racism much?
recently, progressives in japan have been pushing for legislation to allow a woman to become empress of japan. however, the princess of japan is pregnant, and many conservatives in japan are hoping the child is a boy, so he can become heir to the thrown instead of princess aiko. "if the baby is a boy, it could put a brake on the whole debate of imperial law revision." simply said, the legislation will not be passed if a male can succeed the throne, because obviously there's no reason for a woman to be empress if a man is available to do the job. besides the obvious sexism, i was struck by the non-chalant racism present in this statement:
"If Aiko becomes the reigning empress, and gets involved with a blue-eyed foreigner while studying abroad and marries him, their child may be the emperor," Takeo Hiranuma, a top member of Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and head of a bloc of politicians opposed to female monarchs, said last week. "We should never let that happen."
how awful that would be, a "blue-eyed foreigner contaminating the royal bloodline. then again, i doubt we're going to see anyone of japanese ancestry become president of the united states anytime soon. i find the world very interesting indeed.
"If Aiko becomes the reigning empress, and gets involved with a blue-eyed foreigner while studying abroad and marries him, their child may be the emperor," Takeo Hiranuma, a top member of Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and head of a bloc of politicians opposed to female monarchs, said last week. "We should never let that happen."
how awful that would be, a "blue-eyed foreigner contaminating the royal bloodline. then again, i doubt we're going to see anyone of japanese ancestry become president of the united states anytime soon. i find the world very interesting indeed.