JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Corporate Business English Trainers
- ACT Systems, Inc.（株式会社アクト・システムズ）, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥269,500 ~ ¥280,000 / Month
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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Alphaape
Sez, I am not for any candidate, and I think that they are both pandering to get votes, but many people will not vote for Obama becuase he is Black. What is not really being said is that many Blacks are voting for Obama becuase he is Black. If you look at some of the Black media outlets and discussion boards, you will see many Blacks say that they will vote for him because of his race. Some of my own family members (I am Black) who were solid Clinton supporters for years (one member who was on the Clinton's bandwagon since his days as Governor of Arkansas (I have seen the candid snapshots at her house from her stumping days with him) is now fully on the Obama team, but was for Hillary at first until Obama threw his hat in).
As I said in my previous post, people tend to live among people that are like them. In relation to this, people will work with others who are not like them, but as long as they can go to their "homes" and be around like persons, they will do so. In regards to the Presidency, I think this applies somewhat. Not just along the racial lines, of the majority wanting to at least see that one of "them" is in charge, but also along political lines and beliefs. Like it or not, most Americans have a conservative lean towards them. So some of the proposals that Obama is campaining on many don't feel comfortable with. He still has not really sat down with the political opposition and discusses his plans for America, just basically taking easy interviews (Larry King, the View) and trying not to say anything controversial.
If he wins, he will probably be another Jimmy Carter.
Posted in: Clinton says she's not ready to concede
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Alphaape
From my hometown newspaper back in the states, here is a snippet of why many believe that Obama is dividing the Democratic Party: "He and his supporters have systematically sacrificed the central constituency of the Democratic Party—the poor and working class—on the altar of constituencies who look to politics for reaffirmation of their identity: college students and childish Sixties neo-libs; some view the Obama candidacy as a narcissistic endeavor by a mediocre politician dividing Democrats along social vs. economic progressive lines; He’s forcing a choice between winning in 2008 and possibly saving Roe vs. Wade and promoting gay marriage vs. fighting for the poor and working class; I’ve decided I won’t help Obama and his personality cult transform the Democratic Party into an organization that represents only the interests of rich, social liberals."
That is the crux of many of the white (and other race) voters against Obama. I am not a shill for the Democratic Party at all, I vote for either party based on which is the best candidate. But he is doing a pretty good job at dividing the Democrats. Remember, all of the pundits in the cable news (especially MSNBC) where the ones urging Al Gore to concede the race in Florida back in 2000, and you know how that worked out. Today, Gore’s a Nobel laureate. George W. Bush, like Obama a uniter, not a divider, became the most unpopular, ineffective president in U.S. history. Ever heard any media princelings explain how they went so comprehensively wrong?
Good for Hillary (I can't believe I am saying that) for showing the elite media pundits that they don't decide American elections, the people do.
Posted in: Clinton says she's not ready to concede
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Alphaape
Even if Obama was to gain the entire Black vote, he still would not have enough. Blacks are only 14% of the population, so if all the eligible Black voters voted for him, it would only amount to probably about 30 million (based on the number of Blacks over 18, and still having the right to vote (if they are convicted felons, they loose the right to vote). So he would still need a vast majority of white voters to carry him over. What the primaries in states like KT, WV and IN and other places where Hillary won tell us that many Americans will not vote for him because of his race. Not saying that they are racisit, but that is just how they feel. Remember, people in America live in communities where they feel comfortable. So, whites with the same economic background (rich or poor) would still rather live among their own kind, and this is the same for Blacks, Asians, etc. And so it is the same when it will come to this election. Many whites probably have voted for Obama to show that they are not "racist" in the primaries, but will not vote for him in the general election, since in the end, they will probably stick to their old voting pattern (like their living pattern) of voting for their own kind.
Just my theory.
Posted in: Clinton says she's not ready to concede
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Alphaape
Hillary is just starting the 2012 election a bit early. If Obama somehow manages to get the Presidency this time, then if she began at the beginning of his first term of being on the attack against him, it will only portray her in the public as a shrewd and vindictive woman, who is a sore looser. That will carry on over until 2012 and depending on how good or bad Obama does if he is elected probably make it harder for her to try.
If, McCain wins, Hillary will just say that she knew this was going to happen since she won in the states with the "hard working white male voters" that Obama lost to McCain. She will have 4 years to brow beat this into the American public (I will give her 3 because the smart thing for her to do in McCain's first year if he is elected is to lay low and try to support him on a bi-partisan level, and not seem too hostile about loosing). When 2012 rolls around, I think Hillary will campaign on the fact that the 2008 election was lost because she did not get the nomination, and this time she will be the right choice.
