Originally Posted By Mr X So, today is Hirohito's birthday, a national holiday. I'm starting to understand why other Asian countries are so very resentful of Japan even today. I mean, what would the world think if Germany insisted on having a "Hitler day"? Granted, it has always been a Japanese tradition that the Emperor's birthday is a holiday (and it still is, on December 23rd), but as far as I know they only honor ONE dead Emperor..who happens to be the most infamous one. Kinda gives it a "dear leader" sort of vibe imo. Thoughts?
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I'm not knowledgeable on this subject, but his culpability for war crimes and whether or not he approved many of the military maneuvers that took place during WWII is questionable, isn't it? I'm guessing that his transformation of Japan into one of the world's biggest industrialized nations is likely why he is revered in that country.
Originally Posted By Mr X Some claim it's questionable, but I'm not one of them. He had absolute power as a ruler, I'm sure he was well aware of what was going on. As for the transformation angle, perhaps. But that was started more by Emperor Meiji (his grandfather?) and when Hirohito came to power in 1926 things were very much in motion I think. Anyway, I don't think he should be "revered" any more than any of the other Devils in charge of the Axis powers (and there are millions of dead Chinese and Korean civilians whom I would guess might agree with me if they hadn't been murdered by Japanese forces).
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "He had absolute power as a ruler, I'm sure he was well aware of what was going on." Well, I think that's where it gets questionable. There are indications that during the war he governed primarily as a figurehead. Again, I know little about this, and I trust that you are more informed than I am. I'm simply trying to say that there's an explanation as to why the holiday is in place. I mean after all, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned plantations with hundreds of black slaves, yet they are highly revered in our country.
Originally Posted By Mr X "the Emperor personally ratified the proposal by the Japanese Army to remove the constraints of international law on the treatment of Chinese prisoners on August 5. Moreover, the works of Yoshiaki Yoshimi and Seiya Matsuno show that the Emperor authorized, by specific orders (rinsanmei), the use of chemical weapons against the Chinese. During the invasion of Wuhan, from August to October 1938, the emperor authorized the use of toxic gas on 375 separate occasions, despite the resolution adopted by the League of Nations on May 14 condemning the use of toxic gas by the Japanese Army." I ask again, why would they have a holiday to honor this guy? So wrong... Source.. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Well, I think that's where it gets questionable.*** Didn't mean to post on top of you, Hans. My comment was not a challenge to what you wrote (which makes sense). Certainly is questionable, but nobody seems to wonder so much about Hitler or Mussolini's role in the war though. Just sayin...
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt No, worries. I think it's a good topic and worth discussing. Carry on...
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< So, today is Hirohito's birthday, a national holiday. >>> That's the Showa emperor to you, buddy! <<< "the Emperor personally ratified the proposal by the Japanese Army to remove the constraints of international law on the treatment of Chinese prisoners on August 5. >>> Are you saying that a head of state that removes the constraints of international law on POWs should not be honored? I'm shocked to hear this coming from you.
Originally Posted By Mr X Yikes. Don't remember reading THAT in Junior High history class! Still...he DID discover America and all that.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Don't remember reading THAT in Junior High history class! >>> I don't know the specifics about Columbus, but I'm increasingly becoming aware that there's a great many things about history that I was not taught in Junior High.
Originally Posted By Mr X Yes. Thank GOD for Fox news to fill in all the gaps! For example, I had no idea that FDR was a dangerous whacko who totally sucked as President! Who knew?
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin "Still...he DID discover America and all that." Thank goodness, or else where would all the people who already lived here have lived?
Originally Posted By Altadisdude Don't forget the vikings also built a settlement in North America 500 years before comlumbus. He's in a distant third for "discovering" the Americas. On his first voyage he kidnapped native islanders, and on his return trip Columbus was enslaving and murdering local populations in his hunt for gold. Taking a few college level history courses after high school blew my mind.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Pat, I take a guess that that last sentence was-Because of Columbus we NOW have all-inclusive resorts. What ever that means...
