To forgive but not to forget

[lotustea]

Don't even get me started on this government's idiot deal with the Japanese government on "comfort women"(more accurate term is military sex slaves). Abe said something in line of "now our next generations do not have to apologize anymore." Congrats. Let's have Angela Merkel go, "We paid Israel so that our next generations don't have to feel sorry

Comments

[mos_nhymp]

I haven't kept myself in loop with this issue, but I do so agree with what you are saying here. This is a more general social issue and the way it is directly linked to the fluctuations of values and change in modern societies gives meaning beyond compensating the individual victims (that are still living). But of course, when it comes politics, I suspect its rarely about the "justice" per se ...

[lotustea]

I am angry whenever the media and public reiterates the nationalist perspective of this issue: "Japs defiled our daughters" sort of egregious viewpoint(and right wing politicians in Japan responding with classy comments such as "Can whores get raped in the first place"). These people tend to think this tradition was a kind of a humiliating slap on the national ego, and that's not so what it is. Given the depth of the controversy and decades of academic/public debate on the issue, I wanted it to be resolved in a way that upheld justice and dignity of the survivors. But as you say, it's too much to hope for.

[mos_nhymp]

I so agree with you.

[lotustea]

Eh, I feel like I overreacted and rambled... my apologies. :(

[mos_nhymp]

There's nothing to apologise for, as I totally agree with you! Although, I also do feel a little embarrassed, voicing strong opinions publicly on controversial/political issues always leaves me like that afterwards. It makes me feel vulnerable and somewhat dumb (because I feel like I should have said something seriously profound), also, it's not a rare thing for my opinions change drastically straight after voicing them. Not that it's necessarily the case here.