JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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1
Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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2
Confrontation
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3
U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
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4
California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
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5
Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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urufuls
sfjp330 - the justice is that Al-Megrahi was sentenced and put in jail. The compassion is that he wasn't put to death, which wouldn't happen in GB anyways because of the Murder Act of 1965.
I agree that there is no justice nor compassion in the release of this man, although I would like to do some research into the details leading up to his arrest and conviction.
Posted in: Lockerbie bomber release stirs diplomatic dispute
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urufuls
NeilWarnock - it's not revenge, it's justice. A civilised country has a judicial system where the punishment meets the crime. And the country spared his life, albeit he was sentenced to spend a bulk of it in prison, until now. So in retrospect, compassion was shown towards this man who was convicted of the deaths of 189 people when his sentence wasn't extended past a mere 27 years.
Posted in: Lockerbie bomber release stirs diplomatic dispute
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urufuls
This is the most disgusting news I have seen in a long time.
Posted in: Lockerbie bomber release stirs diplomatic dispute
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urufuls
Surfing doesn't look to good there, especially if you happen to hit that 門.
Posted in: Katsuura: Sun and surf without crowds in eastern Chiba
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urufuls
The fact that he even discussed it with the press further pushed the hype.
Posted in: Obama, Gates, policeman pledge to try and move on
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urufuls
It's more like a race to be the first to get colon cancer.
I would like to see how "Gall Stone" would do in this contest.
Posted in: Chestnut beats Kobayashi to win July Fourth hot dog eating contest
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urufuls
Looks unreal.
Posted in: NEC explores third dimension
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urufuls
stirfry, you stole my thunder! :)
Posted in: Gackt becomes GACKT to celebrate 10th anniversary
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urufuls
grafton - You're right about one thing. I am not a gun nut. But you're wrong about me closing my mind. You're actually making my point. It's easy to say we need to regulate people more then guns, but that's really what it comes down to.
Agreed that people have the ability to hurt more with a gun then a knife. I didn't need to mention it because it is obvious as you state. Although I've heard plenty of cases where more were killed with a knife than in this case, and right in Japan too. The root of the problem isn't that Mr. A had access to a gun, it's that he decided to act on his anger and made some very bad choices. That, is the real obvious point.
Posted in: 2 dead, 4 hurt in Arizona graduation party shooting
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urufuls
Thank you for going green. Beautiful!
Article Unavailable
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urufuls
"Guns kill people" but only if there is someone there to pull the trigger.
It's a little bit more complicated then just to remove the gun from the picture.
There's more to the story.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/05/24/20090524gradshooting-CR.html
I agree that it needs to be regulated a lot more. But let's take the gun out of this picture. What's to say that this man doesn't grab a knife and start stabbing his ex wife?
Posted in: 2 dead, 4 hurt in Arizona graduation party shooting
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urufuls
Thehadman -
I definitely will read this, and I definitely would like a signed copy!
Posted in: Field of Spears: The Last Mission of the Jordan Crew
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urufuls
nisegaijin - science has a lot to do with it, and it is correct there is a lot more to it then just science. Science and social research just happen to show strong evidence that marijuana use has hurt society. Nobody is saying that you cannot be successful when smoking pot in regard to the friend that WAS a "complete stoner". Would he be a manager if her were still a complete stoner? In my first post I state that there are those people who can mediate their intake of marijuana. I submit that governments who find that there are those who cannot mediate and "cause harm to others" decide that this is enough to control the substance to keep it out of society.
jonnydesu - Those are some awesome questions, and I really enjoy your candor in this discussion! Who decides what is good or bad for us? We both agree that the individual has the ultimate decision with this. What are laws and legislations for? In your earlier post you suggest that the government and laws are there to protect the individual. So how do we get laws? Legislators who are chosen by representatives (that the people vote on) make these laws. So the laws are decided on by the people. And we're back to the majority issue. The people elect representatives so that there is a voice representing them and to protect them. When the research (done by government, universities, independent organizations what have you) shows evidence that marijuana abuse grossly injures society, why wouldn't the government that the people elected make laws to protect them from it? The government already makes laws and has made laws in regard to what is good or bad for society (i.e. Murder is illegal). I agree with you that the sugar and salt example is extreme, because I know that the body needs both in some form to function properly. It however does not need marijuana. It doesn't need TV either, yet the government encourages individuals to go out and exercise. The government needs TV though to make sure the people are informed. The NHK fees are for a different discussion though :).
