JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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Aliasis
Tattoos are not "offensive" in Japan - tattoos on rowdy looking Japanese men are associated with yakuza. But that doesn't mean tattoos are offensive, especially not when an American blonde girl has the symbol for peace tattooed on her wrist - and even in Japan, more young musicians (and young people in general) are sporting tattoos.
And what do you mean, Lady Gaga promotes those things? If she promotes tolerance of gay people, GOOD. Promiscuity? What, I suppose you mean because she's a woman who dares to show a little skin and act confidently? Because she's stated time and time again that she believes sex is an important, special thing and she doesn't want to have sex outside of a relationship. And please tell me exactly where she supports "death" and "brainwashing"... I'm very, very curious on how you came up with that one.
That being said, Lady Gaga's show is certainly PG13 - due to language and reference to mature issues, I wouldn't take an 8 year old to see it. But it's certainly not inappropriate for a teen. On the contrary, her messages of tolerance and her strong stance against bullying make her an ideal figure for any teens.
Posted in: What do you think of the decision to cancel Lady Gaga's concert in Indonesia?
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Aliasis
Her concert was sold out. Thousands and thousands of young people wanted to see her, they wanted to embrace that culture and her messages of tolerance. It's not for religious old men to decide the country's morals and rules, and braying about how you'll protest violently and with lethal force if a young musician performs is not something to be respected as "cultural difference."
We should never be told to respect cultural differences that quash freedom of speech and expression, art, and vilify femininity. There's a lot of things to be admired and respected about Indonesia, but this is just pathetic - and certainly doesn't represent a huge portion of the country's youth.
Posted in: What do you think of the decision to cancel Lady Gaga's concert in Indonesia?
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Aliasis
Asexual doesn't mean without gender, it means not interested in sex of any kind.
Also, wow. I try to avoid generalizing, but of all the countries I've been to, Japanese crime is by far the weirdest. Not that this was a crime, whatever, everything was consensual... but who the heck would think to do this?
Posted in: Man cooks, serves own genitals to 5 paying diners
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Aliasis
Not true. Religion might sanction marriage, but what was the purpose of marriage? To legally bind two people and their assets together. To form alliances between clans. To have children carry their family's name. Religion only defines how they throw the party, it is not a requirement.
And frankly, that's a moot point anyway. Right now, marriage IS DEFINITELY state-sanctioned, a union with a legal framework and benefits. Religion has NO room in this discussion because separation of church and state should be the basis of any and every country's legislation, if it's not already. Marriage is an institution totally independent of religion, as it should be.
Posted in: Do you support same-sex marriages?
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Aliasis
Definitely to all. Especially fruit. I'm constantly shocked - just today, apples at my supermarket cost 200 yen EACH. It's insane...
I could add... well, pretty much EVERYTHING is more expensive in Tokyo than where I'm from. I can't think of a single thing that's cheaper here besides maybe manga and sushi (but even that depends on where you go).
Posted in: Six things that foreigners feel are overpriced in Japan
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Aliasis
Zing!!!
Posted in: Defiant Gaga rocks fans -- and censors -- in Manila
-1
Aliasis
No? I'm having trouble reading my post and even trying to imagine how to came to that conclusion. Sex is NOT about procreation in the human species. We have sex not because it's a chore we have to trudge through to make babies but because we enjoy it, it feels good, natural, self-fulfilling. Additionally, we enter romantic relationships not with the prerogative of making babies, but because attaching ourselves to someone we love also feels good, natural and self-fulfilling.
You can't have your argument both ways - either you're saying that marriage should always end in popping out babies, or it doesn't have to. No, there's not a difference between an infertile straight couple and a gay couple just because you want there to be. What's important? Biologically creating babies? Then, as I said, if you've read my previous post, you're denying marriage to more than just gay people. Infertile people, old people and people who choose not to have children also cannot get married, right? But gay people more often than not also want to have children, and it's more than possible for them to have children - it's common! in the end, you're just discriminating against gay people, and children whose parents did not create them via vaginal intercourse (including adopted children).
In short, your argument is full of holes and is inconsistent at best.
Posted in: 'Beat' Takeshi rejects anti-gay accusation
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Aliasis
I can't help but be skeptical about this - seems impossible to determine whether this is just a correlation or actually causation. I've heard that caffeine is pretty nasty for you (and I say this as a soda addict, haha) so I'm not sure it's great to encourage people to drink coffee because it'll help them live longer.
On the other hand, coffee in moderation probably can't do any harm.
Posted in: Coffee buzz: Study finds java drinkers live longer
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Aliasis
Fair enough - I've got no problem with people who have a personal understanding of their faith in regards to any social issue, I'm only opposed to people using that faith to actively persecute others. If a Christian doesn't want to refer to it as marriage, that's their choice. If a church doesn't want to perform a gay marriage, that's in their right. The only thing I'm concerned about is equal marriage before the law, because I think religion should always remain a personal thing.
Posted in: Do you support same-sex marriages?
1
Aliasis
Um, yes on all accounts? Gay people can (and DO) have children no matter the method, be it adopting, in-vitro, sperm donor, children from previous relationships, whatever. Why is whether or not gay sex makes a baby important? Ability to be parents is important, to care for children's needs - which gay people are fully capable of.
