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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tigermoth
I should have added groundless and baseless. The comments were in disagreement of a stated policy (or what the policy entails). All presidents - indeed all politicians 'lie' or at least exaggerate. It's part of the job. The fool simply blurted out what others likely thought. Stupid yes, but racist no - at least on this point (for all a know the dude is a card carrying member of the Klan - but not applicable to the comment in question).
Posted in: Carter: Wilson comments toward Obama 'based on racism'
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tigermoth
What a load of utter crap!!! Anyone - even if you are a dem - who listens to Jimmy Carter is a fool. He was one of the worst Presidents we ever had & just because he builds a few 'houses for humanity' he's now something akin to Yoda. The peanut farmer showed his mettle in his handling of the economy/unemployment rate. As a noted anti-semite he's an expert on racism now, and many of you buy into it.
It IS very true that virtualy almost every criticism that is leveled again President Obama is labeled racism, which is rediculous. Wilson was a rude, pompous ass for yelling out as he did. But having a negative opinion of the President doesn't and shouldn't automatically generate calls of racism. It's our right and duty as citizens - both of the US and world community - to criticize what we don't agree with. We need to stop tip-toeing around with PC correctness and throwing out the ubiquitous race card just because this President is Arican American. Doing so is as stupid as those that truly are racist against the man. He's a man, our President; take off the race glasses and treat him as such. These accusations are foolish.
Posted in: Carter: Wilson comments toward Obama 'based on racism'
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tigermoth
Can you blame them really? Sixty-nine years ago some of the young men of Britain (granted, and other commonwealth nations, the Poles, etc) fought in the skies over southern England to prevent invasion by the Germans, only to have the nation otherwise given away through immigration. No wonder the older folks are joining the BNP. They feel betrayed and that their country is no longer their own. I can't say as I blame them. Label it racism of you'd like (athough as someone sensibly pointed out, in the case of the article topic, Islam is not a race but rather a religion) but there is a distinct difference between getting a family or two of immigrants in the neighborhood and having whole areas taken over. Again, call me racist, but how would a Muslim community in - say - Pakistan feel if I and 5,000 of my closest christian relatives and friends suddenly moved into their community? Would we be welcomed? I bet not. And how would any of you feel - living as you likely do in your comfortable and familiar communities feel to be so suddenly and strenuously 'invaded'? I'm not anti-immigration, but uncontrolled immigration is a proven nightmare.
Posted in: UK troubled by anti-Islam rallies, counterprotests
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tigermoth
The most sour-faced of all was Pelosi; god - even being a democrat, how can anyone like that woman?
I agree that it was low-brow to yell insults at the President. Of course he's not dodging shoes just yet, which I seem to recall met with much joy; but apples to oranges I suppose. We seem to have long ago lost a respect for the man/office regardless of party once the election ends. I think that's a pity as it showed a society with much more class.
At the same time I think by virtue of the term 'democracy', any president is up for scrutiny and criticism - it's part of the job. While I think yelling out in speech to congress is way out of line an inappropriate, I dislike the feeling that seems prevalent within Obama supporters that any sort of ridicule is taboo. I recall that late night commenary shows (Letterman, Tonight Show) were saying that they were not going to 'make fun of' the President. I also heard the stupid comment that any such ridicule would be racist simply because our leader is black. Utter rubbish. The ability to poke fun at and criticize our leaders is part of the more positive aspects of our democracy. Rudeness is just that and shoudn't be practiced or tolerated. The man's actions were indefensible in the manner carried out, but his opinion is his right.
Posted in: Obama accepts lawmaker's apology for floor remark
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tigermoth
noirgaijin - thanks for the offer; I was in London recently and developed a taste for Strongbow Cider - but was told by a true Englishman they consider it swill. I'd still take one!