I think it's great that you have given up marijuana. It's very difficult for many people to do that as you admit. Now that you have disclosed yourself as a prior smoker of marijuana, the question is that if you found a regular contact to obtain the stuff, would you start up again? Or would you be able to decline because it is against the law? What if it were legalized? Would you decline it even though you have been marijuana free for 3 whole years? You are speaking from personal experience, but can you speak for those who are true addicts? I say that the population who are true addicts to marijuana have made it so the government has put strict controls on the stuff.
There are pro marijuana sites that teach a potential user how to avoid addiction and still use it, but with the warning that "If you think you will have a problem using it" to not use it at all and to "think before you do it."
http://www.marijuanapassion.com/Marijuana-Withdrawal.html
Why do you think they say this? Because for every person that claims they are a responsible smoker, there is somebody who is not and "ruins" it for the rest of those who have control, and causes serious harm to society. They know that overuse of marijuana leads to serious social problems, which catches the eye of the government, and they want to prove that the drug is harmless and say that "it depends on the personality" of the individual whether or not they will have behavioral issues. Those with the behavioral issues have been shown to go on to other serious addictions when marijuana isn't enough, ergo giving credence to the claim that marijuana is a sort of "gateway drug". Again I say that the sugar and salt example is extreme, but I will go down that road with you and the other direction of the extreme and say that if marijuana were legalized, what's to stop the next group of people saying that X drug should be legalized? Then we are at the same debate again. The line has to be drawn somewhere. Why not start with a substance that has been proven with research to cause serious damage to society. Maybe not in your circle, but the facts are there. (Did anyone even read the research report posted earlier? Here it is again: http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html ) There is a post in this very discussion by space monkey that a serious psychological condition were associated with marijuana use, and the very next two posts are by individuals who express sympathy, and then quickly brush off the notion that it had anything to do with marijuana.
That's kind of a loaded question because marijuana is not just any mere plant. You started smoking it from age 19, something made you want to continue it for 16 years. You can't just lower the status of marijuana to just a "plant" then raise sugar and salt to the level of social menace in the same discussion. For those who are truly addicted to marijuana, they have limited their own freedom by not being able to easily quit. And even if they do, they may go on to another addiction as you state. Legalizing marijuana would put more into the hands of potential addicts with serious problems.
Addiction = not protecting an individual's freedom of choice.
And no, I can happily say I have never been to an AA meeting. :)
Posted in: Japan going to pot: Celebrity busts and student smokers have authorities in a tizz
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urufuls
jonnydesu - I see your point, and it further supports what I feel. My point was that when the majority is strongly on one side, that is the side the government will take. In no way does that make it okay or should be necessarily made legal. It's just what happens many times. I completely agree with you that issues of legality should not be based upon majority rules, especially when the health of society is in question. I don't think comparing sugar and marijuana is valid in this discussion. Marijuana use and possession has been illegal for some time and we have yet to see sugar and salt mentioned, and I humbly disagree that my position would lead to the banning of such table condiments.
The truth is health related issues are factors in affecting legislation. Here is the site to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare:
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/
Here is another great site with this debate going on now on whether or not the US should legalize Marijuana.
http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-the-us-legalize-marijuana
I believe the banning of marijuana if because the government is attempting to protect the individual, which is why studies have been released on the effects of marijuana.
The government doesn't determine it, we always have a choice. The issue is that the individual always has the freedom to make their own choices, and marijuana users will partake regardless of the legality. If the current law states that marijuana is illegal, then that individual accepts the responsibility and consequences of breaking that law. The individual will always decide his or her own fate, nobody is denying that. The graying of the consequences of marijuana use however, should stop. Society is made up of individuals, and the government has an obligation, as you say, to protect the individual therefore protect society.
The purposes behind the legalization of marijuana are merely to make it more easy to obtain the stuff for recreational use. The arguments of the proponents to legalized marijuana are for the purpose of legalizing it with regulations, i.e. "No marijuana for kids, should only be used by 'responsible' adults."
For those marijuana users that believe that freedom is being taken away from them by the government being "too uptight", may I submit that marijuana use actually limits individual freedom? Try getting a marijuana smoker of 10 years or so to quit. The rehab centers in the US are filled with marijuana smokers.
