From: ntetsuya@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Nishimura)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: brainwashed
Date: 27 Dec 92 17:41:10 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  80523

In article <BzwC06.8rM@CAM.ORG> cheung@CAM.ORG (Shirley Cheung) writes:
>
>Today, I can come up with a final conclusion of how REAL Japanese are:
>
>1. They are extremely narrow-minded in terms of racial, sexual, linguistic
>issues.
>
	How much broad-minded are you?  What people is more open-minded about
	the issues than another people?  The Americans?  Well, I say some are
	but some aren't.  The Canadians?  I don't know since I haven't met 
	enough Canadians to draw any generalization.  Of course i haven't drawn
	any conclusion about the Americans yet.

	What you have said about the Japanese is not really false information,
	I think.  But I would like to argue that you said you had come up with
	a conclusion; how many real Japanese do you know personally?  how many
	real Japanese have you met and observed to draw your conclusion?

	IMHO, what you can do is draw a conclusion about each individual you
	meet but it cannot be a generalization of the group he or she belongs.
	Would you say the English is the sexist language because you have to 
	identify "he" or "she," or you have to use both of them to be P.C. as 
	I did in the sentence just before this sentence?  Has anyone concluded
	that English speakers are sexists because of this?

	If you have come up to your conclusion on a personal basis, that's fine.	But... I am wondering it is a conclusion or generalization about one 
	group of people just like yours that leads us to any form of racism.  
	In this sense, many Japanese are "guilty."


>2. Their "social" mentality is at least 20-30 years behind North America
>
 	This may be true.  But is being ahead any better than or superior to 
	being behind in this case?  What "social mentality" are you talking
	about?

	IMO, social mentality is based on the value system in the society.  It
	is also based on the cultural background of the society.  If what I
	think is ever true, you are denying one independent culture because of
	its being different from yours.


>3. They have been EXTREMELY "damaged" by the evil act of their own
>TRADITION of  "brainwashing". 

	What "traditon of brainwashing" are you talking about?
	If you are talking about something like the history textbook issue, you 
	may be right.  But if one wants to learn about the truth or facts, there	are lots of choices.

>
>4. HOPE?--> ONLY now that telecommunication has brought them "somewhat"
>closer to the rest of the world.

 	I agree.  But if you mean "what you are familiar with" by "the rest of
	the world," I disagree.  Well, you may be right again... There are lots
	of TV programs about Western cultures in Japan and very few of other 
	Asian nations or parts of the world.

>
>THE JAPANESE TRADITION HAS MADE ME VERY ANGRY, SAD, AND FRUSTRATED FOR FEW
>DAYS AND I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I AM "NOT" PART OF THIS CULTURE.
>
>SHIRLEY

	I AM GLAD BEING PART OF THE JAPANESE CULTURE, AND I AM GLAD LEARNING
	ABOUT MANY OTHER CULTURES INCLUDING YOURS.  YOUR CULTURE NEVER MADE ME
	ANGRY, SAD, FRUSTRATED NOT BECAUSE IT IS BETTER, NOT BECAUSE IT IS 
	DIFFERENT OR SIMILRA AS MINE.
 

	I am really glad I am NOT denying cultures of others because no culture
	is ever superior to any other culture.  
	Culture is NOT the same or similar word as "civilization."
	Bunka to bunmei wa zenzen chigau mono da to omoi masu.

					
					Tetsuya Nishimura
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan