Critic raps Tamogami's planned speech in Hiroshima as 'act of malice'

Saturday 01st August, 03:54 PM JST

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LastBestHope at 07:30 AM JST - 2nd August

Try as I might I just can't see what Iraq has to do with Hiroshima and WW2.
buddha4brains at 07:33 AM JST - 2nd August

Is giving Tamogami carte blanche to say whatever, where ever, whenever and then criticizing Amaki or anyone else for objecting a show of support for free speech?

Protesting objectionable speech is also free speech.
OssanAmerica at 07:52 AM JST - 2nd August

Try as I might I just can't see what Iraq has to do with Hiroshima and WW2.

I think only the America haters know. And they're not cluing me in.

Is giving Tamogami carte blanche to say whatever, where ever, whenever >and then criticizing Amaki or anyone else for objecting a show of >support for free speech?

Technically, yes it is. But bear in mind that Tamogami was not invited to give any nutty speech at the official Hiroshima ceremony. In other words, those who would go over to listen to him are of that "persuasion" anyway. So it's not "what ever, where ever, when ever" as you descrbibe it.

Protesting objectionable speech is also free speech.

And protesting the protesting of objectionable speech is also free speech. We could do this all night if you like.
buddha4brains at 08:06 AM JST - 2nd August

And protesting the protesting of objectionable speech is also free speech. We could do this all night if you like.

Well, that was kind of my point. The fact that both can speak their minds is evidence of free speech. And Tamogami is indeed speaking what, where, and when ever he wants since that is the bone of contention and probably why he chose that date and place to say what he wants... unless I misread the story.
TokyoHustla at 09:32 AM JST - 2nd August

The liberal media really loves to speak out against true patriots, whether they are Palin or Tamogami.
medievaltimes at 10:16 AM JST - 2nd August

Will be interesting to see if the world press picks up on this if it happens.
smithinjapan at 10:25 AM JST - 2nd August

Ossan: "No smith, obviously Tamogami is not a complete nut, otherwise he would never have held the JASDF position he did, and would have a record of mental illness and treatment."

If Tamogami were a 'complete nut' he would be small, shriveled, and cracked open from a hard brown casing, since you want to be mister literal here.

His version of events is nuts, that he supports it in public forum is nuts, and that there are morons willing to support him is COMPLETELY nuts (namely the fools in the black trucks). Those aren't opinions, my friend, they're fact (or in some cases judgements based on facts) That Japan was NOT the benevolent colonial ruler Tamogami claims it was is quite a well known fact as well... or are you claiming that the proof is merely opinion as well? Hell, even the JAPANESE are saying this guy distorts the past!

As to freedom of speech, try reading my comment again where I AGREED with you. I never said he could be stopped from making his speech, did I? What's more, I also agree that Japan is completely hypocritical with its anti-nuclear-let's-hide-under-the-US-nuclear-umbrella stance, as you pointed out.

As usual though you never fail to see only what you choose to see, and therefore are blinded to what's actually being said. But hell, at least this time if you want to go back and try and quote my comments you can't make up the 'I don't have time to find proof, but it's in all your comments' crap you usually do when you spout nonsense about what others have said.

And for the black trucks and what not, and for election trucks for that matter, they should all be allowed to say whatever they want, when they want, but fortunately most countries have noise regulations that would not allow them to do it the way they do (nor could they enter movie theatres and slash the screens if the film is 'anti-Japan', etc. Oh, that's the black truck dudes, not the politicians. And I don't think the KKK is allowed to put burning crosses on people's lawns as a means of expressing themselves freely :)).
smithinjapan at 10:27 AM JST - 2nd August

But if it will appease the Ossan types on here I'll say it again (since it needs to be made clear to him), no one has the right to block this nut from saying what he wants to say. In fact, let him -- it'll go a good measure of the way further in proving beyond a doubt the man is 'nuts', and might help others see how awfully wrong a person can be when it comes to distorting history.