Posted in: Japan going to pot: Celebrity busts and student smokers have authorities in a tizz
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urufuls
jonnydesu & Udaman - Great discussion! Some great points raised here. Many agree with you that marijuana is a vice, including most societies. Just look at the definition of vice, and we can begin to understand why the Japanese government in particular is setting forth harsh measures.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vice?r=75
I believe the Japanese society actually has looked at the individual experiences with marijuana, and determined that the dangers and detriments to said society far outweigh the enhancements that some allude that marijuana has.
It would be naive for a government to not do its scientific and social research first.
Here's the research again by the US.
http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html
I certainly agree with you that the laws in Japan should be changed. Drunk drivers should be put in jail. The argument that because other vices are legal, that marijuana should be also because "it's less addictive than tobacco or alcohol" is valid only to the point that the majority of the populace is already using one or both of the latter, so instead of punishing users, regulations are set. It was a compromise. However that's for another discussion.
To make consistent the illegality of any vice mentioned in the article (marijuana, alcohol, tobacco) and in these discussions, they would need to either be completely illegal, or compromise and set regulations. I'm not positive whether or not alcohol and tobacco are more addictive then marijuana, because of the ease of obtaining the former two.
Marijuana is used so rarely that governments are trying to stave off the possession and use by their respective peoples before it becomes a problem like the widespread effects of alcoholism and tobacco. If we look just at the health care costs for just the health problems associated with these regulated substances, why in the world are we questioning why the government is trying to battle yet another vice from becoming prevalent?
It does make sense if only people and governments are trying to make a profit on it. The US just raised taxes to $1 on 1 pack of cigarettes. Personally, I think it's terrible that anyone should be making money on the addictions of others. However it does not make sense to legalize marijuana just because there will still be some who "decline" to use it. Some people actually decline to use marijuana because it is in fact illegal. Once those measures are lifted, there will be some experimenting and the number that decline will gradually decrease. Those that decline to use marijuana now because they know of its effects to the body and society will still decline it if it becomes legal.
So the basic issue of the article is whether or not the illegality of marijuana is consistent with the legality of other drugs, namely alcohol and tobacco.
The answer to that is no. The principle behind it however is consistent.
If or when we see the majority of the Japanese population using marijuana to the point that the government can't enforce it, then I believe it will be legalized with regulations. Science and research show however, that it will be a mistake.
Posted in: Japan going to pot: Celebrity busts and student smokers have authorities in a tizz
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urufuls
I should think that people would be more distressed that "2-3 million people" are smoking pot.
I am really confused on why this is a debate. Marijuana is addictive. If someone says there isn't any evidence to this, he or she isn't looking for it or doesn't want to look for it, or is able to moderate their intake and wants to ease their efforts in obtaining it.
Evidence researched:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html
When it comes down to it, majority rules. If the majority of the population was smoking marijuana, we wouldn't be having this debate. The fact is, the majority of people know that marijuana use is not good for the body. Come on, smoke entering the lungs??
http://www.drugwatch.org/TruthMarijuanaHemp.htm
Throwing a political spin on it makes this debate more interesting. If we took it the other way and political candidates were building their campaign on the legalization of marijuana use, we all know who their voters would be. And they would be the minority. Time will tell when that will change.
Just to let everyone know, I've had friends whose lives and families were destroyed by marijuana addiction. It really does affect society negatively. And we question why Japan authorities are making swift responses? In no way do I look down on those who decide to use it, because it is their choice.
For those who claim that they have been smoking for 20 years + and are not addicted, I challenge that they quit for an entire year.
Now, there are benefits derived from marijuana. It's called THC. So the whole idea trying to push this whole medical marijuana thing is debunked, because the same medication can come from this pill which has been on the market for a while.
Posted in: Japan going to pot: Celebrity busts and student smokers have authorities in a tizz
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urufuls
Not sure if they were all fans, but I can imagine that thousands of people would already be there. It is Shibuya after all.
Posted in: Ayumi Hamasaki
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urufuls
This "rich brown sauce" doesn't sound appetizing.
Posted in: Cheese Katsu Burger
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urufuls
:O~~~~~~~~
I'd take this thing with a needle if I could.
Okinawa, you got screwed.
Posted in: Cheese Katsu Burger
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urufuls
This is good news for the clean-fuel industry. Competition will help create better products.
Posted in: In hybrid price war, new Prius battles Insight