A Sadness Set In (Commentary on Iris Chang, CSU Hayward)

I guess with the passing of time we will eventually learn a little bit more about Iris. I am not really questioning the initial reports about suicide, I am just wondering what drove her to it.

This is just speculation on my part but I am starting to wonder if some of her enemies -- maybe some of the radical, nationalist in Japan had not gotten to her somehow. I am just speculating and I have nothing concrete to go on.

However, when I think about how immensely proud she was of her heritage and her fierce determination to bring the Japanese country to account for its war time past and pay reparations she may have embolden her enemies to start investigating her actions more closely.

I do know she was working on a documentary of Japan's ill-treatment of American prisoners of war during the WWII. Her enemies may have started to feel that this book might rally wide-spread outrage amongst a broad based number of American citizens and led to greater demands for reparations against Japan for war crimes.

I am not suggesting that right-wing Japanese nationalist killed her but maybe they started doing some investigative work on her. Maybe they started a file on her. Maybe they found incriminating personal information about her past. Maybe they recorded her conversations with Chinese government officials which could prove to be very politically embarrassing. Remember, her first book dealt with the Chinese-American rocket scientist who was deported (allegedly for espionage activities) and who later developed the "silkworm" missile for the Chinese government.

If she really did have "powerful" enemies maybe they could get their hands on some very incriminating information and threaten to expose her in a way that questioned her loyalty to the United States. Hey, I am just speculating. Sometimes I have an imagination that goes wild. Take care and all the best.

All valid points..Forensically, in a small contained area like a car interior..it'd be far to conceal any signs of foul play. If it wasn't suicide, you would think she'd have struggled..there'd be signs. if she was drugged, subdued..it would show. They did an autopsy..it's required by law..

I mentioned in an earlier thread that very often mothers with young children who are depresed kill the kids before themselves..and sometimes, after they kill the kids, they're undable to "complete" the task. They'll also do a complete track of her movements, activites, the last 3-4 dys..If it is indeed a suicide, there would be signs of planning..or irregular activity..

I love police procedurals..guess it shows....one question..I don't recall..was there a note?..You'd think a write would leave on..

It is my understanding the her book would be published and another book published (a rebuttal) by the same publisher. Hey, why should she care if another book questions her accuracy. The rebuttal was not going to be in the same book.
I believe the publishing company did this to protect itself from charges of Japanese bashing. I would have liked to have seen both books published. A free exchange of ideas is always in everyone's best interest.

Also, remember, there have been over a hundred books published in Japan about the Nanking incident. By the way, I recommend everyone read her books and do a little research on her and what has already been written about Nanking in Japan. All the best.

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