And precisely the same reason that services like that held aboard the Mighty Mo take place. For most of those soldiers who fought the war sixty some odd years ago now (almost 70) it was the defining moment of their lives that they will never forget. They were just kids for the most part, pulled from their normal lives to take part in a world war not of their making and then given the huge responsibility of life and death. They made close friends and then watched them die. Most of us can only pretend to understand what effect this has on the human soul. So when they meet to pay honour to their comrades, it's not out of a hatred for a long ago enemy but a respect and, well, a love of sorts for their fellow soldiers. You often see old soldiers who were once enemies become friends and share a laugh together; it was a common experience shared by all who fought.
You don't 'get over it' - you learn from it.
Posted in: WWII vets mark Japan's surrender aboard battleship
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tigermoth
Well, I would tend to disagree. The discussion on this thread has turned to the reparations paid to Japanese-Americans, and subsequently how horrible or not there treatment was during internment. I would justify the relevancy of my commments in saying that comparatively the U.S. interment of Japanese-Americans was quite humane and tame compared with that exercised by the enemy nation that we were fighting at the time. Japanese-Americans such as the man in the aricle - and likely your father - have received compensation for a detention that, while unfair and constitutionally questionable (at least on the ground in which it was intended)allowed for things such as the continuance of education, decent food and safety. Not all of the detainees - if I'm understanding corrcetly - Berserker, help me out with the numbers here - were American citizens, and some held dual citizenship. The received compensation as well. Your outrcy for your own is understandable sfjp330 (although there seems to be some question on family loyalties by what I read in earlier postings, and where your father was held - which you don't care to address), but I think it relevant to say that if the plight of the Japanes-Americans is worth study and recompnense, the plight of those civilians interred by the Japanese is no less relevant, worthy of outcry, and worth discussion. Perhaps someone will write an article on them posted on JT so I can make relevent comment.
Posted in: Japanese-American graduate recalls wartime ordeal
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tigermoth
Oh, I'm not trying to excuse it by any means. Those that were American citizens, or in the process of becoming citizens, should never have been locked up. It flies in the face os what America stands for. Doing what they did is not right, nor an excuse. My point is that while everyone loves to blames us 'Evil Americans' no one seems ready to call others to task. We don't seem to get the benefit of being human, but are expected to make recompense to others when we are shown to be just that.
It's not right that we did such a thing; but it's not right that other nations did and no one gives a rat's arse.
Posted in: Japanese-American graduate recalls wartime ordeal
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tigermoth
sfjp330 - you seem to be intent on stating issue with U.S. policy without answering any questions posed to you. I would be interested to know your thoughts on the 130,000 (likely more - official records are almost non-existent to a degree) civilians interned by the Japanese. If you believe Japanese American interned (who were largely treated at least humanely) deserved recompense, do you agree that those held by the Japanese deserve the same? Do you even care, or is your passion only with Japanese Americans?
Posted in: Japanese-American graduate recalls wartime ordeal
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tigermoth
Americans don't expect to be thanked for killing Japanese during the war, that would be absurd and that's not what the service on the Mo is about. I think you're wrong - America has forgiven Japan. In truth, most younger people today know very little about the war - well, except through 'Medal of Honour' games (and no offense, but these are likely made in Japan!) and certainly do not hold a grudge. The older generation likely does, and I've spoken with many veterans who still vehemently hate the Japanese - but they lost best friends and brothers in the war, so you can hardly blame them.
We have matured and grown, which is a good thing. But remembering the past, paying homage to the dead is a good thing. Learning from the past is the best way to prevent the same mistakes in the future.
Posted in: WWII vets mark Japan's surrender aboard battleship
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tigermoth
YuriOntani:
You tire of the stories, but yet they MUST be told. Your leaders have continuously failed to recognize your (assuming your Japanese)nation's wrong-doing in the war, despite the aggression and horror the Japanese Army inflicted. If your text books actually told you about it, maybe you would have a bloody clue. Americans, Britons, Australians, Chinese and all the rest who fought you lot have a right to celebrate their victory and remember their loss. They earned that right on the bloody beaches of Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Malaya, Burma, Nanking, etc. I tire of the whining of the Japanese and supporters who seem to loathe Americans because they had the audacity to denfend themselves when attacked, and the will and materials to win. So sorry that your tired of hearing it. I'm sure the millions of people the Japanese army murdered through aggression are tired of being dead. Japan should feel lucky that the only real lasting result of putting too much of the world through such hell is a few measely bases.
