Why The Japanese Aren't Looting

American Thinker ^ | March 15, 2011 | Thomas Lifson, editor and publisher

[daniel1212]

“Japanese people,” he told me, “are like passengers on a cruise ship. They know that they are stuck with the same people around them for the foreseeable future, so they are polite, and behave in ways that don’t make enemies, and keep everything on a friendly and gracious basis.”

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Yet Haiti could also be likened to such, and so it does have to do with culture, and the inculcation of morality which the article proceeds to describe.

From a Christian perspective, in its limited scope the things which the writer describes are entirely Biblical, and in which the first command regarding treatment of each other is reverence for parents, elders, and thus authority in general, and other then basic laws. The 1960’s revolution which continues, was a rebellion against such things. While it did support values such as racial equality, that was necessary to sanction homosexuality, and its overall ethos has and is costing America plenty in souls, lives, and money. (http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/RevealingStatistics.html)

Back to Japan, it is not a Christian nation, but like some other peoples, it has retained some values supposedly Christian nations have much lost, an issue which Romans 2 addresses, “For circumcision [being under the Covenant and knowing the scriptures] verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. {26} Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? {27} And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? “ (Romans 2:25-27)

Every person and nation is given a common innate sense of morality, and to the degree that they keep this and pass it on the better they are, and the family is critical in this, more so than the government.

But without a codified moral standard then one can deviate from it, (though men will try to find a way around anything) or it will be incomplete. There are aspects of character such as personal discipline and reverence of authority and of culture which can also make great soldiers fighting in a bad cause. Even the Mafia today is suffering from a lack of “character.” What we increasing lack in America today in personal character is set in much in contrast to previous a era, and its ideals. And to positive values which it principally owes to the Bible. (http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/Education_in_the_United_States; http://www.conservapedia.com/Moral_decline)

Certainly there were major blights regarding this, but the article on Japan also does not address how a nation which in times past also (i assume) practiced the same high regard for elders, and personal possessions, etc., could produce the kind of atrocities such as the Rape of Nanking, etc. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CHUQtwIwCg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D4920138942953644691&ei=T2F_Tfn2O8X3gAfKxPCTCA&usg=AFQjCNHHBi3e2Z08J4claIGQy3okeYrxuw&sig2=RPRMrdpuSyqjRu9_ryee-w

As an aside, an little interesting read is “Window on Eurasia: MacArthur’s Policies in Post-1945 Japan a Model for Russia, Pavlova Says: http://windowoneurasia.blogspot.com/2010/01/window-on-eurasia-macarthurs-policies.html

[ConservativeWarrior]

In other words, before the majority adopted faceless and souless urban living.

This is the primary difference. Americans who live in big cities are anonymous, for all intents and purposes.

This translates to zero moral public accountability, and in time the deterioration of personal accountability.

The people of a small US town hit by a flood react very differently than large US city dwellers. It sounds like large Japanese cities avoid this same pitfall by instilling a sense of community even in the cities.

My sister lived in Japan for 10 years. She saw these principles first-hand. There are small electronics on sidewalk tables outside many downtown stores, left there like Walmart would leave last season's clearance clothing.

They seem backwards in other ways, however. She had two children while living there, and not once did a man on the subway offer his seat to her, but instead watched her stand for the duration of the ride.

[jesseam]

No democrats

[RobRoy]

I honestly could not answer that. It would depend on what world they found themselves in after the victory. The world is a smaller place now, so they have no choice but to consider that.

[Mr. Silverback]

In a sense, Japan was too. A bunch of little squabbling fiefdoms until Shoguns and Emperors united it.

[stansblugrassgrl]

They do say an armed society is a polite society. I think it applies to marriage, as well.

[ToranagaSama]

“Haiti, New Orleans, Chile, and the UK,”

As a curious Brit I must ask: the UK?!?

That’s some company to be keeping.

[ToranagaSama]

Another thing to consider re: the Swiss not being likely to loot, is that virtually every adult male has an assault rifle locked up at home ;-)

[Quix]

Very well put.

THx.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.

LLS,

As a (former) Crescent City resident (20 years) ... they don't call it the "LOWER NINTH WARD" for nothin' ..."


Best "Vic and Natlie" Regards,

Patton-at-Bastogne


.

[TexasRepublic]

No rap culture mentality.

[mmercier]

Uniformity.

Beneficial in some circumstances, fatal in others.

Natural order of the universe is a scatter shot mechanism of every possibility... Many more failures than successes are the rule that is required for life to manifest.

Many cry about casualties from this order. It remains the rule. Those who can bitch about it are in fact here because of it.

[exnavy]

LOL My wife is the only woman I’ll trust to hand a loaded gun to.

[exnavy]

True words.

[LibLieSlayer]

True dat!

LLS