"Ed" <gwbush@whitehouse.com> wrote in message
news:bpkv2l$1ro$1@cobalt01.janis.or.jp...
>.
> Have you ever wondered why there are no homeless shelters or soup kitchens
> in Japan? It's because individual Japanese don't care about anybody but
> themselves. Have you ever wondered why Japanese politicians campaign with
> such inanities like "This is Suzuki Taro! Yes, I am Suzuki Taro! Suzuki
Taro
> I am!" as they rumble through your neighborhood at top volume? It's
because
> they don't know what else to say. They don't have a clue about what
> politicians are supposed to do except take bribes. There is no political
> philosophy in this country because without being required to be kind, they
> are at a loss as to what people in the area might appreciate. I highly
doubt
> any of them have even heard of the notion of a political philosophy, or
have
> contemplated the rationale of governing government.
>

Well there are shelters and soup kitchens - but AFAIK these are run by
Christian organizations such as the always excellent Salvation Army.  But of
course - they have a different agenda - one based on giving spiritual as
well as material aid to those in need.  It's opening a pretty messy can of
worms to say this, but, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths
all have long traditions, and in some cases, doctrines related to charitable
acts. RCs are encouraged to be charitable as a means of redemption,  Muslims
are taught to take individual responsibility for the poor, and Protestants
do it as a tax write-off...Mr. Gates....

So am I saying you have to belong to or have been raised with an awareness
of one of the above faiths to be charitable?  Or am I saying that Ed is just
getting a bit cranky 'coz he had to break out the kotatsu this week?  Happy
St.Cecilia's Day.

--
jonathan
--
"Never martyr a duck"