Posted on 03/30/2007 6:02:02 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Just saw this on National live Japanese TV a few minutes ago. Our mouths dropped open in partial disbelief, but also with a cynical sense of "well, there they go again".
The Japanese Government announced tonight that they are instructing all Japanese textbook publishing companies who produce history books for school children, to specifically take out an reference to "Japanese Imperial Army forcing Okinawa civilians to commit mass suicide during the Okinawa Campaign".
This, however, is a historic truth, and well documented by the American military forces and Japanese/Okinawan survivors and eyewitnesses. It is history. But now the current Japanese Administration is going to change it. Outright delete it. New generations of Japanese will not know.
Some upset Okinawan survivors in their 80s were on Japanese TV about 30 minutes ago, shaking their heads in disbelief at this development.
Japanese Prime Minister Abe went on national TV to say that he agrees with the decision and that the procedures to carry it the deletion/revision, to revise the textbooks in this manner, was fair.
As it stands, they will leave in the fact that civilians killed themselves in caves and elsewhere, but will total absolve the Japanese Imperial Army of any hand in it.
Hey, heyyy - Ah resemble that remahk, suh!
Just where do they go after they take up lying to themselves?
Truth may be hidden or twisted for awhile but can NEVER be erased.
Well, the Japanese better be on their best behavior because if we need to fight China or North Korea, we can't afford to have them go bushido crazy again.
It seems the plot in Without Remorse and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (rogue Japanese military organization tries to take over Pacific through inciting covert wars) was a lot more realistic than I previously thought. Tom Clancy may be onto something, God forbid.
How about the military/civilian murder/suicides at Saipan?
It's no wonder we kicked their ass in WWII. They cannot face reality.
Granted, yes. But that is true in a lot of cultures as well.
I doubt there is much mention of Saipan in Japanese textbooks. I could take a look. One thing is for sure, if there are uncomfortable things in there, they will be taken out over the next 10-20 years IMHO.
Japaneeze are our friends. They are big trading partner. They love our Michael Jackson and Anna Nichole Smith. War was long, long time agro. Time to let things pass. It is best for all of us.
//sarcasm off
(I might also add that there are MANY Japanese who do not support this idea and shake their heads in dismay; I even talked to some yesterday about it.) So we should not paint all of Japan with one paintbrush.
Thanks for the input.
Japanese militarists sure accelerate their reemergence. Must be really shocking to Condi and her crowds. China must be really worried. As it stands, China has more to fear from Japan than U.S., which could make China more cooperative to U.S.
These days the only countries which carry a big stick are N. Korea and Japan. Others only carry lots of carrots, and a toothpick as a stick.
Failure to act tough when necessary has consequence. This is one example.
Shhh, you'll give Rosie (the noted historian and social critic) another "cause"!
Remove the lessons of history so evil is free to repeat itself.
This is PRECISELY what is happening!!!
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