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It is not something that we should be forced to do. Universities are public organizations for students, and how they, their parents and society think about the issue is what counts.

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The president of a national university, commenting on the government's plan to request national universities to have the national flag raised and the national anthem sung at entrance and graduation ceremonies. (Mainichi Shimbun)

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Benito Abe pushing his fascist plans ahead?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Will we ever manage to get rid of him ???

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It is not something that we should be forced to do. Universities are public organizations for students, and how they, their parents and society think about the issue is what counts.

Spot on. Attending a university should be a time of personal growth and a chance for students to develop their own outlook on things, including politics. I believe the phrae is "critical thinking". Dictating that the national anthem must be sung at entrance andgaduation ceremonies flies in the face of that.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Thanks Prez for the CORRECT view on this!

Japan should let things grow organically, not FORCE people to do things

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Politicians who were not smart enough to get into national universities on their own merits should not be dictating terms to them. Indeed, this is very much a case of "barbarians at the gate". The only access that Abe and his fellow loons should get to the hallowed halls is the opportunities to buy some rather cheesy tat at the gift shop just behind the Aka Mon (before being removed from the premises by security).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Every entrance and graduation ceremony I've been to, including private and national elementary schools, junior highs, high schools and universities, have had the national flag and anthem in attendance. This request means I've missed schools that don't have them?

Has anyone gone to a university ceremony without the national anthem or flag?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Borscht,

Has anyone gone to a university ceremony without the national anthem or flag?

Yes.

They would have torn the speakers out of the walls if they had tried that in London.

They used to play God Save the Queen in cinemas when I was a kid, but I'm ancient and they stopped doing this YEARS ago.

GW

Japan should let things grow organically, not FORCE people to do things

You know, generally, I think they do.

That's what's so weird about Meinherr Abe and his right wing mob.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They would have torn the speakers out of the walls if they had tried that in London.

Yup.

And rightly so.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Bertie & Cleo,

I meant, Has anyone gone to a university ceremony in JAPAN without the national anthem or flag?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

borscht-san,

When I was teaching at a university in Tokyo, there was no national anthem at ceremonies.

I think it would be totally out of place.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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