Olympic torch relay in Japan [photos, Japan caters to China]

Or, are you going to argue that Japan’s war guilt is somehow hereditary and that every Japanese born since the war is guilty of war atrocities and thus has no right to speak?

It is not our fathers or grandfathers we are responsible for. It is our nation. As little as we can do to change its course, it is still our legacy and our future.

My point is that Japan's history with China prevents it from criticizing China. We differ on that point, obviously. But again, you can not distance yourself from your country unless you renounce it and become a citizen of another country.

I did not make those rules. They are not even rules. They are reality.

Perhaps I should let this go, but I think I need to make my points a final time.

If I grant that the government of Japan, given the undeniable tyranny and injustice done by previous Japanese governments, might be legitimately criticized for and should refrain from, speaking out too loudly against tyranny when it occurs today, I also absolve Japan from the responsibility of denouncing such tyranny or injustice anywhere in the world.

If I grant that a Japanese citizen, being the offspring of men who have performed evil in the name of Japan, has no right to denounce evil today, I absolve them from the responsibility of denouncing any evil, anywhere in the world.

I find that reasoning repugnant.

All nations and all men, have both the duty and responsibility to denounce tyranny regardless of the actions of their previous governments or the actions of their ancestors.

Japan has tried, through numerous formulas and over the last several decades to repent, atone and compensate for its actions during the war and for the crimes of its citizens during that war.

Does anyone hold the the current government of Germany responsible for the crimes of the Nazis? If so, I seldom hear it. Should Germany today be prohibited from denouncing antisemitism because of the undeniable antisemitic actions of their previous government? If so, I seldom hear it.

You might want to make the argument that the Olympic torch relay is an improper place for a protest. Fine, that’s your opinion. But Japan is a democratic country and its citizens have the right to denounce tyranny and injustice as they perceive it in any manner that falls within the law. Those who go too far — like that man in the photo who may or may not be Japanese — are stopped and arrested.

China has been squawking that “sports and politics should be separate”. But the Olympics have always been just as much about politics as it has been about sports. The torch relay itself was an invention of Nazi Germany for the Berlin Olympiad.

Very few people outside a given sport know any of the athletes competing, yet follow the Olympics taking pride in their nation’s haul of gold, silver and bronze, and grinning cheerfully as their nation’s national anthem is played and their flag is hoisted on the occasions an athlete from their country wins the gold.

China tried to turn the Torch relay into a public relations bonanza, a “Journey of Harmony” that would showcase the Olympics and China’s rightful place on the world stage.

Well, sorry, what was supposed to be a public relations bonanza has turned into a totally hilarious boondoggle as protesters from around the world — quite legitimately in my view — use the opportunity to denounce the excesses and evil of the Beijing regime.

It’s happened everywhere the torch has traveled so far, and it will keep happening.

You gave it a good final try. I still don't agree with you totally but you have provided good food for thought. Certainly Japanese citizens should not be prohibited from speaking out against tryany.

No one was suggesting that. But it still seems disingenuouse to me that a country that committed such atrocities against a specific country now cry foul against that countries handling of a region it considers its territory, namely Tibet.

You are correct that 50 years has passed. And Japan should not always have the mistake rubbed in its face. But nothing the Chinese have done in Tibet comes close to what took place 50 years ago in Nanjing. Does time and severity make it a wash?

I don't thinks so. You do. Let's leave it at that. Except to say that I absolutely do not condone what has taken place in Tibet.

One last point if I might. The Olympics should not be used for politics. I suggest we have a political Olympic games where all the worlds leaders run a relay while people try and throw water on them. But let's leave the athletes to their one occassion every four years when they can compete in peace and harmony.

FReep Regards to you.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.