Japan

I find it funny and slightly ironic that headlines in the states are pointing out sentiments of Japan which seem to show contradicting morals.

In one story stateside, an article I read spoke of Japan's past crimes against women in the "comfort women" controversial issue. I'd not heard of this before until a friend spoke of it, and I looked it up. A south Korean woman who was used as a sex slave called upon Japan's new PM to issue an official government apology. Apparently an official apology was issued in 92 but it was not met with approval from parliament and that is exactly what the victims are calling for. The entire article can be found here.

Now, in searching for more world news, I stumbled upon another article regarding Japan, this time in reference to recent desires expressed from Japanese citizens for our US president to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese want him to visit the cities as a sign of peace or something to that effect. His US advisers say it would be a bad idea considering how full his hands are with health care reform (ugh) and other matters. Not only that, but no other president has visited the Japanese cities during their time of office. Why? Because other political leaders - and perhaps even the president himself - believe to visit it would express regretful sentiments or feelings of sorrow for our actions in WW2. Republicans especially call for him not to visit it for these reasons. I personally believe that we don't owe Japan an apology or even regretful, sorrowful feelings in regards to our actions. Yes, we bombed the shit out of them. It put an end to the war though, didn't it? A war with us that  -they-  provoked in the first place?

Full article on this issue is found here.



So lets summarize:

Sex slave victims want Japan's apology issued to them and they damn well deserve it but are being denied.

Japanese citizens (victims or not, doesn't matter) want US to express sorrow for a bombing that they provoked after they bombed the shit out of Pearl Harbor.

They won't give out what is deserved and they ask for the undeserved.


Ironic.