| Drawing lessons from the past. | |
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| Dec 4, 2007 02:57 |   |
 | December is a gloomy season for Chinese people. Ten days later, we will have to face the unforgettable disastrous day-December 13th. Seventy years ago, on that darkest day, (December 13th, 1937) Japanese aggressors occupied Nanjing.They embarked on a six-week long orgy of destruction, pillage, rape and slaughter. Historical records show that more than 300,000 Chinese people, including both unarmed soldiers and innocent civilians, were murdered. Although I haven’t witnessed the war on the spot, but the bitter words from my forefathers echoed in the sky where I live. The cruel “Loot all, kill all, burn all” polic aimed to drive Chinese people towards extinction. Fortunately, Chinese people survived through their united efforts. The reason why I retell this tragic episode is not to make people of good conscience and justice suffered and gloomy, but to memorize the great martyrs’ who sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace. However, should we exclude this tragic episode from our memories? If Japan has regretted his crime, we should talk about this issue as few as possible, since nobody is infallible, let alone Japanese militarists. Regrettably, Japan seldom expressed his regret sincerely. The former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, insisted in visiting to the shrine in Japan, where war criminals executed for their part in the Massacre are among those honored. The history textbook distortions written by the Japanese have angered the Chinese people in recent years. Certainly, these are some acts of Japanese militarists and politicians, not the average Japanese civilians’ attitudes. Therefore, I have no prejudice against Japanese, but some sophisticated politicians and so-called scholars. What lessons should we draw from history? I am not sure. How about Japan? There is a saying in China: forgetting the history indicates betrayal. Another saying goes, “history never repeat itself”. This might not be very accurate. I’d like to say: history will never repeat itself provided that human beings can take history as a mirror and draw lessons from the past. （Notes：On Monday the Chinese government published an eight-volume name list containing the names of 13,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre. The publication set contains information including the name, sex, age, occupation and residential addresses of the victims, as well as which Japanese army unit committed which crime and how the victims were killed.） |
| Dec 4, 2007 15:17 | #1 |
| I do not know who said this first, but the saying I have heard is: "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it." It is sometimes expressed: "Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it." I do not know how that wisdom can be applied to the atrocities in Nanjing. |
| Dec 4, 2007 18:33 | #2 |
| I have already forgiven the Japanese. It doesn't matter whether they asked for it or not. I will not be a prisoner of the past. I have a lot of Japanese friends and sometimes we talk about this. Many of them are still haunted and shamed by a past that they don't have any control of. For me, past is past. |
| Dec 4, 2007 21:27 | #3 |
| "I have already forgiven the Japanese. It doesn't matter whether they asked for it or not. I will not be a prisoner of the past." SHESGOTTOBE, Well, perhaps you don't understand my post quite well. As I have said: "the reason why I retell this tragic episode is not to make people of good conscience and justice suffered and gloomy, but to memorize the great martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace." I don't wan to be a prisoner of the past either, and actually I am not living in the shadow of the past. IMO, we human beings should look squarely on the past. Reflection on the past is to better welcome the future. I know many Japanse average persons are quite friendly and regret for the atrocities in Nanjing that is beyond their control. Certainly, we should not be mean to these friendly people of good conscience, but show our tolerance, generosity and friendliness to them. However, some bad-intentioned Japanese militarists and politicians are unforgivable. We, not only Chinese, but Asians as well as the global peacelovers should be alert to the resurrection of Japanese Militarism. We don 't want to see history will repeat itself, so we have to learn lessons from the past. |
| Dec 5, 2007 01:41 | #4 |
| I certainly agree that history is very important. People often like to present a picture of a place that seems to be pure, innocent and welcoming, by covering-up some hideous event in the past. Different people may have different reasons for doing this, and some are no doubt quite honourable intentions. I recall in the UK not too long ago, a certain local council wanted to re-name some streets because they were origninally named after slave traders. The council felt that it was wrong to continue to honour slave traders like this, but actually the move caused great up-roar amongst those who said that the council was trying to cover-up the past and pretend that the city played no part in the slave trade. People argued that the street names should remain and that children should be taught the history of the area and everyone should learn a lesson from the past. I further recall when I first came to China as an English teacher and all the new teachers were called to a meeting and advised that there are certain aspects of China's history that children are not taught in school - certain wars that they are not aware that China was involved in - certain events of world-wide infamy that the very mention of which is strictly prohibited. We were advised that should any student ever bring up any such topic, we must not under any circumstances allow it to be discussed in class. I know Japanese people who had never been taught about what their country did in WWII, and who have come to learn of it when they moved overseas for study or work. I know of Chinese people who have had certain facts kept from them until they, too searched for hidden truths. I also know British people, who to this very day remain ignorant of the atrocities committed in the name of the Empire. Yes, history is very important. So, too, is how we choose to deal with it. |