At any rate, if she gives herelf the money out of her own personal finances (they have made over $800 million since Bill left the office 8 years ago, they can afford to blow off 30 million for a worthy cause), she will more than make up for it on the lecture circut.
Posted in: Not so fast, Clinton says to Obama: There is no Democratic nominee yet
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Alphaape
Desercration is bad for any book, but for the muslims there to get bent out of shape for a holy book to me is a bit "silly." Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a devout Christan, and would not want anyone to destroy a Bible. But if they did, I would not get bent out of shape for the destruction of the book, simply because the religion is to be lived and is within me. True if it was my only Bible I would be upset if I could not read it daily or if it had some significance because it was given to me by my family, but to be on the wrath because someone desecrated a book is a bit extreme.
I know what is in the Bible, and I try to live it. If you destroy a book, then that is what you do. The religion is more about what is in the book, and not so much the book itself. I find it amazing, that anyone can go to the Vatican and walk aroun and look at the artifacts there, but any non-Muslim is not allowed to enter Mecca (they have a high way sign that is labled "Christian Bypass" that I have seen). I think that they need to take a deep breath and step back and think rationally.
Yes it was a bad act, but I don't think we need to go bow down and kiss thier feet. They wouldn't do it for a Bible that was shot up.
Posted in: U.S. military says soldier used Quran for target practice in Iraq
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Alphaape
I have also been to Singapore, and if this question was asked there, you would be surprised at how many of the local Singaporeans can't cook as well as do any domestic chores like laundry or clean house. As long as there is a steady state of Philpina maids to do that work, they won't.
I know that is not the same condition as it is here in Japan, but I think a lot has to do with women in their 30's still living at home. If their parents don't make any demands on them as to assist in the upkeep of the house chores that include cooking, then I am afraid that it will be a lost art to many women. As long as they can live at home, and spend money on trips to exotic places or buy stuff for their "pet dogs" then there is no need for them to cook.
I would think that a man would want to be able to be self sufficent in being able to at least cook a piece of meat. I guess that is another difference between Japanese men and American men. This time of the year, when the weather is getting warmer and the days are longer, you can find most men outside cooking on the grill for either their family or friends. You don't see too much of that here.
Being the "cad" I have been, one of the easiest pick-up lines that I have used over here besides the classic "I can take you to the Exchange" was to invite a Japanese female over to my place for a bar-b-que. Some women at more than men, and were amazed that a bunch of guys had enough sense to cook outdoors, and make side dishes as well without a woman doing the cooking. One lady did not know how to properly do dishes so I had to throw her out of the kitchen.
Posted in: How come so many young people today don't know how to cook?
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Alphaape
I can agree with the statements on the small kitchens in most apartments. I have seen some and are amazed that more room is given to the bathroom to ensure that a tube and shower area is there but not enough space for a kitchen or a place to sit and eat.
I have amazed many Japanese women who I have entertained at my house with my cooking skills. Something so simple as frying chicken seems to be difficult to some. When I invite someone over for dinner, It will normally take about 30-40 minutes to cook a steak dinner with all the trimmings.
I can understand the beat feeling after work and coming home to cook, but even when I'm bone tired, it can take only about 20 minutes to whip up a meal that isn't the traditional "TV Dinner."
But, if like many of the posters say most people live at home and rely on a parental unit to fix the meals, I guess they will never learn. I guess the skills I learned on my first job at KFC are paying off now.
Posted in: How come so many young people today don't know how to cook?
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Alphaape
HoDeDo, Your comments of
is to me what defines this issue. Do I care what two adults want to do in their life, no I don't more power to them. But the underlying issue is that they want their "belief and practices" accepted as norm. If they want to take practices with the rest of America, then they realize that the rest of America finds that their practices are not normal. And instead of being seen as "abnormal" they want to try to make what they are doing the norm.
If states have legal partner rights, with the same rights as married couples in terms of hospital visitation and insurance, then I am for that. But, if they want to say that they live the "gay lifestyle" fine by me, but I want to live the "hetero lifestyle" and say that marriage is between a man and a woman.
One other thing that should be considered, the state of California voted this propostion into effect. So the majority of the people in the state, felt that they had a problem with people of the same sex being married. A disgruntled minority wants to impose their values on the majority. That is not how it is supposed to work.
I guess I am just one of the "unwashed and unenlightened" masses who would have voted to keep marriage between a man and a woman, and not between the same sex.
Posted in: California's top court legalizes gay marriage
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Alphaape
I saw a good discussion on this on Fox news today. The one commentator wanted to know what would Obama tell Iran in regards to their activity. The pro Obama commentator said that he would bring ultimatums to Iran on what the response would be if they continue with their current policy.
