[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.

[altair]

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

You're missing the point. Shintoism during the war was used by the Japanese government to whip people up into a fighting frenzy. In particular, it was used to exhort the kamikazi to do their deed. It may have been a peaceful religion before the war, but certainly after its misuse during the war it is not considered a religion of peace and most Japanese are ashamed of that chapter of their history. Shintoism in today's Japan is all but dead.