| Dec 6, 2007 15:16 | #5 |
| Leonardo, You are correct. We must never forget those who have sacrificed their life’s. The starting date of Japanese aggression is not that well know in the West. Many assume that it started with the bombing of Perl harbour. My understanding is that all of the facts are not studied in Japanese schools. They still live in denial. This is in direct contrast to German schools where the facts on the concentration camps etc are studied. Shesgottobe, Leonardo’s post was not IMO posted to cause grieve or embarrassment but the facts on the Rape of Nanjing have been hidden for too long. As an example, two Japanese officers held a competition to see who could behead the most people before that arrived at the City. The story of this competition was run on a weekly basis in the Japanese news papers along with explicit pictures. Many of the 300,000 (this is a low estimate) where slaughtered by hand because they did not want to waste ammunition on people that they thought of as sub human. But as Tomspecer has written, we are all guilt of filtering and abridging our history. Some more than others. Dodger. |
| Dec 6, 2007 20:25 | #6 |
| Japan have never reflected on its past seriously. Japan should from Germany in dealing with history. Germany Prime Minister in 1960s kneeled down in front of the Cemetery of Martyrs in Poland. Japanese leaders frequently visited the shrine to worship the militarist. We can the difference. |
| Dec 8, 2007 17:43 | #7 |
| Oh, I apologize if there's a misunderstanding. I never said we should forget about the lessons. I just presented my feelings that I have already forgiven Japan. I didn't do it for them. I did it for myself. I said this because I am on both ends of the spectrum. Some of my past family members were killed by the Japanese. I won't elaborate how. But there was a time when the hatred almost ate me from inside out and it wasn't healthy. On the other hand, I also have Japanese friends who are some of the nicest people I know. They want to go to China but couldn't because they are afraid of the hatred that they are getting. It is very agonizing for them knowing that many people hate them but can't do anything about it. It's not like they have control over what happened in the past. I may not be a world leader who has the power to stop the hatred on both sides but I can do my part to contribute in the healing. |
| Dec 8, 2007 18:58 | #8 |
| Shesgottobe, I have no problem with you wanting to forgive the Japanese. Their acts in the Philippines are well documented. It is their Governments inability to admit publicly to the atrocities that they performed in the past that I have a problem with. They will not even admit that they forced woman to become Prostitutes for their Army. They where called “comfort Woman” They claim that the woman volunteered. They teach their children about the dropping of the bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima but fail to tell them the reason why. And as Frank has pointed out, Members of their government still go to worship at the shrine of what is in fact a bunch of War criminals. My post was not meant to infer any hatred on my part for the Japanese people. But I think any extreme form of nationalism is dangerous including all the flag waving at the Olympics. That is why the war started in the first place. Your Japanese friend “can do some about it” They have a vote. If enough of them think the way you say they do they have the power to find a government that reflects their views. So we all hold our collective breath and wait to hear the word, Sorry. Dodger. |
| Dec 8, 2007 20:30 | #9 |
| My Japanese friends are fully aware of what happened in the past. Many of them organize trips and meet people from the “places of the past.” It’s like a mission for them. Can you imagine being a present-day Japanese going to those places and face angry people shouting how much they hate you as soon as they learn you are Japanese and all you can do is keep quiet and try hard not to cry in front of an angry crowd? There is no way the past can be hidden from them because it is all over the internet. They were able to read everything and many of them are consciously devoting a lot of time in researching this. I always try to differentiate the government from the people. I don’t see the government as the same as the people, not for any country. Many people do not agree with what their governments are doing. America is one example. Well, maybe we can do our part to stop the waving of national flags during the Olympics? How can we do that? It is natural that people will have pride. They are representing their countries, aren’t they? There is even a race on which country will get the most medals. Even the winner host country’s national anthem is played. Just hosting the Olympics alone is enough cause for people to be nationalistic. The Olympics is coming. It is the perfect time to do it. The theme is One World, One Dream, maybe One Flag, One Heart should be added. LOL! ^_^ Don’t you wish it is not just a rhetoric but the real thing? Many people say Olympics is about sports. No, it is not. If it is just about sports, then why is it that athletes have to represent their countries? Why can't anyone just represent himself instead? Maybe one country should start it and others will follow. Who it’s gonna be? And who will spread the word? It’s got to start somewhere no matter how small. This is the same way with them. Maybe there are not enough of them as of now but at least it has started. They are fully aware that forgiveness can’t be imposed. It has to be given freely. As I said it is a personal thing for me. It is my way of healing. Others are entitled to their own feelings. I will never deny them that. I respect how others feel on this. |
| Dec 11, 2007 03:57 | #10 |
| The Nanjing Massacre was commited by the notorious Japanese war criminals. More tragically, countless Chinese women was forced to become " Comfort Women". A very tragic episode in Chinese history! |
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