The average American today thinks rather positively of the Japanese I think (I don't hear otherwise) until someone like you mouths such crap as this.
Posted in: WWII vets mark Japan's surrender aboard battleship
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tigermoth
I have to agree with Taka on this one; the U.S. is failing miserably on many issues dealing with children - and education is at the top of the list. One of my sons is twelve; he gets text books. They never seem to open these, at least not for homework, but get gets them. We used to get tons of workbooks; neither child does. We used to have so many take home projects, papers and assignement to do that it seemed we were always at the town library. My oldest will be in 8th grade this year and I do not have to use all the fingers on one hand to count the projects or papers he has done as homework. They study all year in order to pass the testing the schools are mandated to give. This testing doesn't allow them to acheive a well-rounded education, but just work to pass the tests. Schools are underfunded, teachers underpaid and not motivated, and the cirriculum just plain stupid. Have many friends in Europe I've always thougth U.S. school systems to be horriby indadequate, and they haven't gotten better but rather worse.
So higher taxes Taka? Well, I would agree with that if they would go for education and re-alignging our school systems to what they should be to produce intelligent, well-rounded kids. I truly believe that education is the key to wiping out much of the problems of poverty, racism and social inequality. But I've yet to see any political party in power here in the states adequately address the issue. Taxes are raised and the money goes to something stupid like wasteful and unproductive social welfare programs or the numerous idiotic projects from the stimulus package.
Posted in: U.S. fares poorly in child welfare survey
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tigermoth
Berserker I like your style; not a bunch of emotional or political mutterings or comments from poorly written and researched articles, but good, hard facts. Just the way an argument should be, and fantastic job.
While certainly at a glance I would never condone or agree with imprisoning Americans because of their nationality of origin, it's easly to second guess some sixty seven years on about what we should have done, and posture on how horrible it seems. I do think it's a shameful bit of our history, but understandable in some ways.
Posted in: Japanese-American graduate recalls wartime ordeal
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tigermoth
That day should never come. History has a nasty habbit of repeating itself, and those that sacrificed and died should never be forgotten. But I get what your saying.
Posted in: Poland marks anniversary of WWII beginning
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tigermoth
Huh?? I think the almost 5.5 million civilians (even forgetting military losses) killed by the Japanese military during the war (particularly China) would disagree with your statement.
Posted in: Japanese-American graduate recalls wartime ordeal
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tigermoth
Hmm - my last commnet above somehow became jumpled between typing and posting (the last part out of place; the point is still sound.
Posted in: Democrats: Honor Kennedy through civil debate
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tigermoth
Yabits - okay so technically not manslaughter perhaps. Admittedly all he could really be charged with legally is leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to report it (unless you consider the next morning to be timely). And I'm not one to throw to throw out morality claims as that can lead to much hypocracy as well. What I'm pointing out is that he wasn't some teenager out drinking with his girlfriend, or even a college kid; he was in his mid 30's when this happened. Yes, no doubt it was dark and perhaps a legitimate accident. But you have to assume one of two thing: either he was driving while drunk, and that's why he went home and didn't phone authorities for many hours to tell them there was a girl in his car in the lake - in which case
I would call that unlawful killing. Or just as bad if not worse, he chose to simply leave rather than make any attempt to save her, or go on the hope (however scientifically impractical) that there might be an air pocket in the car and she might just be alive. So he was either drunk driving and killed her, or he exhibited what most people would term as deplorable behaviour for not at the very least reporting the accident. I can buy that someone could be in shock after such an ordeal, but if a person had wits enough to find their way home certainly they would have the mental facilities to phone authorities.
