JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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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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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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DanManjt
Ah, cut and paste. The last refuge of the quibbler. Its gives the appearance of a response, when none is actually there. It appears to take issue with something important, but actually just dissect a post to the point of meaninglessness, which I suppose is the intention of the Cut-and-Paster.
Allow me to demonstrate:
Why on earth should I admit that people should be unpleasant?" Sugar. Vinegar. Which catches more flies?
Why An interrogative marker. On A prepostition marking something is above and touching something else. earth Known also as the planet earth, the world, and also means dirt or an area of dirt. In Latin, its terra firma. *Why on earth * A question strongly expressing the speakers desire to stress why....
And so on and so on. And so on.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
Looks like Iraq is bogging the US down.
Posted in: Rice warns U.S. will do what's necessary to defend Israel; Iran answers with more missiles
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DanManjt
Cleo
To an impartial observer, the attempt for one to belittle another's argumentative style is only as persuasive as the substantive gap between the soundness of the former and the latter's respective positions. Such an impartial observer, I fear, would not judge your attempt very promising. Your parsing about the difference between the legal and what I shall term moral implication of Rights is amusing, to say the least. It is amusing, because, there is no possible way for anyone to construe that I ever believed at any point that you posses the power or position to deny any G8 attendee anything legal. It inevitably follows, then, that the only relevant value of your little routine was in your recognition that the attendees do have the right to demand beds and demand it unpleasantly. And it is really only a little distance more for you to admit that they should. Because I think upon sober reflection you will recognize that everyone should, as a matter of principle, maintain the right to express themselves in the manner they wish. Even when, or rather especially when, that expression conflicts with the prevailing norms, values and mores of a society.
This dedication to personal Liberty is Western Civilization's greatest contribution to the planet, and in my humble opinion, is worth more to the human race than all the futons in the world. It is bedrock upon which America was founded; it is what makes the US not only a powerful nation, but a great one. It is what makes the US better than Japan.
In response to your questions,
Who says the accommodation wasn't 'modern'?
For starter, Japanese do. "Japanese Toilet" and all.
But the complete answer is, sad to say, not a nice one: it is the strong, the powerful. For the strong do what they will and the week suffer what they must. It is the strong nations, the powerful nations, who set up and enforce the rules by which all nations play.
Japan, your beautiful, peace-loving Japan, that understands and works this truth in International Politics like no other. It is Japan, like no other, who strives for Prestige. It is Japan, like no other, who is more about status than any other. It is Japan who obsesses on meeting, promoting, those rules. It Japan who has, ironically, defined her own heritage as unmodern and jealously gaurded equal reciprocity in sharing her "beautiful traditions" with the world.g
Sushi Police indeed.
The article makes no mention of showers, internet access, cable or food. What makes you think these were not up to standard?
I don't. You missed the point, which is, these are the standards, and futons are not part of it. BTW, air-conditioning is included too.
Why would Africans want to eat bland Western-style food?
Its not that they would want to. Its that they do. In the same way that many expats will only speak Japanese to Japanese, and will use chopsticks.
Moreover, Africans eat bland Western-like food for the same reason that they consume mediocre Hollywood movies and know who Michael Jackson is. Its called "soft-power."
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
LFRAgain,
Thanks for the response.
I am glad that we agree on the Summit's attendees' right to complain. Sorry to say, that is the extent upon what we can agree. Perhaps this impass results from what appears to be a misunderstanding on your part about my position. I do not argue that because the attendees have the right to demand beds that Japan is under any obligation to meet those demands. I zeroed in on the issue of rights simply to point out Cleo's muddy thinking. But then I explicitly stated "all that is really immaterial. It is not about rights. It’s about asserting privilege."
Its not about rights. Its about asserting privilege.
The question is not whether Japan is under an obligation to respect the G8's attendees rights. The question is whether Japan benefits suffers if she meets or doesn't meet G8s attendees assertion of privilege. Therefore, what is good for 10 million Japanese is irrelevant, and the line of thought you based this rebuttal on irrelevant as well.
As is your dislike for the "princes and princesses," and your disparaging the quality of their efforts. All that is irrelevant.
The only two considerations are, to repeat,
I argued above that "I recognize the attendees’ position of power and therefore respect their assertion of privilege." I'd like to hear your thoughts on why you think its ok to deny respecting the attendees position of power and not recognize their assertion of privilege.
More importantly
I also argue above that not meeting the attendees assertion of privilege brings national shame on Japan, because it tells the attendees who were denied Western-style accommodation in no uncertain terms
You do not matter to Japan as much as those who have Western style accommodation.
I believe it safe to say that this is not the impression that Japan's conservative, prestige conscience, and power seeking elite had in mind in hosting the G8 Summit.
What do you think?
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
Oh gawd 'elp us. No one is denying these poor little rich boys their 'basic freedoms'.
Yes, someone is. You are.
Abrosia wrote *They had every right to complain."
You directly rebutted this statment with "No, they had every right to request a change."
Your "No" denied the accuracy of Ambrosia's point Therefore, what you wrote can only be interpreted: No, (they did not every right to complain.) They had ....."
You flat out denied their right to complain.
The right to complain is part of the right to free speech. Your denying the attendes their right to complain means you do not recognize their right to free speech. Rather you recognize their right to request. The right to free speech is a basic freedom. If you deny the attendes their right to complain, you have denied them a basic freedom. Since you do not recognize their right to complain, you have denied them a basic freedom. Therefore, your statement "No one is denying these poor little rich boys their 'basic freedoms'" is untrue.
