Worst Way to Protest Japanese Government Policy: Anti-Japanese Hate

[Bonobo]

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=3221

Props to the blogs ZERO and J-Life, which have fairly pointed out that hate should not be a part of protests against Japanese government policies one does not agree with. Here are two examples of hate-filled activism:

1) Somebody has set up this site in response to Japan’s new immigration system. It contains strong objections to the fingerprinting system, but it also has an “A to Z” of anti-Japanese statements and statistics, a good many of them wildly exaggerated or even completely false.

2) A company that operates aquariums across Europe is calling for a boycott of Japanese goods. This isn’t a bad thing in itself, but when you let every child under 14 who signs a statement declaring they will ask Santa not to bring them anything made in Japan this Christmas, it seems pretty ugly. Propagandizing those not old enough to properly research the situation and come to a decision themselves is pretty low. At least let them grow up before they have to decide whether or not they want to denounce Japan.

These are perfect fuel for those who want to write off opposition to whaling and the new immigration system. A hate site linked with condemnation by a prominent activist could be used to claim the movement against fingerprinting is too radical to be taken seriously, and the anti-Japanese Santa messages promotion is exactly the kind of stuff that produces a nationalistic response in favor of maintaining whaling.

Any opponents of Japan’s new immigration system or whaling practices who want to be taken seriously should probably distance themselves from those who use hatred and xenophobia as tools of activism.

[Mythsaje]

1. It's not about THE PEOPLE.

It rarely is. It's about big corporations deciding to do whatever the hell they want no matter what anyone says. This particular bunch is in violation of international law and they're thumbing their nose at everyone else. Making it about the Japanese people is completely missing the point.

[IndianaJones]

2. they deserve all the criticism they get. nt.

[nebula]

4. In that case,

so do Americans.

the American people deserve all the hate and criticism
they get due to the policies of their government.

[IndianaJones]

5. certainly. that doesn't lessen my strong dislike for Japan. nt.

[Glorfindel]

3. Really? I guess we should try GENTLY to PERSUADE them

as they giggle while murdering the last few whales on the planet. Revulsion and loathing don't necessarily equal hatred, anyway. And I do loathe those whalers, who just happen to be Japanese. I also despise dog-fighters, but that doesn't make me an anti-black racist.

[DCKit]

6. Before y'all leap across the line that SHOULD get you tombstoned...

The Japanese people are, by a wide majority, against whaling.

The majority of whale meat is wharehoused and is never eaten by Japanese consumers, regardless of the urban legends about the abundance of whale meat in shops and restaurants all over Japan.

The Japanese government and, possibly, some corporations, are using their cover of "research" in an effort to keep their options open. I don't know the reasoning, but suspect they are doing so to allow a transition to real hunting if and when they simply can't afford to import meat from overseas.

The broad brush of ignorant hatred and racism will only cause the Japanese people to stand firmly behind their government, regardless of their personal feelings about whaling. Isn't our experience in Iraq fresh enough for you? Knock it off.