Comments on: The Rape of Nanking, The Unforgotten Holocaust http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-rape-of-nanking-the-unforgotten-holocaust/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Fri, 18 May 2012 17:27:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Peter Wu http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-rape-of-nanking-the-unforgotten-holocaust/#comment-2386 Peter Wu Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:46:22 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-rape-of-nanking-the-unforgotten-holocaust/#comment-2386 This is a very sensitive subject as it affected so many people on both sides, however It is obvious from the Chinese and Japanese student interviews toward the end of the video that both nations do not want to wage war, instead are quite dependent on each other economically. So why hate? If the 80 year old lady who had been through the massacre can put the past behind her, I do not see why it is difficult for the young generation to forgive. However, I think history should be accurately represented so the lessons can be learned not to make the same mistakes again. Having a version of history jointly written by all three (China, Japan, and Korea) nations is a good idea because it represented a well balanced historical account of what really happened without any adulteration. This is a very sensitive subject as it affected so many people on both sides, however It is obvious from the Chinese and Japanese student interviews toward the end of the video that both nations do not want to wage war, instead are quite dependent on each other economically. So why hate? If the 80 year old lady who had been through the massacre can put the past behind her, I do not see why it is difficult for the young generation to forgive. However, I think history should be accurately represented so the lessons can be learned not to make the same mistakes again. Having a version of history jointly written by all three (China, Japan, and Korea) nations is a good idea because it represented a well balanced historical account of what really happened without any adulteration.

]]> By: Chris Carr http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-rape-of-nanking-the-unforgotten-holocaust/#comment-2385 Chris Carr Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:32:38 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/the-rape-of-nanking-the-unforgotten-holocaust/#comment-2385 Good post. Here is a helpful comment that Dr. Barbara Mori, Cal Poly sociology prof, made to a February 2, 2007 post I made on this blog. She specializes in China and Japan. Her knowledge shed light for me on this topic. This is a very complex topic. I haven't a clue how Japan and China should go about trying to bury the hatchet on this issue ... <em>"After the war, Japan was forced to adopt an new constitution primarily written by Americans but agreed to by the Japanese. It is still highly controversial. and is currently being considered for revision. However, one of the results of this is that the present government created by that new constitution does not see itself as a continuation of the government in power during the war and therefore not responsible for its actions, either good or bad. How to present those years is still a problem for the Japanese. It is difficult to criticize your ancestors, especially those most recently deceased. How do you instill patriotism in the next generation if there is little you can point to that you deem honorable? So you must re-interpret it and focus on Japanese issues rather than on negative aspects. Thus the textbook controversy. It strong relates to issues of Japanese identity. Ask Vietnam vets how they are dealing with the way they and the war are presented in American society to get an idea of the deep contradictions and pain dealing with these kinds of issues generates."</em> Good post.

Here is a helpful comment that Dr. Barbara Mori, Cal Poly sociology prof, made to a February 2, 2007 post I made on this blog. She specializes in China and Japan. Her knowledge shed light for me on this topic. This is a very complex topic. I haven’t a clue how Japan and China should go about trying to bury the hatchet on this issue …

“After the war, Japan was forced to adopt an new constitution primarily written by Americans but agreed to by the Japanese. It is still highly controversial. and is currently being considered for revision. However, one of the results of this is that the present government created by that new constitution does not see itself as a continuation of the government in power during the war and therefore not responsible for its actions, either good or bad. How to present those years is still a problem for the Japanese. It is difficult to criticize your ancestors, especially those most recently deceased. How do you instill patriotism in the next generation if there is little you can point to that you deem honorable? So you must re-interpret it and focus on Japanese issues rather than on negative aspects. Thus the textbook controversy. It strong relates to issues of Japanese identity. Ask Vietnam vets how they are dealing with the way they and the war are presented in American society to get an idea of the deep contradictions and pain dealing with these kinds of issues generates.”

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