A Realist's past comments

  • 4

    A Realist

    Seeing as how both Obama's and Bush's pledges to help Japan solve the abduction issue were as meaningless as all the other empty words coming from the US, it is quite obvious Japan has to act on its own.

    Posted in: Japan considers talks with N Korea, surprising allies

  • 0

    A Realist

    Ian DuncanMay. 19, 2013 - 10:57AM JST

    A Realist - I'm curious as to why you are so keen to change the topic of this thread.

    You think it is not all connected? The South Korean paranoia about that particular picture (which is innocuous) is just the usual Korean and/or Chinese and US anti-Japanese propaganda that is spewed out on a regular basis every day. They search for anything that could be detrimental to Japan and appeal to their "nationalists." I would ask you and all the other-Japan bashers who appear regularly in the media of those countries and on forums like these: why do you do it? Why are you always looking for something to bash Japan for, yet you ignore everything else? If you want to find fault, you can find lots more to find fault about in China, the USA or Korea. Yet you either pretend nothing is wrong in those countries, or deliberately ignore it, or buy into their propaganda. It just makes me suspicious of your motives.

    Posted in: S Korean media slam Abe's 731 jet photo

  • 8

    A Realist

    Poor China. Their tactics of provocation, intimidation and economic warfare in the attempt to seize the Senkaku Islands failed miserably. Now they have boxed themselves into a corner; they have ruined their relations not only with Japan but with most of Asia as well, and if they back down they lose face with their populace, especially their frothing-at-the-mouth "nationalist" supporters. It is a lose-lose situation for the Chinese government and its misguided and inexplicably childish foreign policy.

    Posted in: Chinese ships in disputed waters again

  • -2

    A Realist

    "modzMay. 17, 2013 - 09:48PM JST

    Maybe a good start would be to stop using the euphemism "comfort women" and start calling them what they were -- rape victims."

    Or prostitutes, which is what they were and are called in every other country in the world.

    Posted in: Defiant Hashimoto says U.S. troops abused women during occupation

  • 0

    A Realist

    melonbarmonster--By all means all civilized human beings should be united in denouncing human rights atrocities. Perhaps you can explain why you and so many posters go to such great lengths to denounce alleged human rights atrocities by Japan, but not by China, the USA, German, Britain, Korea and every other country that has ever engaged in war. Or why not go a little further and denounce human rights atrocities that regularly take place today without even a war, especially in places like China and North Korea? Why just pick on Japan? I find that inexplicable, seeing as how WWII has been over for 67 years, Japan has been probably the most peaceful country in the world since then and has one of the better human rights records in the world (unlike Korea (both North and South) and China. The past cannot be changed, why not be concerned about human rights today instead of dwelling on the past?

    Posted in: S Korean media slam Abe's 731 jet photo

  • 0

    A Realist

    Ian Duncan--I too am fascinated by the double standards here. Why are so many people always ready to jump on Japan with both feet for past grievances and every imagined slight such as that photo? This particular one coming from a country which fought a civil war that is still technically going on over 60 years later. If South Korea wants to vent their hatred against some country every chance they get, why don't they do it against China, whose army killed hundreds of thousands of their soldiers and civilians in the Korean War? Yet today you see South Korea's new president cozying up to China and both countries tag-teaming to bash Japan (which has been the most peaceful country in the world since the end of WWII). Can't you see it is all politics, along with envy and a huge inferiority complex?

    I see many people bashing Japan for everything under the sun. I surmise that you are a "gaijin" living in Japan, and like so many others who go to a foreign country fail to understand the culture and sensibilities and cannot adapt to the ways and customs. I have read your past posts and see nothing but criticism, which begs the question: If you are a gaijin living in Japan, why are you there if you dislike the place so much? Do you really not understand that every country is different and that no place in the world is perfect, and no country will adapt to your particular likes and dislikes?

    Posted in: S Korean media slam Abe's 731 jet photo

  • 5

    A Realist

    Gosh, Korea sure enjoys playing the victim, don't they? Just like China. WWII has been over for more than 67 years and all the leaders of that conflict are all dead and most of the participants are either dead or very old. The rest of the world has moved on, but Korea and China mark time, just like the war is still being fought. In truth there are two reasons for those countries to snipe at Japan every chance they get--one is to have a convenient "outside enemy" to aid them politically at home, the other is because they have a huge inferiority complex and are extremely envious that Japan is their superior economically, technologically and culturally.

    Posted in: S Korean media slam Abe's 731 jet photo

  • 28

    A Realist

    What kind of message are they sending? That they are a bunch of idiots? If so, I got it loud and clear.

    Posted in: Sending a message

  • 1

    A Realist

    One thing I have found exceedingly strange over the years is that neither Norway or Iceland, which actually harvest more whales than Japan does, do not receive a fraction of the attention, criticism, vitriol, hatred and condemnation that Japan does from the media, the public, and eco-terrorists over "whale hunting." In fact, unless you made a point of finding out you wouldn't even know that Japan is not the only country harvesting whales. Why is that, I wonder?

    Posted in: Australia to tackle Japan on whaling at U.N. world court

  • 5

    A Realist

    DisillusionedApr. 10, 2013 - 05:55PM JST

    Japan a role model for social development

    Yeah, compared to Mexico I guess it is, but he has obviously never lived here.

