2001 October

  -- Preface --

Since the terror attack Sep. 11, many people in Japan feel apprehensive U.S. reaction against Islamic World. Already U.S. army has attacked Taliban, but it has the possibility to involve the people all over the world into the chain of revenge. Even though many kinds of people live in U.S., it remains a SHIMAGUNI (island country) because of its superiority to other countries.

I picked up some articles that represent American standpoints of view. They insist American justice unconditionally, but do not have the standpoint to reflect their own view. I will criticize these views using the style of refutation.

The articles that I refer are following.

   "Waging peace with muscle 9/26/01" BUFFALO NEWS
     http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20010926/1044964.asp

   "Americans, don't blame yourselves for Sept. 11" by Catherine Labio
     THE MONITOR'S VIEW OPINION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
     http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1010/p9s1-coop.html#top

   "America: The Good Neighbor."
     http://member.nifty.ne.jp/lifestudies/tero02.htm
 (It is an E-mail message that I received from America. Originally, it is arranged message that was published in 1973. You can find original one in following URL.
http://www.rcc.ryerson.ca/ccf/news/unique/am_text.html)

   "Not All U.S. Decisions Are Right, But They're Not at Hatred's Root" by James Klurfeld News days com, Oct 11, 2001
   http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpklu112408047oct11.column?coll=ny%2Dviewpoints%2Dheadlines

Mr. Masahiro Morioka, who is a professor of Osaka Prefecture University, introduced the above articles. Some URLs of their original text has been deleted, but you can read Japanese translation in following page.

   http://member.nifty.ne.jp/lifestudies/tero.htm
 
 

  -- The three basic False Premises to argue the Problem --
 

The views to justify American standpoints have three basic false premises to argue the problem of terrorism. It extends not only to arguing the U.S. responsibility for this matter, but also to considering the general U.S. diplomatic attitude.

(1) U.S. responsibility for this matter should be avoided by brutality of terrorism.

(2) U.S. government has contributed to other world by material assistance. The reason of hatred is irreverent to U.S. diplomatic policy.

(3) The most important to cause this terror should be found in the fault of developing countries. The shortage of democracy incurs their own misfortune.

I refute the above views separately.
 
 

   1. Misunderstanding of Causality
 

The first mistake depends on the misunderstanding of causality. It can be found in   "Americans, don't blame yourselves for Sept. 11" by Catherine Labio.
 

Nowhere has this fallacy been more in evidence than in the sometimes sanctimonious and embarrassingly automatic alacrity with which some academics and intellectuals have invited Americans to take responsibility for the attacks. Their almost relentless insistence on contextualization and their unwillingness to focus equally on the need to separate context from cause, let alone responsibility, have added up to blaming the United States for the terrorist attacks. It is, of course, important to try to understand why others might resent America's unprecedented economic, political, and cultural dominance. It is something else altogether, however, to go on to represent American power as the primary cause of the events of Sept. 11.

Indeed, how did it come to pass that an attack on US soil by a foreign enemy that has tried to harm it before, and will undoubtedly try again, should have been greeted with a rush to engage in collective self-flagellation, instead of reflecting on the need for self-defense and the strengths of a culture where critical inquiry is not only possible, but valued?
 

It is correct that U.S. diplomatic failure is "the primary cause of the events of Sept. 11". However, if American people think it is meaningless to consider U.S. diplomatic failure, it is not correct. The author seems to regard that to consider diplomatic failure is to 'rush to engage in collective self-flagellation' and do not have value so much. But it is evident mistake, because it is now necessary to decide what U.S. do against terrorism. To begin with, to critic themselves does not mean 'to engage in collective self-flagellation'.

The author regards the idea of U.S. responsibility as that of responsibility in the case of traffic accidents. In the latter, one responsibility reduces another's. If so, the degree of U.S. responsibility will decrease the responsibility of terrorists. But it is not correct in the case of terrorism.

The responsibility of U.S. should be compared with that of victims of theft. If someone lost something by his/her carelessness, he/she will be said to have had responsible to be more careful. But, this fact does not reduce the responsibility of the stealer.

It will be very danger, if U.S. decides its diplomatic policy without reflecting what it has done in other countries.
 
 

  2. The Ignorance that U.S. has interfered other Countries
 

Many American think U.S. has contributed to the world with its great power and wealth, and do not have idea why it is so hated as to be suicide attacked. This feeling can be found in "America: The Good Neighbor".
 

Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help.

This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.

The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.

I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
 

Also, the author of "Waging peace with muscle 9/26/01" pointed out the U.S. assistance to Afghanistan.
 

America also is vilified for sanctions against Iraq but unrecognized for its assistance to many nations, including $99 million in food aid for Afghanistan.
 

It is true U.S government and American people have endeavored to aid other countries. In the case of U.S. government, however, it has been based on its diplomatic benefit. The author illustrates National assistance by U.S. including Japan. But, he should have considered its purpose. Without threat of U.S.S.R., U.S. government would not assist these countries so much.

