masayuki yoshida wrote:

> I am under the impression that when you talk about the history of
> Japanese modern war times

This is something you do not seem to understand. Yes, I criticize Japan, but I also criticize many
things including my own country and leaders. And I do not criticize Japan to make Japanese hate their
country. No, I want them to be proud of their country and culture. I'd like them to be proud of the
Emperor, Prime Minister, ruling party, and SDF, too. If Japan simply cleared up their problems, it
would be a country Japanese could all be proud of, and a country that could lead Asia or the world. For
some reason, Japanese want to hold themselves back.

> you ALWAYS provide with your arguements
> based on morality.  However, I would say that moral perspectives are
> one of ways for interpreting history.  To take an example, how is war
> a moral issue?

Because usually, people are killed or property is destroyed, for example. It usually isn't nice. Try
asking some Japanese if the war on Japan was a moral issue or not.

> If you are in charge of war tactics and strategy and
> must decide something important, and if I am not in a such position,
> then can you and myself reach the same understanding of the war?

Even a military leader does have and should have some consideration for civilian casualties, for
example. If all the US wanted to do was get Hussein or Bin Laden they could have simply nuked the
countries flat and left behind lethal amounts of radiation.

They did not.

Can you understand why they might not choose to do so, or are war or history NOT moral issues for you?
Do you simply dismiss the actions of the Japanese government, for example, in empowering the SDF or
putting Japanese personnel in the battle zone, because it isn't your business?

> > And next month, we'll hear about Hiroshima, and to a much lesser extent, Nagasaki again. Maybe
> > Koizumi and the Emperor will make some vague speeches about their "remorse" again or the trouble
> > that occurred in Asia.
>
> Thay are standing in their own positions.  You are in a different
> position from theirs.

Irrelevant. Was it right to invade or attempt to enslave Asia?

> The 'remorse' is a strictly political
> expression, I suppose.

Oh, so you don't believe Japanese are really sorry, either?