This thing in Japan of altering the curriculum to make children more nationalistic is a huge backwards step in the growth of democracy. The one that is most important in maintaining the justice of a democratic society is the awareness of its people. Being aware of what is being done by government and how it will affect you and the greater good is what makes democracy possible. This is why the press is so importantly enshrined by any and all real democratic constitutions.
But even more important than the availability of information is the ability to analyse it critically. This skill is called
critical thinking and it is very much a skill and one which must be taught. No school should teach a child to love a flag or an emperor or a nation without thought. This is indoctrination at a basic level. Rather than teaching young children that their homeland is some great perfect place they should be taught how to think and analyse what is going on in an intelligent and impartial way so as to best be able to know what is good for their nation.
As is oft perverted by these blind nationalists, patriotism isn't blind faith in a leader or a government, but is a love for ones country. And a true patriot is one who does what is best for his nation, not one who applauds it even when it is wrong.
Japan seems to be so concerned with the shame of its past that it is ironically laying the foundation for a situation in which it might be somehow in some way replicated.
As is so often misquoted and not even properly attributed -
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by George Santanyana
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
|