Comments Posted By Shawn in Tokyo
Displaying 1 To 4 Of 4 Comments
HIROSHIMA: SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR
Being in Tokyo, it is obviously always well covered year-to-year here on TV. However, I didn't see any video of extreme protestors. Mostly, they showed Japanese lighting peace candles to pass down the river at the Hiroshima Peace Park, with each paper covering of the candles having a personal message to commemorate the event.
I have been to the park twice, and it is definitely a place Americans should visit in Japan if they have a chance, regardless of your feelings on whether dropping the bomb is right or not--just like the Japanese should visit the Pearl Harbor memorial when they have a chance.
The only problem I have with the memorial is that it seems to pit the event in almost isolation, without the context of the brutal Japanese war campaign across East Asia. But at the same, I can understand the localized perspective of the memorial and as one commenter mentioned above, a reminder of the destruction of atomic weapons and the vigilence we need to have in making sure we never have to use or experience such destructive tactics again.
Comment Posted By Shawn in Tokyo On 6.08.2006 @ 22:25
LOOKING FOR HATE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
Michelle is not "Asian," she only appears to be Asian. And even if she was Asian, to say that she should automatically hold solidarity with all other Asians, in this example the Japanese during WWII, shows an ignorance of Asian cultures and modern Asian politics.
There is way too much oversimplification here in order to fit certain personalities into a specific argument.
I am not a Michelle fan by any means, but as someone who has a great deal of experience in Asia (specifically having lived in South Korea, China and currently Japan), the whole Asian bit really unnerves me.
Comment Posted By Shawn in Tokyo On 9.04.2006 @ 00:52
A SLAVISH DEVOTION TO SUPERFICIALITY
The thing is, even if those of us who consider ourselves modern conservatives disagree on specific policy decisions made by the Bush Administration, our general support for Bush's leadership position negates our standing in the eyes of the "loud left."
The thing you don't see is anyone on the "loud left" who approach any of Bush's policies with intellectual honesty in the sense that they might agree with the goal of an initiative but fairly debate its tactics. Thus, even self-described moderates who support Bush because they prioritize what they like about his foreign policy despite their hesitation on his social policies are attacked by the "loud left." (See Vodkapundit as one example).
In order for the Democratic Party to regain majority leadership, their primary skill must be the ability express their vision convincingly, the power to persuade others to accept their vision. I would like to know who is going to be designated leader for the Democrats as their head persuader. Currently they have lots of persuaders, but the problem is they are persuading everyone to leave the Party.
Comment Posted By Shawn in Tokyo On 13.02.2006 @ 06:58
BUSH: TROUBLE IN THE HEARTLAND?
I think there are just as many positive what if scenarios that could go for the Bush Team and leave Dems further behind.
The problem is we have more than a few months ahead before elections. When an event like 9-11 can happen in one morning, estimating current positions fills a long post but is pretty meaningless in the long run.
I think what is most important to look at is what kind of foundational strategy are both parties building now that will allow election period tactics to be executed towards victory. To me the Dems seem very fragmented, while the Reps have kicked off First Quarter with the earlier Rove speech, directing the players to their designated positions according a clear game plan. The Dems have to ask themselves "They have revealed their strategy, but can the execute it? If yes, can we counter it? If no, why not?"
Comment Posted By Shawn in Tokyo On 1.02.2006 @ 09:38
