Dear People of the World (formerly Dear Americans)

I recently fell in love with a French woman working at a food and sweet shop nearby. 

She was very pretty not just appearance but mind of her. 

How I found her mind was so beautiful was this question I asked her in French when I stopped by the shop she worked for. 

"Les Français détestent les Allemands?" 

She replied in Japanese. "Not true. We hate Hitler but that does not mean we hate all Germans." 

 

Later another time I met her, I asked her what she thought about a Japanese man who married a French man.

She answered saying "It doesn't matter. My friend does. That is common in France." 

Then I loved her more. 

But she does not work at the shop any longer. 

That was really a good experience anyway. 

I think I will learn French as my third language. 

Merci. 

This month marked 20th anniversary of the terror attack to the World Trade Center in New York. 

20 years ago I watched a news program on TV. Then suddenly the scene of airplane crash into the buildings were shown. An hour later the two building collapsed. Around 3000 people died. I truly tribute to the victims. 

I remember I was on the World Trade Center rooftop 8 years before that terror attack when I was a college student in US. 

It was like being on top of the world. 

 

Now since that day the place is known as "Ground Zero." Where I used to stand has become a memorial site. 

Then the fightback war in Afghanistan started followed by the war in Iraq for ambiguos reasons. 10 years ago, Osama Binladin was killed. 

Last month US withdrew troops from Afghanistan after Taliban regime who harbored Osama Binladin and his terror group Al Qaeda took over the country's capital. 13 US service persons were killed by the terror attack just a few days before the pullout. 

This incident gave the world impression that the US was defeated by Taliban and Al Qaeda. Surely it never really meant US lost in the global war on terror. The fight still continues over the horizon. 

But what has been happening over these 20 years? 

My image of America has gone bad since 911. Many civilian casualties was numbered. But most Americans justified military actions that could cost civilian death except people like Peaceful Tomorrows. A liberal and kind American friend I knew turned very aggressive and supported the war. It seemed the world I knew flipped up side down. 

These days I am disgusted with America. 

Especially because of US military issue, as this post describes.

Dear US Government re: request for terminating USMC new base construction in Okinawa, Japan

The US military destroys Japan's precious environment and is undermining Japan's national sovereignty. 

In fact, America itself turned very ugly nation as the former President Trump symbolised such movement. The bottom line is America is white and Christian nation. Other than white and Christian means the second class citizen. That is why Asians became target for COVID-19 related hate-crimes. 

Just right before US military pullout of Afghanistan, US did drone strike on what they claimed, the terrorist who instructed the attack on the site where 13 US soldiers were killed. But now it was suspected to be civilian residence who had no connection with the terror and caused child victims according to this news report. 

America is giving bad things to the world although it still leads the world in economy and politics. 

But it is no longer the moral leader. To me, America is no longer a friend, though not an enemy. I became more isolationist or feel closer to other nations. 

The whole world is changing. The power balance is changing as well as the values. 

Good Bye, America and the world I knew before 911! I am seeing the new world and new values. 

The capital of Afghanistan, Kabul was suddenly occupied by Taliburn regime, managed by Islamic foundamentalists in the middle of August 2021 when the US forces were withdrawing from the country. 

A lot of Afghans are fleeing their homeland including the former President of the state, Ghani. The scenes of fleeing reminds me of what happened in Saigon, Vietnam, April 1975. 

A lot of Vietnamese who corporated with the South Vietnam and the US rushed into the US embassy. Helicoptors took off to carry then Ho Chi Minh's enemies to the sea outside Vietnam. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally helicoptors to carry refugees were dumped into the sea after landing on military ships due to lack of space to store them inside the ships. 

It seems like America failed again or America's mission in Afghanistan is over just like America's involvement in Vietnam. 

I recently watched the documentary programs that featured the Vietnam war. 

In early 1960's, wife of the South Vietnam dictator's brother said a terrible thing to those whom they oppressed. They were Catholics and they oppressed Buddhist monks. Then some of the monks burned their bodies in public in protest of the dictatorship. 

"What have Buddhist monks done? The only thing they have done is barbeque one of their monks whom they intoxicated and abused confidence. Even that barbequing is for self-sufficient mean, using imported gasoline." 

Then people in the South Vietnam stood up to fight for unification of Vietnam. 

North Vietnam force were attacking South Vietnam jointly with Viet Cong warriers within the South. 

To block weapon supply transport route called "Ho Chi Minh route" between Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam, US military utilized Hmong tribe who felt Communism was threat to them. Their village lifestyle was depicted in the film "Apocalypse Now."

After the fall of Saigon, Hmong people became refugees from Vietnam and settled down in Minesota State. Their community was featured in the film "Grand Torino." 

What a history! Vietnam and Afghanistan. What are the commonality between the two! 

I recently come to think "Small is beautiful" meaning you do not have to seek bigger size. Why not just stay in a small scale, which may be more comfortable? 

I live in Tokyo, where so many tall modern buildings stand. But I am not attracted to such scenery any more. 

Now I am attracted to traditional district of Kyoto, where wooden low height houses line up. 

Tall modern buildings consume so much electricity that requires mega power plants causing mass emission of carbon dioxide or radioactives. 

Since so many people gather in small areas, people become more susceptible to infectious disease like the current pandemic. 

Why do we seek higher, bigger, and more gorgeous things? I am fed up with these things. 

Not only the tall modern buildings but ongoing Tokyo Olympics are good example. Why do athletes want to compete with others for the gold medals? To become a hero, or get a prestigious status? 

What is the significance of competing in Olympics? Is it worth risking their bodies? No way. Just a sport. 

Major corporations utilize them as tools to boost their sales. Olympics are commercial shows. 

This time due to the pandemic, no spectators are at the competition, meaning mass-gathering is a bad way for public health. Instead TV broadcasting worked. 

Why do we need to watch such big events? 

I would rather like to join a small banquet with ten or less people to be entertained by Geishas. So I can get much more closer to real entertainers than televised figures. 

What should be the goal for humanity? I do not think tall modern buildings and Olympic athletes represents the answer.