Japan Creates Ministry of Defense

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by goldorak

Japan has 2000 + years of history, and only 50 years of democratic government.

That's silly. How many countries have had democratic governments for longer than that? I think you've got a slightly skewed view of history.

In all actuality, probably 95% of the world's democracies have less 'experience' than that, including a vast majority of European countries.

***

I'm willing to pull the racist card on this side of the argument, myself. Japan has proven beyond all doubt a democratic success; at least two generations have now been raised in a democratic environment, and only a very small minority complains.

In the 2000 years of Japanese history, they likewise only spent just over 50 being an Empire, the rest of it largely being an isolationist - if highly xenophobic - island hideaway.

What, a democracy is not allowed to have a military? Who says? America?!

Either it's blatant racism, or suddenly the people I've seen showing such faith in democracy as the rightest and most sustainable form of government have just done a sudden and inexplicable about-face. :hmm:

[tycho102]

Some of their CEO's still have that conquerer mentality, but most of the people are pretty decent. It would take a couple of generations to swing their population around to the old feudal system. However, I don't care for them to be rewriting their history books.

I got the "clean" version of our history up until high school, but it might also be that I was a little more inquisitive than average.

[geetrue]

Originally Posted by Cpt. Stewker

This reminds me that there was talk within Japan (only talk at this point) about a possible nuclear deterrant to counter North Korea. Japan has plenty of nuclear fuel and the knowledge know how to be able to create a nuclear device within months if they wished it. I haven't heard anything about this for some time though. Not since North Korea's "nuclear fizzle" was front page news.

I think they have already developed the atomic bomb ... It's Japan's biggest secret of course ... If you stop and think about it being used for defense only ... Why tell anybody? It would just upset the people of Japan, not it's very intelligent Army/Navy

[Der Eisen-Wal]

as far as i know japan still hasn't gotten those resources and land that it desperately fought for in WW2, i'm sure that's still on teh agenda. While I don't see them going full out on China again, why tempt them?

ps, revisionist history is , at least the germans owned up to it and made laws against it... the Japanese are still printing some textbooks that distance themselves from their WW2 atrocities in the South-East Asian Sphere of Co-Prosperity... and the worst part is their kids are reading it.

[P_Funk]

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 -

Originally Posted by George Santanyana

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

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.

I disagree. While they might not be admitting to guilt, that's because they find the deeds we all they comitted disgracesful and horrific. It's the last thing they would want to revert to.

I see nothing wrong or excessive with nationalism in Japan today. There are far more dangerous nationilists in Germany. So, too, in other western countries. I see no reason to pick on Japan at present nor do I see any trend leading them to their WWII past.

As is so often misquoted and not even properly attributed -

That's "Santayana" - no "n" before the "y".