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joea · 10-19-05, 01:28 PM

I really don't understand the answers to this thread. Seems people are mixing two different issues at least:
1) The extent to which Japan has/has not recognized a dark period in its past.

2) Dislike/distrust of the Chinese government's intentions and growing power.

I am sure if we spoke about Korean (or others) citizens or even the government protesting the Japanese government actions at Yakusuni (I agree with August in that it is a shrine for ALL Japanese war dead) or more serious the textbook issue, we would not be so harsh on the Koreans (well maybe the North Koreans

) . No one thinks South Korea is about to attack Japan or something. Second these attitudes for better or worse exist among ordinary people too...I have heard Koreans negative comments, yet know one lady who is married to a Japanese and lovees the country and culture.

I still feel if these attitudes portrayed by some Japanese were expressed in Eruope we would hear an outcry. In fact there have been those who expressed sympathy for the German side and been jumped on here (well one I recall). I like to take Polish attitudes as an example here, no question one of the biggest victims, (I AM NOT PICKING ON POLISH PEOPLE I THINK THEY ARE GREAT) yet a victim mentality sometimes. With Germans leads SOME(I have seen on some forums) Poles to not listen to how Germany was badly treated during Versailles or also suffered greatly during the war. Generally Germans have been concious and have "made amends" as it were. Poles tend to be p@#$% at Russians too, and in this case most Russians I have seen just say "we liberated you from the Nazis who wanted to exterminate you", true enough, yet never wish to admit their invasion in 39, nor the fact they imposed a Communist government on Poland. These biases exist in every country.

As for Japan, well things seem to be changing, a Japanese acquaintance on another forum stated these texts tend to be used by very few schools, most texts are produced by private groups which are more open and objective about positive and negative points of Japan's past.

10-19-05, 01:28 PM	#10
joea Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: At periscope depth in Lake Geneva Posts: 3,512 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	I really don't understand the answers to this thread. Seems people are mixing two different issues at least: 1) The extent to which Japan has/has not recognized a dark period in its past. 2) Dislike/distrust of the Chinese government's intentions and growing power. I am sure if we spoke about Korean (or others) citizens or even the government protesting the Japanese government actions at Yakusuni (I agree with August in that it is a shrine for ALL Japanese war dead) or more serious the textbook issue, we would not be so harsh on the Koreans (well maybe the North Koreans ) . No one thinks South Korea is about to attack Japan or something. Second these attitudes for better or worse exist among ordinary people too...I have heard Koreans negative comments, yet know one lady who is married to a Japanese and lovees the country and culture. I still feel if these attitudes portrayed by some Japanese were expressed in Eruope we would hear an outcry. In fact there have been those who expressed sympathy for the German side and been jumped on here (well one I recall). I like to take Polish attitudes as an example here, no question one of the biggest victims, (I AM NOT PICKING ON POLISH PEOPLE I THINK THEY ARE GREAT) yet a victim mentality sometimes. With Germans leads SOME(I have seen on some forums) Poles to not listen to how Germany was badly treated during Versailles or also suffered greatly during the war. Generally Germans have been concious and have "made amends" as it were. Poles tend to be p@#$% at Russians too, and in this case most Russians I have seen just say "we liberated you from the Nazis who wanted to exterminate you", true enough, yet never wish to admit their invasion in 39, nor the fact they imposed a Communist government on Poland. These biases exist in every country. As for Japan, well things seem to be changing, a Japanese acquaintance on another forum stated these texts tend to be used by very few schools, most texts are produced by private groups which are more open and objective about positive and negative points of Japan's past.