Eric Takabayashi wrote:

> The 2-Belo wrote:
>
> > I wonder why no one ever considers what the US would
> > think of Japan repealing
> > Article IX completely.
>
> I have encouraged it for years. They should take
> responsibility for their own country and its defense if
> necessary.
>
> > I have a small hunch there are a great number of
> > people
> > in the US government who would soundly applaud it.
>
> I believe US leaders love pressuring Japan with their
> security agreement or any possible changes to it.
> That's lame. Japan should make the right decision to do
> such as help rebuild Iraq, on their own.
>
> > Japan's own citizens, having been taught for the past
> > 50 years that Japan's
> > military forces are naught much more than a glorified
> > Peace Corps, would
> > probably riot in response, but there you go.
>
> Japanese will riot about the JSDF being made their
> primary defense the way they rioted about its creation,
> or the historic first times the JSDF went abroad,
> carried live weapons abroad, were authorized to use
> weapons to kill abroad, or the decision to send the
> JSDF to a combat zone.
>
> Tens of thousands may appear on the streets marching,
> carrying signs and banners, and shouting slogans.
> Perhaps they will sing songs and hold hands for the
> media. Reporters will get a sentence or two from people
> on the street.

I am now watching News 23. There is some woman in the
streets of Sapporo conducting a solo petition drive
against the deployment of the SDF. It was at least minus
two and snowing. Perhaps she was wearing a mini.

My, how sensitive and devoted she is to the issue of
international peace or upholding Japan's Constitutional
ideals, the naive may think.

Uh, no, the bitch does not want her boyfriend (who wants
to marry her) to be "stolen" by deployment and possible
death in Iraq.

Hello? There is an immediately effective and easy way for
her boyfriend not to be "stolen", as well as to uphold any
alleged principles of peace or upholding Japan's
Constitution, that no one seems to have suggested to her.

He can refuse, or quit. Or disobey any order to deploy
outright. People who don't want to get hurt or die, or
their loved ones to get hurt or die, should reconsider
such careers.

People were openly ignoring or refusing her, and only a
woman and a boy stopped to sign her petition.

So, perhaps 63% of respondents in survey (those who
bothered to respond) say the JSDF should not be deployed.
But not even one percent of people walking on the street
will bother to take 30 seconds to sign a petition given
ample opportunity, nor will even a quarter of registered
voters vote against the current ruling majority.

Awesome.

> Then after a few days or weeks the protesters will go
> home to their selfish and self centered lives. The
> ruling coalition may not even lose its Diet majority in
> the election following such a policy shift.
>
> I can see why Japanese generations ago simply went
> along with their government's foray into Asia and the
> South Pacific, even participated in any atrocities,
> while claiming they did not really mean or support
> them.

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