The Worst Euphamism, Ever.
Japan basically did something stupid and heartless this week.
During World War II a lot of repugnant acts were performed. I wouldn't feel out of line if I ventured to say that this is the expectation in war. But we live in an international culture of apology. Attrocities need to be recognized by the elites and bemoaned as tragedies. Reparations need to be made for the slate of a relationship to be wiped clean.
The Japanese government of WWII created brothels for it soldiers, allowing combatants behind the front lines to have companionship. (The news media is referring to these enslaved victims as "comfort women." No doubt that's a ragged translation of some official Japanese euphamism. Yuck.) There is, no doubt, some advantage to be gained by providing regular release from the tensions of battle. I can see why a brutal, expansionistic, top-down aristocracy suffering from a violent shift into a dehumanizing mechanistic infrastructure might err on the side of utility rather than compassion in this case.
But the institutionalized rape of two hundred thousand women is a crime that humanity itself cannot live down; apologies and reparations notwithstanding, that is a stain on our collective world culture.
US Representatives Michael Honda, Madeleine Bordallo, Phil Hare and Edward Royce show powerful resolve to give closure to those women still living, and show clear accountability for the acts. Their resolution HR 121, referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, asks the Japanese government to "Refute any claims that the sexual enslavement and trafficking... never occurred," and "accept historical responsibility." Should their bill pass, our government would ask the Japanese government to "educate current and future generations."
Big deal. Half-steps. The bill doesn't ask for reparations; the bill doesn't seek any countermeasure to the wrongdoings. Honda et al are merely posturing. They're playing the role of preening peacocks in nature preserve of the culture of apology. I'm tired of apologies. Human society doesn't get back any credibility by expressing regret. Someone recently said to me, speaking on parenting, that when a child misbehaves, "trust is regained slowly. [We] earn trust with positive actions." The Japanese government will earn the trust and respect of its voters with by setting out on a long journey of honesty and discourse. By talking about tragedies, but additionally by not denying any new ones.
Additionally, we're asking for this disavowal and education from a government which did not even exist at the time in question. It's not clear from the bill if we're asking for this apology from Japan's Diet or from it's Imperial House. The Imperial's could definitely apologize for this, as they are the hereditary bearers of internationally acknowledged guilt from Hirohito. But the civil government? Admittedly their actions since the time of these military brothels has been less than forthcoming at being honest about the reality of these actions, but they have set up private commissions to provide aid for the affected.
There's another government who could be held accountable if, indeed, the current Japanese leadership is deemed responsible. That's our own. The reconstruction of Japan after World War II was overseen by Douglas Macarthur and our own government. We didn't take any steps to provide our allies in Korea, China and the Phillipines with help for these abused women. As near as I can tell, no one in the US government has done anything before this house resolution to make ammends for that oversight.
And we have our own soldiers who had their own way with the women of Europe and the Pacific islands as well! The soldiers of the United States took regular forays into the European countryside to rape or seduce young girls throughout both world wars. This may be harder to lay a finger on than 200,000 imprisoned women, but it certainly shouldn't be immune to the culture of apology. Come out and show yourselves, anyone who has ever been violated by a soldier in a sexual manner. Let all governments, everywhere be forced to lay these gruesome truths on the table so that we can have our apologies.
Seriously, though, it's difficult to know where to draw these lines. Let's not let 200,000 women suffer quietly. Let's know that it is right to acknowledge suffering, but do not stoop to the level of the mob. Demanding apologies from bodies who have no traceable lineage to the parties who committed the act isn't rational, it's just going for blood. The Japanese government will earn or lose respect by how it helps those who suffered, not by hanging its head and acting remorseful.
During World War II a lot of repugnant acts were performed. I wouldn't feel out of line if I ventured to say that this is the expectation in war. But we live in an international culture of apology. Attrocities need to be recognized by the elites and bemoaned as tragedies. Reparations need to be made for the slate of a relationship to be wiped clean.
The Japanese government of WWII created brothels for it soldiers, allowing combatants behind the front lines to have companionship. (The news media is referring to these enslaved victims as "comfort women." No doubt that's a ragged translation of some official Japanese euphamism. Yuck.) There is, no doubt, some advantage to be gained by providing regular release from the tensions of battle. I can see why a brutal, expansionistic, top-down aristocracy suffering from a violent shift into a dehumanizing mechanistic infrastructure might err on the side of utility rather than compassion in this case.
But the institutionalized rape of two hundred thousand women is a crime that humanity itself cannot live down; apologies and reparations notwithstanding, that is a stain on our collective world culture.
US Representatives Michael Honda, Madeleine Bordallo, Phil Hare and Edward Royce show powerful resolve to give closure to those women still living, and show clear accountability for the acts. Their resolution HR 121, referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, asks the Japanese government to "Refute any claims that the sexual enslavement and trafficking... never occurred," and "accept historical responsibility." Should their bill pass, our government would ask the Japanese government to "educate current and future generations."
Big deal. Half-steps. The bill doesn't ask for reparations; the bill doesn't seek any countermeasure to the wrongdoings. Honda et al are merely posturing. They're playing the role of preening peacocks in nature preserve of the culture of apology. I'm tired of apologies. Human society doesn't get back any credibility by expressing regret. Someone recently said to me, speaking on parenting, that when a child misbehaves, "trust is regained slowly. [We] earn trust with positive actions." The Japanese government will earn the trust and respect of its voters with by setting out on a long journey of honesty and discourse. By talking about tragedies, but additionally by not denying any new ones.
Additionally, we're asking for this disavowal and education from a government which did not even exist at the time in question. It's not clear from the bill if we're asking for this apology from Japan's Diet or from it's Imperial House. The Imperial's could definitely apologize for this, as they are the hereditary bearers of internationally acknowledged guilt from Hirohito. But the civil government? Admittedly their actions since the time of these military brothels has been less than forthcoming at being honest about the reality of these actions, but they have set up private commissions to provide aid for the affected.
There's another government who could be held accountable if, indeed, the current Japanese leadership is deemed responsible. That's our own. The reconstruction of Japan after World War II was overseen by Douglas Macarthur and our own government. We didn't take any steps to provide our allies in Korea, China and the Phillipines with help for these abused women. As near as I can tell, no one in the US government has done anything before this house resolution to make ammends for that oversight.
And we have our own soldiers who had their own way with the women of Europe and the Pacific islands as well! The soldiers of the United States took regular forays into the European countryside to rape or seduce young girls throughout both world wars. This may be harder to lay a finger on than 200,000 imprisoned women, but it certainly shouldn't be immune to the culture of apology. Come out and show yourselves, anyone who has ever been violated by a soldier in a sexual manner. Let all governments, everywhere be forced to lay these gruesome truths on the table so that we can have our apologies.
Seriously, though, it's difficult to know where to draw these lines. Let's not let 200,000 women suffer quietly. Let's know that it is right to acknowledge suffering, but do not stoop to the level of the mob. Demanding apologies from bodies who have no traceable lineage to the parties who committed the act isn't rational, it's just going for blood. The Japanese government will earn or lose respect by how it helps those who suffered, not by hanging its head and acting remorseful.
posted by Maximillian @ 8:57 AM
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