    I see many comments like that, obviously many are from Americans or other foreigners living in Japan. It kind of begs the question--if you feel that way, why are you there? Seems to me there are lots of people who go to foreign countries and refuse to adapt, they expect the country to change its culture just for them. Japan Is a very law abiding, orderly country compared to many others (and it does not have the out-of-control drug problems that many other countries have).

    Posted in: Mexican president: Japan a role model for social development

  • 0

    A Realist

    It is disturbing when modern day criminals and self-appointed "pirates" can engage in illegal and dangerous activities to "disrupt" a legitimate and legal activity. They are no different than terrorists who will do anything to advance their agenda. What is even more disturbing is that so many people would agree with them and their criminal activities, Whales are ***animals, *not people or Gods.**

    Posted in: Japan blames sabotage for record low whaling haul

  • 1

    A Realist

    I think this is what is called extortion. Pay up or you don't do business here.

    Posted in: Toyota pays $16 mil to settle suit in southern California

  • 2

    A Realist

    Just a cheap publicity stunt to rake in more donations from their ignorant supporters.

    Posted in: Sea Shepherd sues Japanese whalers in Netherlands for piracy

  • 1

    A Realist

    Too bad for China, one of the big weapons in their economic war chest gone.

    Posted in: Rich rare earth deposits found on seabed

  • -4

    A Realist

    Just because China and Korea insist on living in the past, are unable to realize that WWII is over and carry on their hatreds forever, that is not a reason that Japan cannot become a normal country with the same rights as every other country in the world. Of course what would China and Korea do if they could not unite their people by having a common enemy or bogeyman to keep them from looking too closely at their own inept governments? If Japan was to become a normal country and the Chinese and Korean people saw they had nothing to fear, how long would their governments stay in power? Those countries have been playing the victims for over a century; their whole outlook would have to change.

    Posted in: Abe vows to change constitution, reestablish 'proud Japan'

  • 1

    A Realist

    MoonrakerMar. 19, 2013 - 12:11PM JST

    I think you missed the point, A Realist. Selling arms is about dealing in death no matter how it is dressed up, whether to friend or as deterrent or as keeping agreement with a group of similar hypocrites. It cannot be ethical.

    What do you mean, I missed the point? Of course selling arms is not ethical. After the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989 when the Chinese government slaughtered pro-democracy protesters, Western countries, including France, agreed not to sell advanced weapons to China. Ever since China has protested that is "unfair." Now apparently the socialist government in France has violated that agreement by selling China advanced (military) helicopter technology. Japan has every right to protest, because why do you suppose China wants that kind of military capability?.

    By the way, you might note that in today's news China has moved up to #5 in countries that export arms, beind the US, Russia, Germany and France. You will note that Germany, the country that started two world wars and is universally loved by all the Japan bashers because they have supposedly atoned for their past, is the #3 arms exporter in the world. China is moving up fast, it was #8 last year.

    Posted in: Japan protests to France over military sales to China

  • 2

    A Realist

    "MoonrakerMar. 19, 2013 - 09:25AM JST

    Does anyone really expect any ethics to military sales of any kind?"

    Well, yes. Because France, as a member of the EU, agreed not to sell advanced weapons to China.

    Posted in: Japan protests to France over military sales to China

  • 2

    A Realist

    Giving China advanced weapons of any kind is just like giving a pack of monkeys matches and dynamite to play with.

    Posted in: Japan protests to France over military sales to China

  • 6

    A Realist

    "Tony Ew Mar. 19, 2013 - 06:10AM JST THE CHINESE OFFICER MAY DO JUST A 10 SEC RADAR LOCK and Japan try to frame China as aggressive. It was a warning to back off, not aggressive. Am I wrong? Any expert to clarify this vital distinction?"

    Using weapons-targeting radar is exactly the same as holding a gun to someone's head, and if that is not aggression, I am not sure what is. Why would that need clarification, and why do suppose there is some sort of "vital distinction?" It doesn't make any difference whether it was 1 second or 10 seconds or 10 minutes--how long does it take to pull a trigger or press a button? Such an action is not a warning to "back off," it is hostile action and a blunder of huge proportions. Normally if a naval officer performed such an act on his own he would be removed from command and face disciplinary action, but in the Chinese navy who knows? China is not the most transparent country in the world, and its military is very secretive.

    If those senior officers are correct and the commander of that Chinese ship gave that order on his own, then the problem is huge. If the commander of a small ship can perform actions on his own that could start a war, then there is either something lacking in the chain of command in the Chinese navy or there is no discipline at all. China is playing a very dangerous game.

    Posted in: Chinese military officials admit ship radar lock on Japanese detroyer

  • 0

    A Realist

    "FugacisMar. 18, 2013 - 07:10AM JST

    "Defend against provocations"? That doesn't even make sense. How do you defend against a provocation? You either respond to the provocation, or you ignore and rise above it. I think he means the former; the latter would be far too sensible and peaceable for someone like Abe."

    So you figure it is fine for China to have the biggest military in the world and increase its military budget by double-digit figures every year for the last 21 years? Then use that military in an agressive manner, provoking other countries (not only Japan, but several others as well ) by intruding into their territorial waters and demanding that they "negotiate" so China can take their "disputed" territories that never, ever belonged to China? Yet it is not permissible for Japan to have a military to defend itself. An interesting philosophy, sound like something the the CPC might dream up.

    Posted in: Abe warns defense academy graduates of 'provocations'

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