From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: Learning about World War II in Japan
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 15:20:39 GMT

In article <IRIE.92Jul24132523@husc9.harvard.edu> irie@husc9.harvard.edu (Robert E. Irie) writes:
>Note: I only read rec.arts.anime, and like Ipromised before, I wont post
>there about thigns not related to anime .So, any replies to the newsgroups
>wont be seen by me.
>
>In article <1992Jul23.160919.2178@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>   The Germans were portrayed as vicious Huns, raping.looting, pillaging, etc.
>   And anti-Nazi propoganda at the time was more prevalent than anti-Japanese; the
>   Germans were perceived as the more dangerous enemy. Anti-Italian propoganda
>   was rather less; they were not a serious threat.
>
>Then how come no German Americans were interned? They would be more dangerous,
>wouldnt they? Japanese (and Orientals in general) have always been singled out

During the first world war, German-Americans WERE interred, at least those of
"suspect loyalty". Several were lynched as well. There was a considerable 
anti-German sentiment.

>among foreigners for special treatment, even today. With all the reports
>in newspapers and weeklys about "Japan buying out" America, how many people
>realize that Canada, Great BRitain actually have MORE investments in US
>than Japan? Wonder why noone is crying "Canada/GB is buying out America!"

This has nothing to do with WWII, of course. In any event, given the coverage
recently, I'd say anyone watching the business sections realizes that Great
Britain and the Netherlands have more assets in the US, while Japan has 
invested more capital.

>During WWII, the US Army had (basically) an office of propaganda, (the
>actual term was some kind of Sociology Department ) whose task was to
>train (psychologically) American GI's to fight better against the
>enemy. For JApanese soldiers it was easy. They told the GI's that
>Japanese were "less than humans" more like "apes and monkeys" and that
>they should kill "Japs" as if they were animals. There are some
>reports saying that officials actualy faked "decoded" Japanese
>messages to portray them more like conniving and evil animals. For
>Germans, the office had a harder time, since Germans looked like
>Americans (ie white). What they came up with was that Germans were

This is nonsense. I've seen some anti-German propaganda, and they are portrayed
as apes and brutal thugs. This "racist" nonsensical explanation of events
flies in the face of the fact that the most brutal parts of most wars, and
WWII in particular, were fought between adversaries of the same race/skin color.

>"infected" by a "disease" spread by Hitler, and that the only way to
>"cure" them was to kill them and take them out of their misery. Note,
>I am not making this up! All this is what I learned in a history of

Yes, you appear to be, or you have made at best a cursory survey of the anti
Nazi propoganda. It was extensive and very dehumanizing (as it was intended to
be). 

>science course here and there are ample references if there is anyone
>who is interested in the Army's attempt to brainwash GI's. 
>
>  They also had photographs of those incidents, and photos of Japanese soldiers
>   "helping" civilians commit suicide rather than face the "shame" of capture.
> Also, photos of families throwing their children off cliffs and then following
>   them. This took the US quite by surprise; they never encountered anyone who
>   acted like this.
>
>Unfortunately, it is human nature to fear or despise things that have
>"never been encountered" Much Western folklore emphasizes "honor" but
>I wonder how far do people actually believe in it? 

What does the above have to do with "honor"?

>I hate its use in politics recently, but I do believe "family values"
>and trying to be "honorable" is something to be praised, not feared or
>despised.  Someone willing to die to retain his honor may be
>considered crazy today, but I think it is just a sign of how committed
>one is to maintaining certain values. 

I think most would feel that killing one's own children for any reason is a
very distorted view of "family values".

>The major cause of the deteriorating society in the US today I think
>is the loss of "family values" and sense of "honor" I, being brought
>up by Japanese parents, of course have a biased view towards honor.

It should be noted that "honor" is not limited to Japanese; all cultures have
honor as part of their tradition. The Germans were rather famous for it as 
well.

Mike
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