US House urges Japan to apologize over comfort women

[Sepiola]

The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution calling on Japan to apologize for forcing Asian women to serve Japanese soldiers in brothels during World War Two.

The House adopted the nonbinding resolution, the first of its kind, on Monday.

It says the Japanese government should formally acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear manner for the suffering of the women.

The resolution's chief sponsor, Democratic Representative Mike Honda, defended the resolution as a just action needed to convey to future generations that this kind of treatment of people will never happen again.

Japan's Ambassador Ryozo Kato has said the resolution is not based on facts.

He warned that passing it would harm otherwise sound Japan-US relations.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his apologies over the suffering of the women, although he had dismissed the resolution as not reflecting facts.

In mid-June, a group of Japanese legislators, critics and others took out an opinion ad in the Washington Post denying that the Japanese military forced the women into slavery.

Democratic Representative Tom Lantos, who is House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, called efforts to distort and deny history by people in Japan "nauseating."

http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/index.html

[Sepiola]

It is a opportunity for Abe to show the true value of hanging on as PM.
He should express the refusal of the apology demand of American Congress
promptly.

[hkBattousai]

They should apologize for raped & killed women in Iraq.
US is the last country to give ethics lecture for any other.

[KirinMan]

They should apologize for raped & killed women in Iraq.
US is the last country to give ethics lecture for any other.

While that could be debated endlessly this issue is one from over 60 years ago,

Japan will wait it out as there are only a few hundred of the estimated 200,000 women left.

It is truly sad.

It is a opportunity for Abe to show the true value of hanging on as PM.
He should express the refusal of the apology demand of American Congress
promptly.

Whether he does or doesn't does not change the fact, that at least to the rest of the world, the comfort women issue will not quietly go away.

That is one issue, whether Japan chooses to acknowledge it or not, from WWII that will continue to haunt this country for many generations.

Unfortunately there will be no true peace or trust between Japan and it's neighbors until this and other issues left over from WWII are put to rest.

[Elizabeth van Kampen]

US House urges Japan to apologize over comfort women

It seems all far too late in my eyes. It should have been wonderful a 50 years ago or so. Then the Japanese military who did wrong could have said that they were sorry for what happened.
It often happens that when a war is over, the enemies become partners/friends in peace time. It was then, that all war crimes should have been in the open, that would have been much better for the wrong-doers and for the victims.
But alas, many things were kept secret, and today there is a new Japanese generation who refuses to accept history. Logic because they are not guilty.

I still see it as a very big mistake that Japan was not made responsable for WWII in the same way as Germany in 1945.

[caster51]

WOW , it still gose on?

[pipokun]

Did you watch the news? I was really disapointed to see just about 10 Reps out of 435 Reps were there. I wish I could have seen more exciting discussion. And as always, few media covered it, though it is not false to write something like...

People's Daily Online, China
In a move widely viewed as a public censure of Japan's official policy on "comfort women," the US House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed

　Yes, unanimously is a right word...

It is, however, useful to know 10 will do to pass a non-biding resolution in the US. And it is good to know a new vocabrary, voice vote.

Wondering how many members will be there for the other tax wasting resolution by Honda, thank you Japan resolution.
Maybe only two, Lantos & Honda, I am afraid.

[KirinMan]

Originally Posted by pipokun

....for the other tax wasting resolution by Honda, thank you Japan resolution.

Heck you need not worry about how American's spend their tax money I know Japan has a little itsty, bitsy, problem with it's own debt and use of tax money.

At least it shows that in America at least this issue is not going to be shoved under the carpet.

Originally Posted by caster51

WOW , it still gose on?

Like I wrote previously it will continue until one certain country finally gets it right and admits what happened, to hell with the consequences as well.

[Han Chan]

Originally Posted by caster51

WOW , it still gose on?

This will continue as long as there are people who try to deny the historical facts regarding the comfort issue.

Actually former PM Koizumi actually did write a letter of apology:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pmletter.html

Unfortunately only very few people actually noticed that he wrote this sincere apology!

[pipokun]

At least it shows that in America at least this issue is not going to be shoved under the carpet.

Only the 10 represent the US?

