They've Outlived the Stigma: 'Kamikaze Survivors' resent being lumped in with suicide bombers.

Los Angeles Times ^ | September 25, 2004 | Bruce Wallace

[dennisw]

About WW2 Japan's attachment 731 (biological warfare experments)

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:sNwtVES7akEJ:scarab.msu.montana.edu/historybug/insects_as_bioweapons.htm+%22Detachment+731%22&hl=en

[Aracelis]

But then again, those are both Eastern philosophies. The Western equivalent I suppose, would be the Chivalric Ideal.

The Code of Chivalry

I have always felt the measure of a man is more about what is written in his heart and soul, than on a peice of paper. Give me the Bushido-directed warrior anytime.

[Old Sarge]

Forgive my temporary thickness, but how is Chivalry a piece of paper as opposed to Bushido?

[Aracelis]

The problem is fanaticism coupled with an ideology that derails the normal self-preservation instinct. Islamofascism, Japanese barbarism, Nazi death-cult, Marxist liquidation squads - what's the difference to the victims?

I concur...Fanaticism is the evil behind barbarism.

[Aracelis]

If you look at the link posted, you will see striking differences. First and foremost, you see a list of rules, instead of a working, internal code of ethics handed down from Master to Student. Written rules can easily be broken or subverted (just look at the libraries filled with the "law").

But forgive me, Sarge, my Libertarian streak is showing.

[Old Sarge]

And was not the Chivalric Ideal passed from Knight to Squire, as well? And didn't the Knight have his confessor and his feudal lord, from whom came penance and duty?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

And I thought "Memoirs of a Kamikaze Pilot" was the world's second thinnest book, next to "French War Heros of World War II".

[P-Marlowe]

They showed the trees that still bore the scars from it. I don't know why the Japanese did not launch more "balloon bombs", those were the only ones we seemed to have discovered.

To show how loyal our press was back then, the Mainstream Media was aware of the balloon bombs during WWII and NEVER reported it because the military had requested that the media keep it quiet. If the "Japs" (that's what they were called back then) knew that these bombs were actually hitting their targets they would have sent more. But since there were no reports of them landing in the US, they gave up on the idea.

Back then the press actually wanted the US to win in their wars. These days the Press appears to be rooting for the enemy.

Does anyone actually think that CBS/NBC/ABC/NYTimes/LATimes would honor such a request from the military today?

[Aracelis]

You are quite correct - I had forgotten my history lessons. Thank you for reminding me.