On the other hand, U.S. government has interfered other small countries on the same purpose. Against the power of socialism, U.S. (CIA) overthrew some governments such as Chile's, and realized battlefield in Vietnam. It is well known that it assisted despotism and some of them have become U.S. enemy now like Iraqi and Al Qaeda. I do not know how much tax of American people has been spent. But, it is sure that to extend considerable sum of money.

Moreover, the author of "America: The Good Neighbor" notices only great material wealth and power.
 

Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios.

You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles.

You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times-and safely home again.

You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at.
 

America is great in this aspect. But, "MAN CANNOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE". It does not help, like "EVERY WORD THAT GOD SPEAKS", the people who are suffering from social problems. Why American great technology cannot remove poverty and starvation from our earth? It is because we do not share the wisdom to live peacefully.

Can America give this wisdom to outer people like material things? Some Americans will say "Yes", because of their ideal of freedom and democracy. But it is not so easy, as I will refer next. Even so, at least it is evident that American interference has not contributed to share the wisdom.
 
 

   3. Nobody can install American Ideal to other Countries like Computer Software
 

The most frequent used excuse for justification of U.S. interferes is the ideal of democracy. American people tend to admit U.S. over interferes such as military action, if its object is to constitute democratic countries. On the other hand, they sometimes despise other countries for the lack of democracy. James Klurfeld's "Not All U.S. Decisions Are Right, But They're Not at Hatred's Root" shows this tendency very clearly.
 

That so many nations in that part of the world are corrupt, poverty-stricken and autocratic is, at base, a sad result of their own internal failings, not something the outside powers, the West or the United States, have done to them. Indeed, the breakup of the Ottoman Empire is a more important factor there than Western colonialism, which some cite as a root cause of the problem.

And, as scholars of the Islamic world such as Fouad Ajami have pointed out, it has been "America's fate to be caught in the crossfire of a war over Islam itself, a war between privilege and wrath, between secular powers in the saddle and nativist-pious opposition from below."

As even a casual check of the facts would reveal, not a single democracy has emerged in the Mideast, with the exception of Israel. If anything, states there are less free and less prosperous than they were 20 or 30 years ago. And this is true despite large aid programs from the United States to countries such as Egypt or a great transfer of wealth to countries such as Saudi Arabia because of its oil reserves.
 
 

The author decides the reason of  'a sad result' is 'their own internal failings', and the hatred against U.S. comes from the confusion in this area.

I will not deny that the confused situation in these countries causes their own misery. But, it is necessary to consider whether U.S. diplomacy has made worse it or not.

This area is very tightly interfered by U.S., because the Israel located there and, above all, many petropowers exist. But, it hindered the growth of voluntary democracy. Most American will welcome democracy all over the world, but its beginning does not always seems so for them. It may appear with movements of socialism, and in other times, with Islam revival. Democracy may have various kind of style and the process to realize it is more diverse. However, it seems hard for American people to recognize this.

U.S. has had only two desires to other countries. One is to utilize them for U.S. own benefit, and another is to force democracy. The overthrow of government against anti-democratic power is satisfied with both desires, but it is rare to materialize the ideal of democracy.

Ironically, this U.S. behavior very resembles that of Socialistic governments to their nations. U.S. ideals declare freedom and democracy, but U.S. has denied the freedom of other countries and voluntary will to make democratic country. Each country has right to choose socialistic system in the process to democracy.

From historical point of view, socialism is a kind of step to enter modern-civilized world. It fostered the idea of nation and provided modern educational system, which is necessary for modern nations. Democracy was not built in a day. It cannot realize without people's voluntary effort according with their own history.

Unfortunately, U.S. diplomacy has ignored people's will in other countries and perused friendly relationship only with each government. Sometimes it causes serious contradiction between government and people, and its typical example is Iran Revolution.

The author of "Not All U.S. Decisions Are Right, But They're Not at Hatred's Root" also misses this U.S. diplomatic failure.
 

Was Washington wrong to sometimes align itself with nations that are corrupt and autocratic when U.S. leaders determined it was in its interest to do so? Guess what? All nations act to protect their self-interest. That has been true for centuries, and it will continue to be true for the foreseeable future.

When Egyptian President Anwar Sadat kicked the Soviet Union out of his country, he asked the United States to replace it. Should the United States have stayed out of the Mideast? Should it not have supported Saudi Arabia and its ruling family? What was the alternative and the consequences of the alternative? Would the U.S. interest have been better served not supporting the opposition to the Soviets in Afghanistan?

Right now, should we not be working with the government of Pakistan, a military dictatorship, to fight Osama bin Laden? Or joining forces with the Northern Alliance, a rebel group that opposes the Taliban but is not fully representative of the ethnic breakdown in Afghanistan?

The world is a messy place. Not all decisions are all right or all wrong. The trick is to do what, on balance, seems to be in your interest.
 

