US urges 'comfort women' apology from Japan - Political Forum

W.E.B. Du Bois · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 04:07 AM

Japan should just stop lying about its history in general. Stop lying about their history first, then apologize later. I believe that the Japanese are still being taught that China attacked them (when the reverse is true) and that Korea asked Japan to invade them. I've heard they also learn that the Rape of Nanking was an "incident" and they only get a sentence or two about that in their textbooks anyway.

They've got to stop lying first.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | US urges 'comfort women' apology

Quote:

US urges 'comfort women' apology

US lawmakers have called on Japan's government to formally apologise for its role in forcing thousands of women to work as sex slaves in World War II.

The symbolic and non-binding resolution was passed during a vote in the House of Representatives. Up to 200,000 "comfort women" from across the Far East were part of Japan's military brothel programme.

Japan says it has shown sufficient remorse over the issue. A spokesman said the resolution was "regrettable". Chief Cabinet Spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a news conference that Japan had "handled the comfort women issue with sincerity". Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had "clearly explained his views" on the subject during a visit to Washington in April, he said.

'Nauseating' denials

The resolution calls on Japan - one of the strongest US allies in Asia - to "formally acknowledge, apologise and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner" for the suffering of the women. Earlier this month, a group of Japanese lawmakers demanded the US government retract the resolution, saying it was based on "wrong information that is totally different from the historical fact".

Tom Lantos, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, described attempts to deny the use of sex slaves as "nauseating". "There can be no denying the Japanese imperial military coerced thousands upon thousands of Asian women," Mr Lantos said. "Those who posit that all of the comfort women were happily complicit and acting of their own accord simply do not understand the meaning of the word rape."

In 1993 Japan issued an official apology for the suffering of comfort women, acknowledging its involvement managing the brothels. But it was never approved by parliament and Japan has rejected most compensation claims, saying they were settled by treaties. Mr Abe caused an uproar in March when he said there was no proof that the government or the military had forced the women into sexual servitude.

He later apologised, saying he felt sympathy for those affected. The resolution comes at a difficult time for Mr Abe. On Sunday his ruling coalition suffered a crushing defeat in upper house polls, losing its majority and handing control of the house to the opposition.

He is facing pressure from the public and the media to step down, but the premier says he plans to remain in office and continue with an agenda of reform.

J.Locke777 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 04:21 AM

I didn't even know that this was going on in Japan. That is a sad situation indeed. "If one does not study the past, They are doomed to repeat it." I pray that is not the case with Japan.

winter6126 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 04:40 AM

the Japan PM and some officials said no one force that women to be "comfort women" in WWII.American done a good job this time

W.E.B. Du Bois · #4 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 04:47 AM

You know what I suspect, winter? My suspicion is that the US is not acting out of altruism (noble principles). I suspect that one of the reasons this is happening is to advance US interests. US and Japan are allies. More importantly, the US and Japanese are allies against China. Therefore, do you want your ally to do something stupid that will cause other people to hate him? I think a lot of countries (i.e. South Korea) hate Japan for their lies about World War Two. This will be very useful to help China create allies and to isolate Japan, IMO. That's what the US politicians are trying to avoid here I think.

WEB

Agent Elrond · #5 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 01:26 PM

If lies about history are what we have to worry about we'd have spent our lives worrying; even if Japan was ignored. Fact is a lot of history that we see around the world today reflects the victors points of view in victor countries and victim's point of view if the victims still have freedom. To see some truth both the sides should be considered.

W.E.B. Du Bois · #6 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 04:00 PM

Yeah, you're right, let's consider both sides when talking about history. What was Hitler's side? I'm sure there's a compelling case to be made there. What was Idi Amin's side? What was Pol Pot's side?

WEB

winter6126 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 07:04 AM

China unite S.Korea to against Japan?I think is impossible!Chinese and S.Korean dislike each other.in most Chinese eyes,S.Korea is another Japan,it's a threat to China.I don't know what's Chinese in S.Korea eyes,but i can tell you S.Korean don't like China,everybody knows this.
Don't forget another country,N.Korea.think N.Korea's role in Eastern Asia.

Izzibeth · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 10:57 AM

Well, I love Japan (as everyone knows) and I have talked to a number of Japanese people about issues like this. They are not taught that China attacked Japan first. They know the history.

Japanese officials are basically waiting for the last of the comfort women to die off. They do not want to admit such a gross violation against human beings. However, the average person knows (especially young people) that these things happened. I did quite a bit of research on the comfort women (Human Rights Seminar 4 month long final) and what they went through/what they are going through. It is horrendous.

Japan needs to start to accept the fact that they did things wrong. You find, as you would expect, the young people much more willing to accept this than the older people. Unfortunately, just like in any country, you hear from the older people. Not the young. The young are too busy doing young stuff. By the time they get to power and are ready to say "We are sorry for what happened in the past" the comfort women as well as many other victims of WWII and previous will be long gone. And yes, with the United States saying "take your time, Japan".. you can expect it to take another couple of decades. Eventually the apology will come. Even if it's from the generation that had nothing to do with the atrocities. As I said... the Japanese officials in charge are waiting for the last handful of comfort women to die. We will have to see what happens after that.

Izzibeth · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

You know what I suspect, winter? My suspicion is that the US is not acting out of altruism (noble principles). I suspect that one of the reasons this is happening is to advance US interests. US and Japan are allies. More importantly, the US and Japanese are allies against China. Therefore, do you want your ally to do something stupid that will cause other people to hate him? I think a lot of countries (i.e. South Korea) hate Japan for their lies about World War Two. This will be very useful to help China create allies and to isolate Japan, IMO. That's what the US politicians are trying to avoid here I think.

WEB

China and South Korea are still angry about the violations of WWII. But I don't think they hate them. They may hate them because Japan has never admitted that they did wrong, but like I just said... that will take some time. The stubborn, older generation is the one that speaks for all of the people. The young people will eventually get to that point but with the acceptance of Japanese wrongdoings. They will be the ones to apologize, I can almost guarantee.

They aren't taught crazy lies about history in Japanese schools like ants. They are given the correct history even if they don't delve as deeply into it as people would like (EVERY country is guilty of this... don't even get me started on American history). But the young Japanese know and, being detached from the situation, will have a much easier time apologizing for things their grandparents and great grandparents did. Pride will not let those grandparents and great grandparents apologize right now. That is life. The younger Japanese will express their disgust and disappointment at how things happened before and during WWII when it is their time to have a voice.

Agent Elrond · #10 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

Yeah, you're right, let's consider both sides when talking about history. What was Hitler's side? I'm sure there's a compelling case to be made there. What was Idi Amin's side? What was Pol Pot's side?

WEB

Perhaps if the outcome of the World war 2 has been in favour of National Socialist Germany, we'd have heard about all those 'researches' about how Jews are sub humans, etc. etc. Or perhaps there mightn't not have been any Jews left to talk about so that Hitler looks all good and nice.