Really? Interesting you would think that. I don't think my accusations are false, but even if they were I should think that driving off a bridge with someone in your car and then leaving the scene without attempting to, or call for help is a bit more serious that a statement of mere words. I suppose I'm twisted that way. How are my accusations false? It is fact that he did this, not supposition or some made up 'conservative fantasy'. Look up the police report.
Okay, throw out the manslaughter charges if you'd like. But fact is fact. You don't condone it you say, but at the same time you have no issue with canonizing a man who did such a thing, nor calling into question a family who's wealth has got them through questionable behavior on more than one occasion. My point, which you quite obviously failed to understand is that the Kennedy family should represent much that the liberal mind would find abhorent; great family wealth and positions of power that have at many times kept them from harm's way and even criminal prosecution.
There seems to be a double standard that liberals exercise unashamedly. Without getting off topic and causing the moderators to yank this, a quick example: GBII got out of active service in Vietnam through daddy's help. Liberals were all over him for this. Teddy did the same and is a saint in your eyes. Sure one was president and the other a senator, but still high public officials that we supposedly hold to higher standards. I see these standard only apply in the liberal mind when they suit your political needs.
And SuperLib:
If your implication here is that he would have been too much in shock after dragging himself out (which was a miracle in itself) to assist the girl, I can see that. But then to walk home and simply not report it until the next morning - that's where the criminality, or at least strong lack of moral fibre comes into play.
That being said, I hope the man does rest in peace.
Apparently you chose to ignore my statement of being neither right nor left, assuming the former because I'm not a fan of the Kennedys (except the Dead Kennedys - excellent punk band from the latter 1970's). So if we're going to revert to childish political classifications I'll say that it's typical of 'left wingers' to regard any statement or accusations other than their own as false. Of course, you are never wrong.
The tendency of right-wingers to make false accusations is even more morally corrupt than anything Ted Kennedy did.
Posted in: Democrats: Honor Kennedy through civil debate
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tigermoth
I'm not a 'conservative fantatic' - lunatic to a certain degree, but not conservative by a long shot. I certainly understand that those of a politically liberal bent do have a place in their hearts for Teddy's suppossed political abilities - and perhaps he was quite adept in this arena. I also realize that his....uummmm - 'indiscretions' do give conservatives a good opportunity to bash him. But I cannot understand the liberal ability to ignore something so morally corrupt as manslaughter and the use of political and social favoritism to cover this up. You decry the social injustice of a conservative system on the less fortunate masses through a social system that favors the rich and powerful, yet condone these practices when it comes to your own, and label anyone who points it out a 'conservative fanatic'. You don't find that hypocritical in the least? And certainly you would agree that if GBII had drown some poor girl in his car and run off to daddy you would want him crucified would you not? C'mon.
Posted in: Democrats: Honor Kennedy through civil debate
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tigermoth
See, that's the typical government red tape, over-budgeting, over-planning, over-spending, over-thinking and over-doing. You have a bunch of military and other crap sitting around in Iraq. You need to get it out. Pay the Iraquis that we have impovrished in the first place to help move the stuff - sort of like the college kids you can hire to help you move here at a fraction of the cost of traditional movers. Move it to ports; put it on cargo ships and bring it home. That shouldn't cost billions. In a time when our government is asking us to do so much more with so much less, and we're all feeling a huge economic crunch, let's save a buck here.
Posted in: American commander: U.S. on the road out of Iraq
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tigermoth
smithinjapan and Taka: I cannot decide on whether to shake my head in shocked disbelief at the both of you, or smile in admiration.
I know that you both think that all attacks on TK are political, and smithinj we've already had a discussion on another article. Actually I grew up in a family where my mother absolutely idolized the Kennedys and named me after John Jr. I'm not a political creature of definition; on some issues I'm liberal, on others conservative. Honestly I don't see how anyone could be otherwise as following party lines is rediculously stupid (well, I suppose if you actually think that way it isn't).
