173 punished teachers file suit over national anthem, flag

When you received your freedom, what did you do with it?

Do you keep it in a drawer? Do you hide it? Do you treasure it by burying it? Do you want to keep it alive? Do you want to keep it to yourself? Do you abuse it? Do you simply want to forget it? Do you want to exercise it? Do you talk about it with someone? Do you want some one else to have it? Do you have a problem with someone enjoying freedom? Do you desire to have it shared with someone? or, Can you really live with freedom?

Freedom is truly hard earned by those individuals who desire to share it with others. Have a great day.

 

Toshinobe wrote:

When you received your freedom, what did you do with it?

Do you keep it in a drawer? Do you hide it? Do you treasure it by burying it? Do you want to keep it alive? Do you want to keep it to yourself? Do you abuse it? Do you simply want to forget it? Do you want to exercise it? Do you talk about it with someone? Do you want some one else to have it? Do you have a problem with someone enjoying freedom? Do you desire to have it shared with someone? or, Can you really live with freedom?

Freedom is truly hard earned by those individuals who desire to share it with others. Have a great day.

I think that's besides the point. Your people didn't earn anything ! Not even the freedom you spout. As a matter of fact, you are not free as long as you have a foreign constitution that governs your nation. Why don't you work together to form a constitution that was written by the people(Japanese) for the people, that way you don't come on here sounding so pseudo intellectual. If you want freedom then you have to earn it, not accept it because then it's not real freedom, now is it ?

Japan accepted a constitution that was blessed by the Allied Powers, not your people ! You've got it all twisted up. Sing the Kimigayo, honour your national symbols then maybe you can get some respect internationally.

 

GameMasterNick,

Again, with all due respect, I don't believe that singing the national anthem was ever a legal requirement in the US. I am sure you are correct in that local areas or states created atmospheres where people felt they 'had to' sing or stand during a pledge or during the anthem. However, the reason, the courts would have found for plantiffs that didn't want to sing or stand would be that there was no legal requirement to to begin with, right?

toshinobe,

I am not sure why you suggested I look at the Japan Times article. What are you referring to?

Anyway, as I wrote earlier, in my opinion these teachers have a right not to stand or sing if they don't want to. I don't have a problem with the anthem or the flag. To me, they represent the Japan of today, not the Japan of the past. I only have a problem with the teachers being 'forced' to sing or stand. I still stand by my opinion that these teachers would probably not have any complaints and would probably have gladly stood and sang if only they had not felt force to do so.

 

Having once been a high school teacher in Texas, I attended many ceremonies where the national anthem was never played. As far as I know, the argument over the pledge of allegiance has been over whether is should be said at all. Students and teachers are not required to recite it, they can opt out of it as I and many other students and teachers did with no ill consequences.

 

This also was my understanding of the situation there. What you have described is quite different from the situation we find ourselves with here. I believe in respect for the flag and anthem of Japan and for the Japan of today that they represent. It is the requirement by the board of Education that goes against the freedoms on which present day Japan's society is based. Thank you for your educational input!

 

Imagine if our sports team sat down and yawned through the national anthem. they would lose face and respect. These teachers are setting a poor standard for the children. Do gaijin English teachers have to stand and sing too?

 

Lose face? What a quaint concept. does one die or need medical attention when one loses face. Does one hang ones head in shame?

 

The U.S. gov't doesn't force you to stand for the national anthem.

However, if you don't you'll probably get knocked on your ass by a redneck.

 

In Japan they do. look through the eyes of the culture before you look through your own. Do not bring your ethnocentrism to anothers world. you will get slammed emotionally or physically. respect where you are. When in Rome, do what the Romans do. This expression is ancient but carries a lot of weight. If you are so negative towards your situation you are more than welcome to leave.

 

romulus...that attitude is orientalist and racist. There are some universals in this world. If not, then would you agree to certain practices in some tribes that surgically alter body parts to ensure chastity? Everything is on a scale. These teachers are simply standing up for the truth in recognition of history.

 

Your quote is a conjecture that is far from the truth. Consider the Armenian people's plight in the United Nations for instance that is open to discussion but the people are fighting it over the historical corretness. At least they are at the level of present day dialogue.

The Japanese public is not made aware of the truth of their military past in the occupied land. The fact that the victims are still calling for the justice to prevail tells me that the perpetrators have not been brought to justice. This injustice will not go away as long as the peoples do not recocile the differences. The reason I refer you to the article is that these issues are still on going.

 

Well, most, if not all, of these 'teachers' are anachronistic communists and they actually teach to disobey and destory Japanese authority. I hope they move to China so that we don't need this kind of stupid low.

 

I would respectfully ask you if you have found that the majority of Japanese people you have come in contact with had a fairly accurate awareness of these past events. In addition, the Japanese government has apologized for crimes committed by the Imperial Army on a number of occasions.

I have certainly noticed a freedom of debate about this issue in Japan and I have read and heard opinions on both sides of the issues and the various opinions in between. I agree with you that the search for historical accuracy is important. However, I again would like to point out that the majority of Japanese (even at the young adult level) have a pretty good idea of the crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial Army. Just talk to them and see.

 

we are talking about singing ones national anthem, not mutilating others for some prehistoric cultural tradition. if you are going to serve your country and community well, then you should need to have some pride in your country. one way to manifest that pride is to sing your heart out when the national anthem is played. I don't believe in the words of my national anthem 100% but I ll be damned if I don't take a chance to be patriotic and in full voice when its blaring from some loud speaker. Its part of ethos and ethnicity. when my sports team is up there ready to play I sing in full voice to encourage them. I take pride in them and our country by singing our anthem and honoring our flag.

 

Look into this link: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070214f2.html. What is important is the relationship between the Asian partners today. This article addresses the concern which I am referring to.

The personal facts are based on experience, not based on the survey or polls or a few interviews. The history must be told in truth otherwise the people will be misled into a repeatable future. In Japan, it is important to distiguish the level of society and the world views expressed from which one belongs. name).