[altair]

I think the satire piece is cruel and I knew it wasn't the President from the very beginning.

Cruel indeed. The Yasukuni Shrine is very controversial because of the convicted war criminals buried there. Japanese politicians cannot visit it without creating a huge uproar.

[patriciaruth]

It was cruel on several levels. Not only cruel to our veterans and tens of thousands of our honored dead who fought in the Pacific Theatre in WWII, but cruel to Japan who has fought their way back into a place of honor in world civilization after taking a very wrong, dishonorable turn.

And it was also cruel in attacking an ancient religion that we may not believe, but which still provides pride and solace for others.

That it was cruel to the President, whose balancing act in this war on terror is worthy of respect not invective, was almost beside the point.