You bring up infertile straight couples but say it doesn't compare, however, it obviously does if you're talking about the ability to make babies. Are you saying marriage is only about making babies and having families? In that case, you're discounting hundreds of thousands of marriages that don't or can't naturally have children - not just medically infertile people, but old people, and people who choose not to have children.
If you insist on calling marriage solely an institution to create a family (again, a definition that many people will protest) then that still has nothing to do with gay people. As I said, gay people can and do have children and make families. Being gay has nothing to do with one's desire to have a family. Even if you're against using medical means to have children (something straight couples also do when they feel they need to) are you against adoption? I should hope not.
As far as "nature" goes, no one is saying that two men or two women can biologically make a baby together via natural intercourse. Why does that matter? Being gay is not unnatural. We've actually observed gay animal couples "adopting" and raising the baby together - those gay penguins come to mind from some American zoo. Why is nature an argument, anyway? A lot of things happen and don't happen in nature that we would or wouldn't do in civilized society. But we don't live in nature, and we have the human advantages of a conscience and sense of morality, mercy and peace. We can't just arbitrarily use "nature" as an argument when we don't in other cases - I'm sure you enjoy cooking food and using your air conditioner, for example.
The point is, your argument isn't very strong and it's very easy to pinpoint exactly what you're against. I support any loving couple - gay or straight - to commit themselves together legally and to start a family if that's what they want. Why would you want to deny people that?
Posted in: 'Beat' Takeshi rejects anti-gay accusation
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Aliasis
Oh, really? I didn't realize that I was the one discriminating against a minority group and denying them equal rights. Homophobes get mad when they get called out, and claim that those mean gay-equality people are intolerant of their outdated, prejudice opinions that actively hurt the lives of LGBT people. Cry me a river!
Posted in: 'Beat' Takeshi rejects anti-gay accusation
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Aliasis
Wow, he said something terrible, and when he got called out on it, he basically pretends he never said it? It's like, "Look, you gay people are all so sensitive, what I really said was people will marry dogs..." wait, that doesn't even make sense. That's the same thing you originally said and it's still offensive and stupid the second time around. He didn't even apologize. This guy is a total douchebag.
Posted in: 'Beat' Takeshi rejects anti-gay accusation
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Aliasis
Because 'marriage' isn't a religious institution and isn't owned by Christians. Marriage has always been a legal union, and various religions can perform a ritual, sure, but marriage is independent of religion. That's why atheists can get married, and non-Christians for that matter.
Additionally, as a gay person, I don't want to "civil union" the love of my life. I want to marry her. If it looks like a marriage and talks like a marriage, it's a marriage. We don't need any "separate but equal" stuff here. It's marriage!
Posted in: Do you support same-sex marriages?
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Aliasis
FOR REAL. I'm a gay woman and it's weird how one of the biggest homophobe arguments is "EW BUTTSEX". and when they think of lesbians it's "lol I support gay marriage as long as both girls are hot..." Yup, stay classy, straight dudes.
Posted in: Do you support same-sex marriages?
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Aliasis
There's no reason not to support gay marriage that doesn't come from some kind of irrationality. Hopefully our grandchildren will look back at this period in time and laugh at our stupidity!
Posted in: Do you support same-sex marriages?
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Aliasis
I can't tell if JT purposely reports only crackish stories and makes them seem even more crazy with the headlines they choose... or if Japanese crime is actually that freaking weird.
Posted in: Man severs real estate agent's arm with katana
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Aliasis
Chairman, on behalf of the rest of the world... YOU NEED TO GET A FREAKING LIFE.
Posted in: Indonesian organizers fight to save Lady Gaga gig
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Aliasis
A strong, talented woman who worked herself up from the bottom, gives an amazing show and uses her money and fame to support good causes... sure! She can represent us any day. Do YOU want to be represented by intolerant religious bigots? jw.
Have YOU been to America or Europe? I'm guessing not. I'm from small town America and I know a lot of grannies who would be absolutely livid at your insinuation that we are "chock full" of strip clubs wherever you go.
Posted in: Lady Gaga warned to tone down Philippine show
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Aliasis
That is decidedly not true. There are plenty of crazy "jihad" Christians. Look at that Norwegian terrorist, exhibit A.
Man, these articles are so embarrassing for.. the world in the 21st century. You think we're growing up, only to find that we're still in the middle ages in some places.
Posted in: Lady Gaga warned to tone down Philippine show
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Aliasis
If they do or not, why does it matter? Men have a sex gland the anus, making anal sex sexually pleasurable for many of them (if anal sex is unnatural, btw, why is the prostrate there in the first place?) Many straight couples also engage in anal sex and many straight men also enjoy stimulation of the prostate. Many women also enjoy anal sex (though as a woman, I have to say, I can't personally understand why). Point being, there's nothing shameful or wrong about anal sex, as long as it's done safely and cleanly (like ALL types of sex). Though many gay men don't engage in anal sex - that's true - the point is that it's not unnatural (and yes, it's been frequently observed in the animal kingdom).
Sex between two consenting adults is just that - none of our business. I don't care WHAT anyone does in bed as long as both partners are okay with it, and they're doing that safely. Comparisons to bestiality and pedophilia are absolutely irrational and frankly disgusting, because animals and children can't legally consent and therefore it's always rape. Rape should be our enemy, here. Gay people are just a scapegoat.
Posted in: Beat Takeshi compares same-sex marriage with bestiality