My problem is not that Mr. Kennedy was a Democrat. He could be a Socialist snake handler studying to be an Islamic Rabbi for all I care (wouldn't that be something). While I realize that you look at his political career and marvel at all he accomplished - or at least all that you think he did (I can't say as I've never been interested enough to follow what he did or didn't do - not my bag), since he's being treated as second only to the President and god, I can't help but note the contrary.
I'm certainly not 'relishing' in the fact that she's dead. I don't know her, and while Smith you earlier indicated that I don't care about her, you're wrong in the sense that it's human nature to care when another is wrongly killed, but correct in the sense that I didn't know her and don't sit around moping about her death. She's not the pudding, but rather one of the ingredients that shows the makeup of the man who is. For me it's not a political assasination as I don't care about his politics in this instance, but rather a character assasination. His was quite obvioulsy flawed, as you have admitted.
Your reasoning seems to be 'why bring this up; it's not the time nor place - unless you're politically motivated (as an evil conservative). The relevance lies in the nature of the great lamenting of his passing. The Kennedys notoriously have had great trouble with monogamy. Not my business except in character extrapolation. Ted's relationship with Mary Jo is suspect - who really knows? But the facts are that he drove off a bridge and into a pond, left her there to drown and went home, not informing the cops until the next day. He was 37 years old - not some mixed up college kid worried what dad might think. We can throw out being tossed out of Harvard once for cheating; he was young and we all make mistakes.
And that's where my admiration comes in. Apparently the both of you are perfectly willing to put aside the night of July 18, 1969 as if it never happened. Taka you even state as much:
So while you accuse everyone else of dredging it up in a 'right wing conspiracy' sort of thing, you believe his merits as Senator outweigh his earlier mistakes. I'm as forgiving as many, not forgiving as some quite obviously, but given how 'great' he is touted as having been now that he's gone, I cannot help but call that into question. A person with few morals, fewer regrets and weak nobility of character can accomplish great things, but does that make them great? My mind says no, but yours obviously says yes, so I suppose you are better people than I for being able to look past the obvious faults.
But even though you'll disagree with me and and likely label me as 'moral-less conservative scum' I can't be convinced of a person's greatness who conducted himself in such a cowardly way. I guess we just have different ideas of what constitutes the truly great.
Posted in: Kennedy to lie in repose in Boston for 2 days
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tigermoth
Actually, though I think you will fail to admit it - I'm not trying to make a political point, at least not in the sense you imply. The article, and the media since the death of Senator Kennedy, as been gushing on about how great the man was. Whenever anyone points out 'the incident' it is immediately labeled (and yes, you did this exact thing smithinjapan)as a political attack by the right. I'm not right or left. As an example, I love FDR and think he was an incredibly great man; I loathe Jimmy Carter. I agree that GBII was, well for the sake of being tasteful, not the sharpest tool in the shed. We would likely agree on more that we would disagree on.
My point is that I'm not being political, and certainly not giving the conservative rant (although fair enough I can see how you would think this a bit with my last and the mentioning of Bush). While you might not have come out and said as much in words that its 'no big deal', your implication:
is that you certainly admire the man. I think politics aside it is fair to 'insult his person' or at least call it into question by his former actions. Driving a car into a lake with a human being inside, leaving them for dead and going home to try and escape responsibility for it shows a serious character flaw. That he did get away with it due to family ifluence also sheds much light. You say that I don't 'care one wit about the girl' - how do you know that I don't? Thousands of murders and deaths occur every day. Do I care about the peole who died? Well, certainly in the sense of normal human compassion I wish that they had not. Will I personally greive for each one - of course not.
Your implication - or indictment - that everyone who brings up Chappaquiddick (yes, had to look up the spelling on that one!) is simply a right-wing stooge is unfair, ungrounded and sort of a cowardly way out of addressing the fact that the man so many are choosing to canonize did something that would have brought a person of lesser social standing and influence to justice and social ruin.
That he went on to have a successful political career is not redemption for a past injustice in this case - and that IS your implication, whether you will admit it or not.
Posted in: World leaders pay tribute to Kennedy