Daily Lesson from Life 11 November 2008

1111 2008 - A date not to be repeated has come and going soon! ;-))

"Sacked Japan air chief defends controversial views
Tamogami wrote in the essay that many Asian countries "take a positive view" of Japan's past militarism. -->
Tue, Nov 11, 2008 AFP

TOKYO- Japan's sacked air force commander on Tuesday defended his view of the country's militarist past and called for an overhaul of the pacifist constitution.

"I do not think I was wrong in any way," said former general Toshio Tamogami, who was fired last month after writing an essay in which he denied the country was an aggressor in World War II.


The essay "was necessary in order for Japan to head in the right direction," he said during a parliamentary hearing, where he was harshly criticised by opposition lawmakers who said his views were a challenge to the legislature.

"Freedom of speech should be guaranteed, even for Self Defense Force personnel," Tamogami responded, using the official name for Japan's military.

"Would it be a democracy if public discourse is suppressed?"


He said Japan should amend its constitution, which bans the use of force as a mean to resolve international conflicts, because views are currently divided on how to defend the country.

The Japanese government has insisted that the essay was contrary to its official views.

China, the two Koreas and other Asian nations still have searing memories of Japan's aggression and colonial rule. China was quick to voice "strong indignation" over the comments.

Tamogami wrote in the essay that many Asian countries "take a positive view" of Japan's past militarism, seeing Tokyo as a bulwark against Western imperialism.

"It is certainly a false accusation to say that our country was an aggressor nation," he wrote."

A special date of 1111 2008 does not mattered to this sacked Japanese Air Force General. He is still trapped in the old mindset of Japan being the 'liberators' of the 'suppressed' East Asia Co-prosperity Circle' countries from their Western Imperialism masters.

I am sure there is some truth in what he said: that 'some people' really hated the Western Imperialism masters who lorded over them and treated them in a disrespectful and demeaning ways. I am sure some 'suppressed nations' then did welcome the 'non-aggressive liberators' when they thought they were helping them to 'chase away' the Western evils!

If we looked at the historical evidence, especially in China and South Korea, many lives were lost to the Japanese 'liberators'. Many lives were lost after the 'liberators' have successfully expelled the 'intended targets of Western evils' from those 'suppressed nations'. So, it is hard to argue that eventually the liberators turned into aggressors and assumed the role of the 'expelled Western evils' and MORE!!

Lessons for me are:

1. when 1 person said you are wrong, you may be right. However, when almost everyone said that you are wrong, there is a strong reason to re-examine our understanding, the evidences, the independence of our thoughts and change! It is like a mirror, 1 mirror may be flawed, but when every mirror showed us to have a black ink on on our forehead or cheeks, we need to wipe it clear!;

2. it is entirely possible for one to be stuck in certain position and disregard the conclusion that lesson no. 1 above can teach us. It will be almost impossible for others to understand WHY one continued to hold a position or argument that the majority seen as flawed. I am not talking about Galileo insisting that the earth is round when the churches of the time said it is square and flat! As it is a fact, someone eventually proved that the earth is round when he sailed around the globe!;

3. to change the stuck-on-the-mud situation, we must be willing to accept independent 3rd parties input that are contrary to our positions. With facts, we cannot insist on our view points. We must learn to let emotion takes a back seat and look at the contentious issues rationally. IF we don't, we will be stuck in our own imaginary world. It is dangerous to live in a real world that way!

May the General finds the final answer when he leaves the world at the end of his long and distinguished life. Blessed him!