masayuki yoshida wrote:

> As you know, there were also thousands of Japanese 祖omfort women',
> mainly from the Northern Japan, in China and other war areas.  I
> wonder if you criticise me for talking about them as victim story.  I
> also wonder if you criticize me for regarding baby sufferers of the
> A-boming as victims.

Not at all. Many Japanese women may have been volunteers who sacrificed themselves in service of
their country and had to suffer in silence and shame when they returned home. They are victims,
all right. So are the victims of the A-Bombing.

The issue is conveniently ignoring the harm the Japanese also caused, by focusing on Japanese
victimization.

And let's see if you understand this: I believe the same thing about the US and the way they treat
the bombing of Pearl Harbor without seriously thinking about the effects of the war on Japan such
as the firebombings or A-Bombings.

I've believed this, and posted such things for years. But you only notice or criticize when I talk
about Japan, don't you? Do you also question me when I criticize my own country?

Gee, why not?

> > > Unlike that, fortunately I
> > > finished read Japanese and world history books cover to cover when I
> > > was in a high school.
> >
> > But did you read Japanese VERSIONS of history books, or also say, Korean and
> > Chinese accounts of the war? As an American, I get international versions of news
> > and history.
>
> Oh goodness.  Then, tell me how the versions narrate Japanese
> (including Korean Japanese in those days) comfort women and Vietnamese
> deformed babies resulted by tons of defoliants that the American
> military scatter over the killing fields.

Stick to Japan. So typical of Japanese I've known.

Yes, America has caused a lot of pain around the world, and killed millions of people. I believe
the US should be made to pay for what they've done. I've posted that before.

So tell me if you read Japanese versions of history, or those which have been scrutinized by
others?

> > > Although Eric ALWAYS points out the lack of our
> > > history knowledge, are American people far more knowledgeable about
> > > their own nation's past than Japanese?
> >
> > This is totally besides the point, and this attempt at diversion is a common
> > tactic among Japanese when confronted over Japanese political or social issues.
> > (Another is pointing out to foreigners how long ago the war was, while whining
> > about Hiroshima and how we must "never forget".) You go and complain all you want
> > about Americans, and we'll talk about Japanese.
>
> One question, Eric.  Of course this is about Japan and Japanese.

So why ignore the questions and bring in the US?

> What
> is the reason why dozens of School heads (e.g., Sera High School)
> recently committed suicide in HIROSHIMA?

One issue in Onomichi, where a principal committed suicide, and so, apparently, did the assistant
superintendent charged with investigating the incident, appears to be teachers not getting along
with administration. There are various reasons for it according to what I hear. In Onomichi, one
issue was the principal was not a professional educator, but a retired businessman, IIRC. He
didn't get the proper respect from the teachers.

Other public school teachers and former school teachers who've quit, will tell me of other issues
such as administration trying to enforce Ministry policy or guidelines against the wills of the
teachers.

Teachers and administration differ over various issues. I don't know what THE issue is. As a
reporter and writer, I'm sure you know quite a bit more. Would you like to tell us about the
education problems of Japan or Hiroshima?