Han Chan, right. The 10 guys don't know nothing.
http://fnn.fujitv.co.jp/headlines/CONN00115343.html
It is a good material to study Japanese.

[caster51]

This will continue as long as there are people who try to deny the historical facts regarding the comfort issue.

Actually former PM Koizumi actually did write a letter of apology:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pmletter.html

Unfortunately only very few people actually noticed that he wrote this sincere apology!

someday, time will heal it ...........

[KirinMan]

Only the 10 represent the US?

Putting aside a second your sarcastic reply to Han Chan...read the following, there were more than 10, .....

A symbolic and non-binding resolution seeking an apology from Japan for the sexual exploitation of Asian women by the Japanese military during World War II was passed Monday during a vote in the House of Representatives.

More than 140 US politicians from both parties co-sponsored the non-binding resolution urging Japan to "formally acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner" for the suffering of comfort women.

Taken from;
NASDAQ.com

And this is an interesting blog as well.....I've highlighted the pertinent parts for you to read.

Congress has passed House Resolution 121, the "comfort women resolution," by unanimous consent — there were no nays voiced, and there was no roll call vote. According to one of my trusted correspondents, Congressman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor, introduced the legislation by suggesting that there is no statute of limitations on apologies for these crimes and that asking for this apology is not asking too much of Japan, a friend and ally. Said Lantos: "The true strength of a nation is tested when it is forced to confront the darkest chapters in its history. Will it have the courage to face up to the truth of its past, or will it hide from those truths in the desperate and foolish hope they will fade with time?"

H.Res. 121 is an exceedingly modest piece of legislation. Non-binding, it does not request that the administration take steps to pressure Japan by linking the issue up with another bilateral issue; it appeals to Japan's good conscience to do the right thing by history, to do its duty to ensure that its children are fully aware of their country's bloody past, a burden that must be carried by every country (as discussed in this post).

Observing Japan
It would be a noble thing for Japan to stand up and acknowledge this, it remains a blot on the honor of the people that fought and died in the war that the country refuses to admit it's faults.

Originally Posted by caster51

someday, time will heal it ...........

Only when forgiveness is openly asked for AND accepted.

[caster51]

Only when forgiveness is openly asked for AND accepted.

they will die.....

I think I dont care about that whatever they want
it will be ignored
it is waste of time....
I think japan had better refuse it cleary

[Elizabeth van Kampen]

WOW , it still gose on?

Caster it still goes because it wasn't stopped in 1945!!

[pipokun]

More than 140 US politicians from both parties co-sponsored the non-binding resolution urging Japan

I know it was 167, a bit more than your source. It does not matter, 140 or 167. But where on earth did they go for the very important conscience matter?

It would be a noble thing for Japan to stand up and acknowledge this

What do you think of the letter or other apology by Japan.
It is good that the US govenment has kept the document of military brothels of Japan, the US or others in WWII, but what did they do in the past? Of course, the American ones.

[Elizabeth van Kampen]

Caster,

You seem to be very angry and you are not polite. Please stay calm and tell us clearly why you are so angry with these poor women?

This is just the very reason why I think that it is a shame that Japan wasn't
wasn't made responsable for WWII ( and comfort women) between 1945 and 1951.
At that moment every soldier could have defended himself if found guilty of war crimes.
Now it is a younger generation that is getting frustrated by being blamed for crimes commited 65 years ago.

Maybe because I am so much older than you, and maybe because I was teenager when I became a war victim, I can overlook the generations.

Many of the girls been abused during WWII were my age at that time. It must have been so painful, so dramatic for them.

I always like to see and hear the problems in our lives from all sides. But please stay polite!

[Sukotto]

At the East Timor & Indonesian Action Network website,
there are lots of resources on this topic.
Because there are surviving victims in East Timor too.
http://etan.org/action/action3/02honda.htm

And I agree, there are many things the US needs to apologize for.
Vietnam, Nicaragua, East Timor, Iraq, Granada..., to name just a few.
In the 1990s Bill Clinton acting as president of the US, issued a formal
apology to the people of Hawai'i for overthrowing their government over
100 years ago. A bit late, but the US gov't should never have conspired to
do it in the first place.



caster51
Why don't you just claim they are liars,
instead of using derogatory language that makes you look
like a male chauvinist.



