On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 23:53:59 +0900, Eric Takabayashi
<etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote:

>Raj Feridun wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 21:37:15 +0900, Eric Takabayashi
>> <etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote:

>> Thank you also for the defense even though I think it was a bit
>> tongue-in-cheek.

>It is not, nor is it a defense. I see such ignorance or denial among Japanese
>all the time. Even killings take place in Fukuyama, yet people will claim it
>is not a problem. There is a rifle store (which advertises a shooting club) in
>the neighborhood across the street, yet people claim that there are no guns in
>Japan and that I must have seen model guns. I guess all the gun related crimes
>(including in Fukuyama) are imaginary, as well.

Most guns in Japan are cheap Chinese crap brought in by the yakuza.
They're just as likely to blow up and kill the person firing them.
There are shootings down here too although they are almost ALWAYS
gangsters shooting each other.

Japan's gun "problem" cannot even be put in the same universe with
that of the US. I take it you're not a member of the NRA like me,
Eric? ;-)

>> This place I'm in too is Japan.

>Yes, but such a minor part of Japan, with an apparently insignificant problem
>for you and others not to notice. I prefer hearing from people with experience
>or to find out firsthand.

I don't know if others noticed or not. Like I said I try to speak for
myself. Sorry this place is so "minor" and that you'd prefer hearing
from someone else.

>> I don't think its someone else's problem
>> either. I've got a problem with anyone who is unkind and void of
>> compassion for others, period.

>How about those "caring" people who do nothing, who are part of the reason the
>problem continues, though they may not be the cause themselves? Do you realize
>there is a problem with them (and the ignorant), as well?

Wow, you are SERIOUSLY left-wing!

>> Scott, sorry if you think I'm all about insults. That's not it at all.

>I don't believe you are about insults. I believe you are ignorant or in denial
>like many "people" I know, about 99% of whom are Japanese.

Thank you for the compliment(s)..

>And not kind.

Wow, a bonus. To whom??

>> To answer your final question no, it never bothered me because IT is
>> not something I am very familiar with.

>You are not required to be familiar (have experience) with something for it to
>bother you. You don't care that it happens elsewhere, or to anyone else? For
>some reason, posters think I must have personal experience with some problem
>to have such strong views on them. No, I do not. I can have strong views, and
>also act, on problems which have nothing at all to do with me or anyone
>related to me.

Experience goes a LONG way towards helping people undertand things,
Eric. Don't knock it till you try it.

But I see your point. I'm not personally experienced with being a
racist yet racists bother the SHIT out of me.

>"My" experience is not the universal experience (though it corresponds rather
>well on a smaller scale), and also why your experience where you claim not to
>see homeless at all is rather irrelevant. But what is happening to others
>elsewhere does better represent the universal experience, which is why I care
>about people who have nothing to do with me.

Is your whole thing homeless and nothing else?? What about the poor
who still have homes? What about orphaned children? How about the
aged, the terminally ill, Lepers? There are lots of things to be kind
about and you see to be majorly focused on just one.

>We understand that you are sheltered, and I believe numerous people have said
>so. 

Again with the royal "we" although it was Michael the last time. Also,
pardon me, but every single person in here can agree on something and
it does not necessarily make it so. I am very much aware that I'm on
my own in here.

>> I've got evidence to the contrary in the form of very kind and caring
>> Japanese
>> people all around me.

>How would you know, when you do explicitly say you not ask, and do not see the
>problem? Would you be foolish enough to claim, for example, that the reason
>there are no visible homeless in your area, is because there are enough good
>paying jobs for all, that government support is sufficient, or that people
>take in the poor themselves?

If there are no homeless does that mean there is no problem? Is that
it?? Because I want to get to the bottom of this already.

>> Japan is my home too and has been for the past 10 good years.

>Rural Shikoku is your home, and life there does not seem characteristic of
>Japan, in the same way rural Hawaii is not like the rest of America. Fukuyama,
>however, does share a number of features with larger urban areas, though on a
>smaller scale.

Thanks for clearing me up on Fukuyama. Now that you mention it I also
passed through your city recently on my way back from Shimonoseki ( I
took a short ferry trip to Pusan). I didn't get off the train but the
city did indeed look quite large. It's definitely bigger than this
town.