan's image to oppose monuments to remember the tragedy?
When a mistake has been made in history, and people suffered, it is natural to leave a monument to remember and not repeat similar mistakes.
One of the most important points in this article is when the Korean group who built the monument for the comfort women explain that Japan's opposition is "helping" the monument. That is only natural. Nobody is going to support Japan's attempt to stop a monument for people who suffered.
In fact, Japan is going to completely embarrass itself when people around world (based on articles like this) see it as a country that is unwilling to accept the mistakes of its past as lessons for the future.
As a long time resident of Japan, I love the "new Japan" that strives to build a culture of peace. Just as the future children of the USA need to know the past mistakes of the USA, Japanese children need to be taught the tragedies brought about by the mistakes of the military government. Through history classes and monuments in and out of Japan, the mistakes should be brought to light as clearly as possible so that future generations do not repeat them.
I am confounded by Japan's attempts to stop the comfort women monument.
Why does Japan officially try to oppose these monuments (this one and the one in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul)? It is very hard to understand that mentality of trying to ask groups to "not remember history". The Japan of the past is the Japan of the past. Japan today should fully support monuments for remembering the tragedy of the mistakes made in that era.
When there are thousands of victims, many still alive, how can it possibly help Japan's image to oppose monuments to remember the tragedy?
When a mistake has been made in history, and people suffered, it is natural to leave a monument to remember and not repeat similar mistakes.
One of the most important points in this article is when the Korean group who built the monument for the comfort women explain that Japan's opposition is "helping" the monument. That is only natural. Nobody is going to support Japan's attempt to stop a monument for people who suffered.
In fact, Japan is going to completely embarrass itself when people around world (based on articles like this) see it as a country that is unwilling to accept the mistakes of its past as lessons for the future.
As a long time resident of Japan, I love the "new Japan" that strives to build a culture of peace. Just as the future children of the USA need to know the past mistakes of the USA, Japanese children need to be taught the tragedies brought about by the mistakes of the military government. Through history classes and monuments in and out of Japan, the mistakes should be brought to light as clearly as possible so that future generations do not repeat them.
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