You are.
So long as you maintian they have no right to complain. So long as you maintian they have every right to request a change, you maintain that they have every right to a curtailed freedom of speech. Which is, and I can't believe I actually had to type all this to make this clear to you, is not free speech. Free speech is not curtailed speech. Its free. It means I can be demanding, you can be sweet, and Jon Stewart can be what many think is obscene. Its like you're living in Animal Farm, where squeeler has added on to "All animals on Animal Farm have the right to do as their conscience dictates, including the right to free speech." with "except they have to say it nicely, or say it not at all."
But, yet again, that really is not the point, now is it?
The primary point: this is an international conference.
Considering this is the G8 summit, the attendees desire for modern accommodation is a reasonable one. Beds, separate showers, internet access, cable news, and bland Western-like food are all standard. Failure to provide such accommodations is a failure on the part of Japan to provide for the summits attendees.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
"I am confident that history will not judge this Senate kindly if it endorses this tragic retreat from the principles that have governed government conduct in this sensitive area for 30 years"
You tell 'em, Russ.
Posted in: Senate bows to Bush and approves surveillance bill
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DanManjt
*They had every right to complain." Ambrosia
"No, they had every right to request a change* Cleo
Oh boy. Everyone has the right to be a jerk. Or ought to, at least. The right to free speech includes winging, complaining, and demanding. So thank you Cleo, for yet again introducing uncommon sense into the dialog. You have moved from not liking the actions of the summit attendees through disrespecting attendees, finally to arrive at denying the attendees their basic freedoms.
All for the love of Japan's beautiful customs.
But, again, all that is really immaterial.
It is not about rights. It’s about asserting privilege.
So let’s not muddy the waters with a bunch of extraneous stuff about rights, cultural sensitivity and insensitivity.
We’re talking money, here. We’re talking G8 folks. Y’know the fat cats who rule the world.
I recognize the attendees’ position of power and therefore respect their assertion of privilege. For those of you clinging to perfumed-scented, misty silk screen visions of Japan and her beautiful tradition, just remember that the respect for power, prestige and authority are deeply Japanese values.
Never forget that in the land of milk and harmony, Power trumps Culture.
Considering this is the G8 summit, the attendees desire for modern accommodation is a reasonable one. Beds, separate showers, internet access, cable news, and bland Western-like food are all standard. Failure to provide such accommodations is a failure on the part of Japan to provide for the summits attendees.
But we should not be too hard on poor Japan. Japan had little choice but to choose this remote location which guaranteed failure for adequate accommodation, because the alternative was even worse: failure to provide adequate security.
The Seattle fiasco stills looms large in minds of global capital elite. Y’know, the guys who run the world.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
Marketing Love.
How romantic.
Posted in: Kyoko Hasegawa
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DanManjt
When in Rome.
You see, that's just it.
Japan ain't Rome.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
wooops.
They've come so far, just to miss it by a...
foot..on.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
Cleo,
So is an area of a ground where flowers and vegetables are grown.
While you and I may find a futon just as serviceable as a bed, they are not the same. And no amount of explaining Japan's beautiful customs to an unknowing and uncaring world will ever change that.
But all that is immaterial.
An international conference means just that.
International.
Japan's beautiful customs notwithstanding.
Standards must be met. And Japan, more than any other nation on this planet, is more concerned with meeting those standards. For nation. For power. For prestige.
This futon mess is a national embarrassment to Japan.
And they've strived so hard for so long to be modern.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
As for those of you who snipe at the G8 visitors wanting a bed,
what part of "international conference" do you not understand?
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
Again why did they choose a rustic location if they are not prepared to deal with the local situation. Why not Tokyo or Sapporo who could offer "western" hotels?
Seattle, 1999.
Posted in: Tatami rooms don't agree with G-8 visitors
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DanManjt
Ramen. Gooooood.
Posted in: U.S. has 'ramen moment' as chefs, foodies embrace Japan's beloved comfort food
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DanManjt
Obama seems to be selling out a lot lately
Its called coalition building. Y'know, politics.
I
Posted in: Obama courts conservatives with new faith program
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DanManjt
Alphaape
I run my own company. I am no Marxist
The firt qoute, I believe, nicely illustrates the difference between modern times and Christendom. Greed went from Sin to virtue.
The second quote I quoted is from John Maynard Keynes. I think it accurate, in a way.
The last is from, if memory serves, Betrend Russel. Many around the world, including Japan, feel as he that Free Trade comes with its own tyranny.
Posted in: This is beyond comprehension. Employees who worked at the company for two years and those who worked for twenty years are both offered the same package.
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DanManjt
“Capitalism is founded on greed and envy”
“Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.”
“Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate”
Posted in: This is beyond comprehension. Employees who worked at the company for two years and those who worked for twenty years are both offered the same package.
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DanManjt
correction
his wars.
Posted in: McCain disavows aide's comment about terrorism
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DanManjt
A new terrorist attack would not be a 'big advantage' for McCain.
Americans are split and undecided regarding what to do about terrorism.
Americans are split about which candidate would better protect them.
For a long time now, Americans have trusted Democrats more than Republicans on national security.
All this, because of Bush's failure in his war.
Posted in: McCain disavows aide's comment about terrorism
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DanManjt
"The economy has so far outstripped the Iraq war as the key election issue.."
The thing is, the high oil prices links these two issues like nothing else can.
If gas stays above $4 a gallon, Obama's linking the sagging economy with the unpopular war, and will destroy McCain in the election.
Posted in: Obama details plan to tax excess oil company profits