Japanese students

[Suede]

Most things from japanese culture are pretty cool.

Culture yes, but not all of it's history. There are things that the Japanese did during years of war against Asian countries that rival if not surpass what the Germans did to the Jews in regard to the level of brutality. The Germans practiced experiements on humans behind closed doors in concentration camps as well as some of the other more horrific acts of violence. The Japanese on the other hand allowed the everyday common soldier ro commit acts of violence to conquered peoples on the street, upon innocent women, children, and men--regardless of age. Meaning a three year old child could just as likely be raped as an eighty year old grandmother in front of family or right on the street for all to see. Ripping out babies of pregnant women after they finished "amusing themselves" with her and then proceeding to stab the infant with their bayonets. They butchered people literally. Chinese vilagers were flayed alive. In the Philippines they cut the soles off of people and then tossed them onto the hot sand. Threw babies in the air and played catch with their bayonets. These and other incredibly disgusting events took place not to gain information about enemy troops or subversive infiltrators but often for mere amusement, sometimes just on a whim.

I think most people don't realize how vicious and inhuman the Japanese have been. The Japanese government itself continues to deny the atrocities to this day and refuses to make a public apology to any nation even though much has been documented, taped and photographed, not including the countless eyewitness testimonies. I am Korean and my grandmother who experienced some of this first hand during WWII has hated and will continue to hate the Japanese. I have only come into some of this information recently myself and it has greatly changed my view on the Japanese. While I would not say that I hate them, I no longer think of them simply as noble, hospitable, green tea drinking pacifists willing to outbow the world. There is a darkness that has much to do with how they literally translate and enact "rape and pilage" with a long history that was culturally accepted as a means of dominating others.

[RevBrown]

I think most people don't realize how vicious and inhuman the Japanese have been. .

I got a pretty good idea.

Any country of people is capable of cruelty.
Brings to mind that quote about

For evil to suceed good men must do nothing(I know thats not exact)

[Vex]

The Japanese were no worse than the Romans or the Saxons. They set out to conquer the world, and in order for that to happen, you had to "coerce" some people into submission. Were we (Americans) any worse to the Native Americans in the 1800s? Our atrocities were just on a smaller scale.

[quik]

Japan sucks guys.

^____^

ps: ww2 doesnt exist to Japan.

[Vex]

Hey, a country is allowed to put its past behind it...
Neo Japan totally rocks! The people are humble and sincere, the food is tasty, and the technology is freakin' awesome!

[Automaggot68]

Ahhh nevermind why defend it. Maybe some people are to quick to point the bandwagon finger instead of thinking that some thought long and hard about their actions

I resent that.
I wasn't attacking you, it was simply an observation.

[Suede]

The Japanese were no worse than the Romans or the Saxons. They set out to conquer the world, and in order for that to happen, you had to "coerce" some people into submission. Were we (Americans) any worse to the Native Americans in the 1800s? Our atrocities were just on a smaller scale.

All wars have innocent victims, and most civilizations have had a history whether brief or long of violence against their enemies. In some instances, through the course of the war, there were atrocities on both sides. We obviously cannot ask the Romans and Saxons for an apology but the Japanese have an opportunity and I believe a responsibility to right some of their wrongs as these events occurred only within the last 50-60 years. I am not referring to reparations. I am talking about the Japanese government recognizing what they did and making a public apology, to acknowledge that these atrocities occurred. I do not think this unfair. After WWII, most of the German leaders and even some of their underlings responsible for what happened to the Jews, Russians and others were sentenced to death. Their guilt and sentencing was passed down during the Nuremberg trial. Some were immediately executed as soon as the Allies freed those being held and tortured. Those who fled were hunted down and Germany wore their humilitation for many years.

This was not the case with the Japanese. With the exception of a few, most went on to be heralded as heros. There are shrines to these men. It would be comparable to having a national shrine for Hilter or Goering or in the US monuments to the KKK. My point is twofold: (1) the level of depravity of their actions needs to be addressed and (2) the Japanese government and people should in this modern age at least have the decency to own up to their actions, ones they took as their God-given right to do as they pleased to anyone at anytime.