It seems to me, that the pro-Obama commentator is saying that Obama will do the same thing that Bush is doing now. From other reports I have read, this seems to be the mantra of the Dems. They state that they don't want to continue the war, but will be willing to invade places like Pakistan to go after the US enemies, and this sems the same to me as Bush.
What Obama has not menioned, is what tone he will take. I agree, during the cold war, we had discussions with the USSR, but they were a legitimate government. We even had some diplomatic channels with Japan during WW2 working behind the scenes to try to reach an agreement to end the war without the "total surrender" evenl late into the war. So, talking to your enemies is fine by me, but what I need to know is what direction will he be going in his policy towards Hamas, Iran and other terror states. He has not clearly defined his position. It is one thing to have back channels to these groups and have a President like Bush or McCain in office, since they know that they can only go so far and then feel the harsh reality of possible military action. But it is another to have those same channels with someone like Obama in office and knowing that he does not have the will to back up friendly nations like Israel with military force.
Posted in: Bush warns against appeasing terrorists; Obama claims 'false political attack' on him
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Alphaape
Blue Tiger, good points. I have all ways thought of Japan as "moving slow in the fast lane" on various issues.
With the article a few weeks ago as to what can be done to increase the birthrate in Japan; it would heed the J-gov to heed the advice and start making it easier. If one of the major companies here would just take these little steps, I am sure that the following will happen: 1) worker satisfaction will increase as well as productivity 2)probably get better loyalty to the company
I am not too informed on the benefits of private sector Japan, but if I would imagine if the company wanted to compete for quality workers without having to resort to just throwing cash at them (that is nice don't get me wrong) but would throw in benefits like maternity leave without fear of loosing their job, flex hours if the work allows it, you would probably get a more stable employee and create better conditions for people trying to raise a family. All it would take is one major company to make that first step. I know I am being a bit too idealistic but it wouldn't hurt if they tried.
Posted in: It's so strange that many Japanese companies don't allow career-minded women to take leave from work, even if only for a few years.
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Alphaape
I can see a few months off, and maybe flexible working hours if the job allows it. But not to be a "spoil sport" but as a man, what if I wanted to take a few months off to help wife and child. Should that be allowed?
I agree with borscht's comments, if there is a provision in the law all ready, then they should use it and if a company does not follow the law, then they should be sued in court. I am not talking about one of those American suits that are just after a money grab, but for the purpose of making sure companies obey the labor laws.
Posted in: It's so strange that many Japanese companies don't allow career-minded women to take leave from work, even if only for a few years.
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Alphaape
In the grand scheme of things Bush's condemnation of the junta of Burma is just that. Not political motivation to spread American ideals, but just plain and simple wanting to help people in need. I said it before when this disaster first occured, if the US is slow to respond, then the world will blame Bush and his lack of concern for the people. He condemns the gov't of Burma, and now some say that he is ramping up to initiate some sort of move against them.
All the while, people are dying in Burma not from the lack of aid from the world, it is sitting right on the borders, but from the inept and petty leaders of the country. I bet every top official in the junta has a stockpile of relief aid for their personal use, while thousands are dying.
Posted in: Bush says world should condemn Myanmar's handling of cyclone
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Alphaape
I hate to say this but the junta had better let the US and others help. With western China having just had a massive earthquake with thousands dead all ready, they may find that China will be occupied with thier own relief efforts.
I hope that they wise up in time to let help in.
Posted in: Boat carrying aid for Myanmar cyclone victims sinks as death toll jumps to 28,000
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Alphaape
TPOJ, Not trying to pass on the "poor misunderstood American" argument at all. I am just going on what I saw and read while I was working the tsunami relief back in 2004. The popular press was "Bush and America only sent a small amount of money compared to other nations." But when you look at the cost of keeping an aircraft carrier in Indonesian waters to fly helos to various sites, other ships to bring medical supplies, and the cost of fueling and upkeep on those vessels, the US gave more than just a dollar figure.
Maybe part of it is in my head, but let's just see how this plays out. I have read that some in the UN want to go with the emergency method of delivering food anyway, without country approval since this is a massive case. I want to see if the UN will really do this, and what forces they will use to carry out this. This, mind you, was not brought up by the US in the UN but by other nations.
Posted in: Myanmar OKs some cyclone aid flights, but Americans still barred
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Alphaape
NO to sound too cynical, but the US is in a no win situation here. They do not want our support. So if we just turn the blind eye, then the anti-US crowd will begin to sing the song that "Bush doesn't care since there is no oil there" or how Americans are selfish and not caring. But, when we try to respect the borders of the country and not go into without their approval, we get the same rhetoric that we are bad people.
