I live overseas. I can't imagine what it's like for all of you.

[Carl Yasutomo]

Hi all. I'm an American living in Tokyo and have been in Japan for 9 years. I didn't plan to be here this long. When I started working here, I only planned to be here for 2-3 years. I always thought I would go back to America and could not imagine not returning to my homeland.

For various reasons (mostly career related), I very gradually came to the conclusion that I might be better off staying here longer than the originally planned 2-3 years. Fairly recently, I have decided that it might be best for me (career-wise) to stay here indefinitely.

Over the years, I also came to realize that one of the side benefits of being here is not having to be in the middle of the political lunacy taking place in America. When the impeachment happened, I was shocked. I could not believe what the Republicans were doing. I was also relieved not to have to be in the US to see the impeachment craziness on TV every day, on every channel, and to hear right wing lunatics on the radio all the time and read their rants in the newspapers.

One of the great things about being here is that I can get my American political news in controlled doses. I can just read selected news stories on the Internet and then shut it off when I'm finished. If I get fed up with the whores on CNN, I can switch to any of the other 30 Japanese channels I have that aren't overrun with Republican nutjobs.

When I go out with friends, or go to a crowded store, I never overhear Republicans trashing liberals or Kerry or Clinton or whoever their current target happens to be.

And when I think of what it must be like to be in the US RIGHT NOW, to actually live among so many terribly misguided, deceived, or even demented people who think that it's OK to invade non-threatening countries and murder tens of thousands of civilians in violation of international law AND to then accuse anyone who opposes them of treason and mental insanity, I simply shudder with horror. I don't know how I would maintain my emotional composure in the midst of so much lunacy.

I have come to realize that life in Japan is quite wonderful. This is a country where things like universal health insurance, strict gun control, access to abortion, progressive income taxation, and protection of the environment are TAKEN FOR GRANTED. These things are considered COMMON SENSE. No one considers them to be especially "liberal" ideas. No one is clamoring to tear down government regulation and eliminate taxes for the rich.

My wife is Japanese. When I tell her something like the fact that 45 million Americans have no health insurance, she is incredulous. "Why do Americans allow that to continue?" she asks me. "Beats me," is all I can say in response.

And the other great thing is that the country is not run by religious zealots! In fact the vast majority of Japanese people are agnostic. There is hardly any religious fervor at all. Yes, there are many weird fringe cults (Aum Shinrikyo which gassed the subways in 1995 is one example), but they are all very small and certainly not a political force.

In short, the Japanese social system and economic policies represent, overall, an enlightened approach to maintaining the common good.

More than ever, I am happy to be here. Not only is my spouse Japanese, but I own a home here. Each time I have taken a step that represented deeper involvement in Japan (such as when I married into a Japanese family, or when I bought a home here), a little voice in me has said "Am I really ready to do this?? Am I getting too far away, too removed from my home country? Should I reverse course?"

But after the disaster of November 2nd, 2004, I am more comfortable with my choice than ever. I simply shudder with horror at the thought of living in the theocracy that America seems destined to become, where people would rather send their kids to die in hostile countries, empty the treasury, and lose their social security and health care than have a gay married couple in their community.

I don't know what is happening to my home country. I will do what I can to fight the Repubs from here in Japan (Internet activism seems the most feasible course), but in the meantime I am deeply relieved that I am on this side of the Pacific, out of reach of the politicians who tell me that my opposition to a war of aggression makes me treasonous and insane and proves that I hate America and everything it stands for.

[Eurobabe]

1. you got any extra room?

;)

[Carl Yasutomo]

7. Of course! Come on over!

[katmondoo]

2. You are so fortunate

This is what America should look like

[Sara Beverley]

3. Next election we need all ex-pats to come home and vote!!!

Keep on supporting us!

[Carl Yasutomo]

4. I voted absentee

I also did a few other things that were feasible from over here, like donating to ACT, MoveOn, and Democracy for America.

Things like canvassing and GOTV, on the other hand, are hard to do from Tokyo...

[liberalmuse]

5. I don't know how..

or when Americans became such dumbasses. When I hear the reasons people voted for Bush, I want to pull out my hair. It's tantamount to hearing that people voted for Satan because they heard it's warm where he lives.

[Carl Yasutomo]

6. Seems to me it started around 1992.

That's when I remember the fundies really wielding a lot of influence, Pat Buchanan getting a prime speaking slot at the Repub convention, etc. Everything has been downhill since then.