Plus these type of resolutions are passed by many different countries,
as the Japanese Diet passed some sort of resolution stating their belief
that the original trial for convicted death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal was not conducted in a fair and impartial manner, and demand either a new trial or Abu-Jamal's immediate release.

[Sukotto]

What do these women have to gain?
I doubt they "hate Japan" or anything like that.


I posted the stuff on Mumia because I had just read that some nationalists call the US resolution as meddling in the affairs of Japan, but countries other countries comment on things like this all the time.
I mean, from what I understand the word "genocide" as applied to the First Nations in the US was not really discussed until the 1960s. And in Israel, some people used to deny that Palestinians used to live there before the state of Israel was formed in 194? after WW2.
Thing is, love of one's country can blind one from one's country's wrong doings.

And I refuse any more dialog with you unless you stop using the word "bitches".

no i do not support the death penalty

[caster51]

What do these women have to gain?
I doubt they "hate Japan" or anything like that.

they gain the money ....

no i do not support the death penalty

at least, we can not judge without evidence.
and the congless can not judge the history by voting

[Elizabeth van Kampen]

Ouch, you seem to be full of agressive feelings towards non Japanese.
Do you know that this is very bad for your blood pressure?

[KirinMan]

i am not living in uncivilized country

You may be but your comments are from a person that is unfamiliar with civilized behaviour and courtesy towards women.

[KirinMan]

at least, we can not judge without evidence.

You know what, you repeat the same thing over and over, not only here on this thread but the "other" one as well.

I have come to the conclusion that you wouldn't know evidence even if it hit you over the head. Meaning even if a comfort woman came and sat down in front of you and told you her story, you probably would call her a liar.

Caster I am sorry but to me at least, mostly from your comments on this thread, you come across as a small man, not meaning stature, but inside, to use such language.

Caster I am sorry but I truly have pity for you.

[FrustratedDave]

Originally Posted by caster51

??

if Japan was forced them, i think it would be shame...
they were just bitches...

I have lost a lot of respect for you.

You could disagree with a lot more finesse than you have, very disapointing.

[Han Chan]

Maybe Jref should include bitches in the category of banned words just as it is in its singular form:

I copied this from Wikipedia:

***** is a term for the female of a canine species in general. It is also frequently used as an offensive term for a woman, taken to mean that she is malicious, spiteful, domineering, intrusive, or unpleasant. This second meaning has been in use since around 1400. When used to describe a male, it confers the meaning of "subordinate", especially to another male (as in prison). More recent variants of ***** are bitchy, ill-tempered (1925), and to *****, to complain (1930).

Sometime during the late 1990s or early 2000s, the term "*****" became more and more accepted and less offensive, and is now very rarely censored on television broadcasts or otherwise. Prior to the term's general acceptance, euphemism terms were often substituted, such as "gun" in the phrase "son of a gun". More generally the term has also acquired the meaning of something unpleasant or irksome, as in the expression "Life's a *****".

Uses

The word "*****" has long been in use to refer to a woman in contempt, as shown in an 1811 dictionary which describes ***** as "the most offensive appellation that can be given to an English woman, even more provoking than that of *****."

Meaning woman

The word ***** is sometimes used casually among hip-hop artists and followers of the culture. The term is typically used to describe a young female regardless of personality or looks. Often it is a directly negative and violent condemnation of character (referring sometimes to males as well, but especially directed at females). When used, it is sometimes meant in a more ambiguous sense, though usually it denotes ownership, therefore reinforcing cultural norms of the word as negative, especially towards the feminine. This is similar to previous feminist attempts to identify it as an epithet for a strong, self-reliant woman.

Sexual subordinacy

In the context of prison sexuality, a ***** is a lower-hierarchy prisoner, typically physically weak or vulnerable, who is dominated by more senior prisoners and forced to adopt a servile role. According to convention, these inmates are used as sexual slaves or traded as personal property. To call a male a "*****" usually suggests that he is sexually passive in this manner.

[KirinMan]

Edited to say;

Thank you to "whomever" dealt with the posts in question. I have also edited my own posts to delete the offensive words.