"War of Northern Aggression", meet "The Greater East Asian War", courtesy of Yasukuni War Museum

[DaveinJapan]

Well, I just had an eye opening experience today, visiting for the first time Tokyo's Yasukuni War Museum.

I had no idea the Japanese had the right idea all along, pleading with the Western Aggressors even during WWI to put a stop to racism and imperialism.

Not to mention the fact that the attack on Pearl Harbor was simply a retaliation towards the West who, through the oil embargo, had threatened Japan's very existence.

But the MOST interesting thing (and there was a LOT of interesting rhetoric there!) was the fact that through the entire Museum they referred to "The Greater East Asian War" and we couldn't quite figure out the reference. Only in the very last exhibit room was it explained. It refers to not ONLY WWII (the "early" stages), but to Korea and Vietnam as well where the imperial powers were finally defeated. And in that last exhibit was a quip insinuating that if ONLY the world had listened to wise Japan way back in WWI, all could have been avoided.

Again, a very eye opening place to say the least (not to mention the fact that their rhetoric reminds me STRONGLY of the right wing noise machine in America today...go figure!).

[MadHound]

1. Well, their view of Pearl Harbor is historically accurate

We did impose an oil embargo, along with steel and rubber, on them before WWII. It was in response to their actions in China, among other things. FDR wanted to jump on Japan, and actually had a list of nine items that would force Japan into attacking. He later publicly tossed out this list, yet months later his administration followed it to the letter, putting enough pressure on Japan that an attack was the only logical outcome.

Japan has no room, especially during the twentieth century, to chide anybody about racism

Interesting reference to the Great East Asian War. I have never heard it put that way, but I can understand the point of view. What Japan eliminates is their own part in it, namely the take over of Korea, China, and threatening SE Asia.

There are bits and pieces of truth on both sides of any conflict, the trick is to find them, merge them and thus present a clear, true picture.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. RW extremists are no different

whether they're from the USA or western Europe, from east Asia or the Middle East. Even losing a war (as in the case of imperial Japan and the Confederacy) doesn't stop their attempts to rewrite history in order to rehabilitate their image. The Japanese people would be wise to keep a wary eye on their RW militaristic fringe, who would lead their nation back into death & destruction AGAIN if given half-a-chance. Same with the neoconfederates (among other RW nutjob groups) in our own country.

[rug]

3. WWII was a clash of empires.

Imperialism is not a basis for policy, even if you win.

[KG]

4. nascent empires eyeing the same natural resources then owned by other fading empires -

- what could possibly go wrong?