The singing of Japan's national anthem Kimigayo, an ode to the emperor, and the flying of the Hinomaru flag, both evocative of Japan's colonial era, have become flashpoints of conflict in recent years as the Japanese government presses to reincorporate these controversial emblems in a variety of public events. Nowhere has the conflict been more intense than in the public … [Read more...] about -Conscience and a Music Teacher’s Refusal to Play the National Anthem
-Self-Defense Forces and the Constitution: Heed the past to find a path to the future
Translated by Japan Focus...So-called postwar progressive intellectuals were by and large critical of the Constitution that was forced on the nation by the occupation forces. But these people switched to a pro-Constitution position around 1950 mainly in reaction to America's changed Japan policy. Because of the Cold War, the United States began demanding that Japan rearm … [Read more...] about -Self-Defense Forces and the Constitution: Heed the past to find a path to the future
-Yasukuni: Seek a New Way to Remeber the War Dead
by Yoshibumi WakamiyaTranslated from the International Herald Tribune by the people at JAPAN FOCUS....The true culprit in suicide attacks is not the individual who sacrifices his or her life, but the organizations and leaders who praise, encourage or order such attacks. Likewise, unless we look squarely at the mistakes made by the imperial army and national leaders who … [Read more...] about -Yasukuni: Seek a New Way to Remeber the War Dead
-Kerry Wrapping Himself in the Flag–Road to Disaster
ZNet Commentary (Support the Sustainers program, of which this is an example).So the results are in. After shellacking Dean in Iowa, Kerry once again won a very convincing victory in New Hampshire. Democrats who made up their minds last year tended to favor Dean, while those who made up their minds in the last four weeks favored Kerry; those who voted based on the issues … [Read more...] about -Kerry Wrapping Himself in the Flag–Road to Disaster
-Lesser of Two Evils is Still Evil: Wesley Clark would use Depleted Uranium and Cluster Bombs
Jan 28 - In an on-the-spot interview with the Democracy Now! radio program, General Wesley Clark defended the actions of the NATO forces he commanded during the 78-day bombing of Kosovo. The former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and current presidential candidate told Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill that, "All of my actions were examined and they were all upheld … [Read more...] about -Lesser of Two Evils is Still Evil: Wesley Clark would use Depleted Uranium and Cluster Bombs