I agree it's awfully tasteless, and this guy won't be making himself a whole lot of non-nut friends, but if he wants to speak, so be it.
OssanAmerica at 11:18 AM JST - 2nd August

Ossan: "No smith, obviously Tamogami is not a complete nut, otherwise he >would never have held the JASDF position he did, and would have a record >of mental illness and treatment." If Tamogami were a 'complete nut' he would be small, shriveled, and >cracked open from a hard brown casing, since you want to be mister >literal here.

No genius, you used "complete nut" as in a person not metally competant, not a nut that grows on a tree.

His version of events is nuts, that he supports it in public forum is >nuts,

There you go again, annoucing your opinion of the man and his beliefs which has nothing to do with the right to free speech. Or did you miss that point?

As usual though you never fail to see only what you choose to see

As usual you feel compelled to write an essay which says nothing really.
OssanAmerica at 11:20 AM JST - 2nd August

But if it will appease the Ossan types

And what are those "types"? People who recognize the right of free speech? People who can express a point in 2 or 3 simple sentences?
apecNetworks at 04:34 PM JST - 2nd August

Former ASDF General Tamogami is not "nutz". This was THE guy who was responsible for Japanese airspace, ordering the scrambling of F15s to intercept incoming fighters testing Japanese airspace, reading voluminous amounts of classified intel to determine the security of Japan. However, the world he did live in was not one known to the general public. He had to be good to be in his former position. I disagree on his position on going nuclear, but that is a debatable issue - I think more variables are involved than military issues. There are people who want him to present his views in Hiroshima, and he most likely will - he was a General.
Africanist at 05:38 PM JST - 2nd August

I read the official English translation of the essay that got Tamogami fired. It was a model of how not to write an essay: incoherent, self-contradictory and factually incorrect. This guy is the Japanese equivalent of Orly Taitz, America's "birther queen" who was just on Comedy Central giving everyone a laugh. The reason we can laugh is that no one ever put her in charge of military forces. Tamogami needs to be taken apart the way Orly Taitz was taken apart and made a laughing stock of.
DenDon at 09:50 PM JST - 2nd August

naaah, let him speak, let them hand out bags of overripe rotting tomatoes and eggs at the door, let the people decide
smithinjapan at 11:20 PM JST - 2nd August

Ossan: "No genius, you used "complete nut" as in a person not metally competant, not a nut that grows on a tree."

No, actually, I did not. But the fact that you judged me to say as much and then suggested I add 'I think' to my statement to make it opinion says a lot. Fact is I said the guy's a nut, same way I think that the main dude in Iran is a nut for saying the Holocaust never happened. But again, wouldn't be OssanAmerica if there were not extreme bias and misreadings.... hence no longer OssanUltra.

"There you go again, annoucing your opinion of the man and his beliefs which has nothing to do with the right to free speech. Or did you miss that point?"

Again, your cherry-picking does you no justice in trying to defend yourself. The funniest part is when you cherry-pick my statements which actually defend some points in the comments you made! Classic!

OssanAmerica proves once again he cannot make a comment free from bias. Need proof?

"I think only the America haters know. And they're not cluing me in."

Ah yes... it's always 'America haters' and/or 'J-bashers', eh? Never just people with opinions, until it comes to your self-contradictions, of course.

"And what are those "types"? People who recognize the right of free speech?"

Nope, not at all, and in particular since I spelled out the fact that the man has a right to speak. I'm referring to the fools like yourself who make all this fuss about the right to free speech, then call everyone 'America-haters', 'J-bashers', and what not when it doesn't agree with you, and then cherry-picking comments to make them fit the tiny world view you seem to be limited to in terms of what should be posted. Sounds a bit hypocritical given all your 'freedom of speech' drivel.

Hang in there, Ossan :)
OssanAmerica at 03:27 AM JST - 3rd August

smith you did it again. Arguments aren't won by the number of words typed. You have a persistent habit (perhaps technique?) of saying some anti-American or J-bashing comment no matter how remote it may be to the article, then making some relevant comment that refers to the article. When someone points this out you call it "cherry picking". BTW, I don't consider "everyone" and America-hater or J-basher. Just you. Hang in there smith!