I feel sorry for the vicitims who are caught in the middle of this travesty. If the junta is so "benevolent" then a little outside influence will not bother it since the people obviously have made their choice and want to be under that type of rule.
Let the aid flow, and relieve the people's suffering. The average American doesn't care what system they are governed under in Burma, only that relief for their suffering is given.
Posted in: Myanmar OKs some cyclone aid flights, but Americans still barred
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Alphaape
Nyein, The Indonesian gov't and people does have serious issues against the US and it's gov't. In fact, we were amazed, on the military end, that we were allowed such access to help out. Remember, they were still smarting from our support of East Timor, and the support we were showing diplomatically for the Aceh rebels.
Politics aside, I think the junta should let the flow of goods go to the people. What better way to shove thier referendum down the throats of their people along with a little rice. Even in the hey day of the USSR, the US still sent grain subsidies when the crops were bad.
All of this stalling will just be another line in the sad story of how the junta there screwed its own people.
Posted in: U.N. halts aid to Myanmar after junta seizes supplies
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Alphaape
Nyein, As someone who knows how military operations occur, a 3 ship Amphbious Group is not enough to get the population moving to start a revolt. With the war in Iraq and Afg, the US is not looking to take on another "liberation job.'
After the tsunami in 2004, US military ships and personnel provided massive relief efforts to the area. I was working coordinating the event, and I can tell you that the last thing on the military mind was setting up cells to get the people to revolt. Since Indonesia is the largest muslim population country in the world, you would expect the Royal Saudi family to scratch off a major check to help. Didn't happen. The bulk of the heavy lift was done by the US forces. Setting up water purification systems, and dropping medical personnel and evacuating stranded people. At no time where we looking to do any conversions or anything of the nature. If you look at Indonesia now, they still are not too keen on the US, and that is fine by me. At I don't see them asking for massive help from the Saudi's when things go wrong.
Yes the US has the apparatus to get the job done quickly, but the Saudi's have something that we don't readily have, and that is the quick cash to get things moving in the right direction. But you hardly see that in these cases.
I hope that the world pays heed to what is going on in Burma, and see how dealing with crackpot leaders will end up hurting millions. It is too bad the people that need the most help will not get the big picture, since they will get the official spin from the junta. Just look at North Korea, and the tons of food aid that goes there, and they still think that the US is waiting to take over.
What does the the female resitance leader who is under house arrest (I can't think of her name) have to say about all of this. I hope that she made it through the storms or will they be used as a cover for the junta to finally get rid of her.
I pray for the victims.
Posted in: U.N. halts aid to Myanmar after junta seizes supplies
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Alphaape
I think that the term "western" refers to the group of contries that trace many of their cultural ties (artistic, philosophy, medicinal, literature) to the Ancient Roman/Greek influence. True, these societies probably had interaction with "eastern" groups from China and what we would consider India and the Arabs, but for the most part, the development of what we call "classical civilization" from this group is what is defined as western. Countries that have at their base a direct off shoot from these two influences (most of Europe, and when they expanded during the age of exploration North America) are generally considered western. Australia and New Zealand could be considered western, since they were colonized by England, and developed societies based on the British model (excluding the native peoples there).
Eastern would be civilzations and countries that had at their core a direct influence with what the west considered the far east, and a major influence on this would be the Chinese. True, Arabic nations are considered from the "east" but these civilizations are not thought of as being a "direct decendant" from the classical Greek and Roman civilizations. It is funny since in both of these terms, the entire continent of Africa is excluded (I don't believe that they are considered either west or east) and the meso-Americans that were in America before Europeans arrived.
Posted in: Why is Japan considered Western and China not? There is no map of the West.
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Alphaape
kag: Japan is to the east of China, so by going geographically, China is western and Japan is eastern.
Posted in: Why is Japan considered Western and China not? There is no map of the West.
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Alphaape
Many good points are being brought up. I would surmise that Japan could do a lot for itself if it studies the world and see how other countries have tackled the immigration and worker shortage. I hope that they don't just open the flood gates like the US, and many European countries but try to put some measures into place.
Also, like many of the posters have commented, Japan should look deeply at their own society. Falling birthrates are usually caused by social factors (since I am assuming that the infant mortality rate here in Japan is not like that of third world nations with deaths from diseases, except for the occasional delusional mother). Japan needs to do more to make their society a place where you would want to raise a family (cut down the absurd housing costs/ educational costs/and some of the other issues that have been brought up) and make Japan a better place to raise the next generation.
Posted in: Gov't looks to immigrants as population shrinks