27 June 2010
German film "Die Welle" It can be true!
The story took place in Highs School in Germany. One high school teacher taught students what the dictatorship (Autokratie) is.
Students never understood what it was and believed things like Third Reich would never happen again.
Then the teacher decided to do psychological experiment in his class and the students' attitude gradually changed in scary way.
The story was not well-done, not convincing althought it was based on a true story.
However, I understand fear of charisma featured in the film because I recently experienced something like that by the man in the below photo.
He has become public icon since fall of 2008 after being dismissed as Japanese Air force chief due to his publicly released essay which justified Japan's past invasion. Details are described in this article. He has published several books since then. I bought one of them.
He is in fact charismatic and neo-fascist-like but at the same time very realistic because of his knowledge gained in his career.
No one wants to be isolated in the society. So people want some kind of symbol to strengthen the unity.
Yes, it can revive as described in the film. Especially those who are not smart, and youngsters can be easily manipulated.
Being attracted to it sometimes makes you feel great like drugs.
We need to be cool about what a learder says in order to avoid tragedy.
11:47 Posted in Deutschland, Film, Politics, Society | Permalink | Comments (0) | Tags: history, nazis
14 June 2010
Sent a postcard to US Ambassador to Japan
22:31 Posted in Ecology, Japan News, Politics, US-Japan relationship, USA issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | Tags: okinawa, military
07 June 2010
German Film"Anonyma-Eine Frau in Berlin" tells how you survive in turmoil
A true story of German woman who lived through in Russian occupied Berlin, 1945.
Women in Berlin were raped by Russian soldiers. But they have to go through that because they were defeated.
Not only that, their nation was in fact aggressor of the war, which killed many Russian civilians.
The main character took note of that horrible days. As time passes by, they felt normal in their situation.
Well, I guess the same is true in Japan after the war. Japan was defeated nation, too.
Although more than 60 years have passed, we still feel occupied by the U.S.
Recently there was a dispute between the two countries over military base on Okinawa island.
See the articles on Okinawa tag to know the detail.
After months of turmoil, Japan seemed to give in. Many felt very humiliated by the outcome, that resulted in resignation of prime minister.
However, there is a difference, we do not get used to the defeat any more.
I think because of this, more Japanese have become hostile towards the U.S. rather than accepting the defeat.
I am one of them. So I will not accept the outcome but work hard to change the course.
In fact, Japan is not very dependent on the U.S. any more. Japan lends so much money to the U.S.
So this gave a great chance to make a distance from the U.S.
I recently feel so close to German. The both countries started aggression and invaded neighboring nations. The both countries were allied during the world war II. They both are defeated and then occupied by the former enemy states and lived through humilation after the war.
Stupidly I can even feel close to Hitler.
Well, every nation has a story of survival. I am studying German recently.
Ich liebe Deutschland. Danke. The below photo is Reichstag in Berlin, where I visited in July, 2008.
Deutschland uber alles in der Welt fur me!
09:57 Posted in Deutschland, Film, US-Japan relationship, USA issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | Tags: war, history
29 May 2010
Why not just shrink rather than relocate?
Japanese loopy PM accepted humiliating agreement from the U.S.
He turned down the proposal of relocating US marine base, Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture to off the island.
However, if this is going to work out as stated in the agreement is uncertain. Okinawans are now very, very angry with the agreement.
So are a lot of Japanese voters. Maybe after July election, he will resign from prime ministerhood.
New government will then have to rethink the agreement.
But the good thing is because of this turmoil, more and more people have become aware that the U.S. military is not defending Japan at all.
It is not the issue of relocation, it is reducing or getting rid of the bases from Japan.
Even relocation site is changed to Guam or Hawaii, there is another problem.
Can't believe that the U.S. military has been messing islands in the Pacific. (Well, Japanese military did so partially.)
I just found very interesting show on the net. The voices from 3 islands in the Pacific.
Stupid, why not the U.S. government spend vast amount of money on poverty, education or environmental protection instead of messing people and environment of the islands or Iraq, or Afghanistan?
10:27 Posted in Ecology, Japan News, Politics, US-Japan relationship, USA issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | Tags: military, okinawa