Comments on: Abe: I’ll offer a controversial opinion as I claim it would be inappropriate of me to comment. http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:51:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-122 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:25:11 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-122 I agree that the CCP is more than a little hypocritical when it comes to human rights abuses and historical issues, Kimosabe. 65 million sounds a bit high, including a lot of deaths of unclear provenance perhaps. (What I mean is, for example, 25 million died in a famine under Mao, which the CCP exacerbated, but can we say they slaughtered all those people? Is every person executed slaughtered? Has the State of Texas slaughtered hundreds of people in the last few decades?) A similar counting case could be made on the abortion point. Some of those might have been one-or-the-other cases, etc. The main point, though, is that, just as the anti-abortion views of a woman who has had an abortion are no less valid for her having had an abortion, the complaints China has over Japan's reluctance to deal with its past frankly are no less valid because the CCP has done more harm to China than Japan could have had they tried for a century. I agree that the CCP is more than a little hypocritical when it comes to human rights abuses and historical issues, Kimosabe. 65 million sounds a bit high, including a lot of deaths of unclear provenance perhaps. (What I mean is, for example, 25 million died in a famine under Mao, which the CCP exacerbated, but can we say they slaughtered all those people? Is every person executed slaughtered? Has the State of Texas slaughtered hundreds of people in the last few decades?)
A similar counting case could be made on the abortion point. Some of those might have been one-or-the-other cases, etc.
The main point, though, is that, just as the anti-abortion views of a woman who has had an abortion are no less valid for her having had an abortion, the complaints China has over Japan’s reluctance to deal with its past frankly are no less valid because the CCP has done more harm to China than Japan could have had they tried for a century.

]]> by: Lone Ranger http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-118 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:53:49 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-118 The ChiComs are the LAST people to lecture Japan about war criminals, since they have slaughtered 65 million of their own people (and counting). The Chinese leadership squeal like stuck pigs when anyone mentions their own human rights abuses, accusing them of "meddling in their internal affairs." Abe is right. The 14 war criminals in Yasukuni did not violate domestic laws -- just as abortionists who have killed more than 42 million babies in the United States have not violated domestic laws. I love gyoza. The ChiComs are the LAST people to lecture Japan about war criminals, since they have slaughtered 65 million of their own people (and counting). The Chinese leadership squeal like stuck pigs when anyone mentions their own human rights abuses, accusing them of “meddling in their internal affairs.” Abe is right. The 14 war criminals in Yasukuni did not violate domestic laws — just as abortionists who have killed more than 42 million babies in the United States have not violated domestic laws.

I love gyoza.

]]> by: ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-115 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 07:39:25 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-115 Publicus, I hope that revolving door isn't done by the same people who built the one over at Roppongi Hills. At any rate, if he ends up stinking (which we'll know within a few months, if not sooner), I hope he's out soon. If he can somehow make some headway with Japan/China/South Korea relations and with domestic economic reform, I think the stability will help the country. The revolving door of the 90s didn't do much to help get out of the economic funk. Publicus,

I hope that revolving door isn’t done by the same people who built the one over at Roppongi Hills.

At any rate, if he ends up stinking (which we’ll know within a few months, if not sooner), I hope he’s out soon. If he can somehow make some headway with Japan/China/South Korea relations and with domestic economic reform, I think the stability will help the country.

The revolving door of the 90s didn’t do much to help get out of the economic funk.

]]> by: Publicus http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-114 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 06:48:14 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-114 I am preparing the grease for the revolving door of the prime minister position as we speak. He won't last until this time next year. I am preparing the grease for the revolving door of the prime minister position as we speak. He won’t last until this time next year.

]]> by: ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-113 Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:51:59 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2006/10/06/abe-ill-offer-a-controversial-opinion-as-i-claim-it-would-be-inappropriate-of-me-to-comment/#comment-113 In last Monday's policy speech, Abe said: <em>"A beautiful country, Japan" is a country that is trusted, respected and loved in the world, and which demonstrates leadership.</em> So much for that pillar of the plan. One of the big problems here is the belief that he's speaking to a domestic-only audience. I watched the session today and they get caught up in the heat of the moment. The next thing you know, a Moriesque statement comes out and already, in the first full week of his term, we have confirmation that he won't be able to lead Japan to better relations with its neighbors. It sad, really, how bad these guys are at just keeping such ego-driven drivel out of the public discourse. He's supposed to be a public servant, not his ancestors' servant. In last Monday’s policy speech, Abe said:

“A beautiful country, Japan” is a country that is trusted, respected and loved in the world, and which demonstrates leadership.

So much for that pillar of the plan. One of the big problems here is the belief that he’s speaking to a domestic-only audience. I watched the session today and they get caught up in the heat of the moment. The next thing you know, a Moriesque statement comes out and already, in the first full week of his term, we have confirmation that he won’t be able to lead Japan to better relations with its neighbors. It sad, really, how bad these guys are at just keeping such ego-driven drivel out of the public discourse. He’s supposed to be a public servant, not his ancestors’ servant.

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