From: jkollin@hardy.u.washington.edu (joel s. kollin)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american,soc.culture.singapore
Subject: Re: Net etiquette (was Re: Joke about intolerance...)
Date: 28 Jan 1993 22:11:33 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
NNTP-Posting-Host: hardy.u.washington.edu

In article <1993Jan28.024636.12264@leland.Stanford.EDU> underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe) writes:
>
>Today, my faith in democracy and the Western-cu (and Japanese-cu) way was
>reaffirmed.  With elation, I noted that women (and men) have the right to air
>their views in a free society and that those views with the most stupendous
>logic shall preview.
>Note that I vociferously disagree with Mr. Asano's views, but I respect his
>right to air those views.  In no uncertain terms, I condemn the culture and
>the society that instilled the petty narrow-minded views that Mr. Lee espouses.
>We all should consider Mr. Lee as a representative data point from his culture
>and should appropriately adjust our opinion of that culture.  I condemn a
>culture that seeks to silence opposing ideas; I condemn Mr. Lee's culture.
>
>In other words,  I condemn Chinese-cu culture.
>
>Have a nice day!

Gee, how broadminded of you (NOT!)
As much as I abhor censorship, you have no basis on which to judge a entire
civilization on how some three governments operate.  Indeed, until the 1950s
Japan had more censorship than Singapore (and yes, I do mean the post-war 
occupation period). Even today, Japanese schools and media teach a "unique"
history on WWII - to put it mildly.  Japan is a one party state controlled by
a small and fairly corrupt (by "western" standards) oligopoly. The average
Japanese citizen has little if any control over their political fate. 
Do you deny any of this?

Lack of censorship in America in a recent phenomena as well, as any (adult-level)
history book will tell you.  Even now, the press is basically controlled by the 
same people who control the political lobbies and the military-industrial complex.
Sure, you can do offensive artwork at the risk of losing gov't funding (but 
without fear of arrest - except in Chicago).  That doesn't mean your opinion
will ever show up where more than a tiny fraction of voters will ever see it.

>P.S.
>
>Japan should have been allowed to keep all Chinese-cu terroritories that it had
>won during the war.  Under Japanese-cu guidance, those areas--annexed as
>prefectures of Japan--would be far more democratic and prosperous than they
>are today.  Mr. Lee is fine example of what Chinese-cu rule has
>produced

I don't think the the Empire had any plans for helping the Chinese become
democratic and properous.  Even today, the Japanese act very different towards
other Japanese, white westerners, other asians, and everyone else (note the 
order).  Maybe we should look at Okinawa, Korea, and the Ainu to see how 
broad-minded and wonderful the Japanese can be. As far as prosperous, look at
the relative rise in median income of Singapore vs. Tokyo, and then factor in
cost-of-living.  I'd rather live in Singapore, given a choice. (Yes, I've been
to both.)

>------------------------------------------------------------------+------------
>Jinsei no imi wa nan desu ka.                Sister, can you      |   \|  |`
>Shitte itara oshiete kuremasen ka.           spare a coin?        |    | -+-
>                                                                  |   /| / \
>Copyright 1992, 1993    Disclaimer:  1 + 1 = 3                    |
>------------------------------------------------------------------+------------

I hope I don't come across as bigoted as you do.

joel kollin


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