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Originally Posted by jatx
That stands in marked contrast to the revisionist, PC self-flagellation exercise that many American history courses have become in recent years.
Terry:
I read about your wife previously in your humorous Clinton post. She sounds like a great American, and you are rightly proud of her. However, her individual work with Japanese post-docs in no way bolsters your argument that the Japanese are "rewriting history" and that their war monuments fail to mention Pearl Harbor.
While visiting Hiroshima, you missed this on Pearl Harbor: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/vir...el/A2/2201.htm
For the record, the inscription at Nagasaki follows: http://www.peace-nagasaki.go.jp/eng/ftop.html
I believe it's worth noting that the Nagasaki memorial does not assign culpability for the war to any party, and doesn't even address the justness of America's decision to drop the bomb there. It is only meant to stand as a symbol for peace amongst all people, and to commemorate the civilian lives lost there. That is a noble goal, and I can't fault the Japanese for not providing more of a history lesson. We took the same approach in constructing our own Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which makes no political statements whatsoever. |
jatx:
The Clinton post was in no way meant to be humorous, it in fact was written as factually as possible. But I guess the measure of it's content lies in the eyes of the beholder.
The purpose of mentioning my wife's Post-Doc was anecdotal evidence, albeit a small sample. I mentioned that we travel to Japan often to show that we in fact like the Japanese people.
So, you also found a single reference to their attacking Pearl Harbor...As we did.
You have visited the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, and you are comparing it to the Nagasaki Memorial? The Vietnam Veterans Memorial "which makes no political statements, whatsoever." Why should it?
The Nagasaki memorial is a large exhibit, with tons of pictures depicting the devastation our bombs caused (with one reference that Japan started the war), a great deal of slanted narrative, and a statement that they were prepared to lose millions more in defense of their homeland.
Terry