He insists, 'The trick is to do what, on balance, seems to be in your interest'. However, he proposes only two options for U.S. diplomacy: to align or not. To make balance, how to align is most important point. Even if alignment is necessary, it should be limited not to incur usual people's antipathy. From this point, U.S. diplomacy has adhered to temporal situation completely and ignored people's voluntary will.

Perhaps, this author thinks the collapse of socialistic alliance is due to U.S. effort. However, it is not correct, even though it contributed to defend western countries from outer invasion. The real factor to lead the collapse is the people's voluntary will to seek freedom. With the progress of civilization, socialistic system did not keep up with the development of economy, and the desire of people to be free became large. That to say, it was defeated in competition with Free World. U.S. efforts do not pay, considering anti-American sentiment that has extended all over the world.
 
 

  -- For Conclusion --
 

At the end, I refer a little to a tendency of American thought. Many Japanese always think American people should consider the background to cause the tragedy on Sep. 11. But, some American people do not have the sense of background, which is necessary to inquire something from total point of view.

In "Not All U.S. Decisions Are Right, But They're Not at Hatred's Root", I found following sentences.
 

The critics of the United States say that we should understand how others, including those in the Near East, view us. Many there do see us as big, powerful and arrogant. And it's important to appreciate that perspective. But it's more important to understand the facts - to see the entire picture. And that picture is clear: The United States did not create the conditions that inexorably lead to the evil done by bin Laden and his ilk.
 

The author insists, 'it's more important to understand the facts - to see the entire picture.' But, entire picture cannot be obtained without synthetic understanding including outer world. It is dangerous to express something only by one factor, when we consider complex issues such as diplomatic problems. The author should have considered the reason why democracy has not realized in developing countries as developed.

If it is allowed to use the word 'arrogance', some Americans are arrogant, because they reduce the facts to partial causal relations, ignoring total principles that make clear the complex but systematic situation.

* The Deterioration of Social Immunity [011001]

 Troubles always occur with dropping of social immunity. There are many factors behind the terror in U.S., such as the opposition concerning religions and races. However, the most important factor to deteriorate social immunity in our world is the difference among rich and poor countries and American innocent indifference to outer people. Many American think the problem of poverty can be solved only by economic support and the development of human technology. But, these efforts will not be effective, before we solve social disorder and stable their own peace in the areas in question. The over rapid expansion of American civilization and interventions to other countries have damaged fundamental cultural infrastructure in developing countries.
 

* The Irony of American Democracy [011003-05]

 America is the freedom country. That is not common sense not only for American but also for other people. But, people out of U.S. do not believe America have allowed freedom to others.

 One of the reasons why Japanese people long for America is this country guarantees the freedom to fail. Surely, it means America has more chance to recover from failure than Japan. But, it also means American society guarantee the right to fail according to one's responsibility. That may sound strange for American people, but it reflects a characteristic of Japanese society. In Japan, it is considerably hard to challenge something difficult, because the around people disturb to do it. Many Japanese think it is their duty to prevent someone to fail. So, many children have been urged to study by their parents with excuse 'it is for children', and sometimes forced to marry against his/her will. For Japanese, the idea of freedom is a little horrible but, therefore, they long for American freedom.

To other countries, however, U.S. government has never allowed to fail. According to American standard, to be socialistic country means to fail. U.S. government had paid maximum cost for other countries not to fail. But, is it correct? Instead of socialism, military despotic governments supported by U.S have ruled many developing countries. If they failed according to their own will, the restoration will be easier. But, many countries fell into disorder due to American interference, and until now it handed down serious trouble like Afghanistan. Many people, especially in developing countries, think they are �gutilized�h by America. U.S. sometimes helped us, but it is only for American profit.

 On the other hand, both American people and government have so much allergy against socialism that they have believe it is justice to foster anti socialistic power, ignoring whether it is benefit for native people or not. As the result, they fostered Monsters against freedom like Taliban.

 The idea of American freedom had two decisive ironies. One is it does not allowed to fail to other people, and another is it has made monsters against freedom in order to guard their freedom. Moreover, American people may face one more irony. That is they must give up their own freedom to protect 'The Freedom Country'.
 

* After Reading the Articles that represent Narrow Americanism [011009-16]

 Now I am reading the articles that support American standpoint. Frankly speaking, I think American people who defense themselves lose their reason. Firstly, because they cannot refer why they have right to harm outsiders who live in Afghanistan. According to their mutual principle, it is necessary that they must prepare to be victims before the people in Afghanistan are killed by U.S. military action. It is usual scene in movies that a pursued criminal fires machine gun in a crowd. To attack Al Qaeda is like to allow firing machine gun in American downtown. If American people declare to bear the brunt of terror attack, they will have the right to support military action. At least, however, Japanese people do not want to be the victims of terrorism involved in the confliction.

Also, the people who support American standpoint do not notice the necessity to reflect U.S. diplomatic policy. It is true that its fault cannot justify the terrorism. But, therefore, it is necessary to prevent next terror attacks. The key to success for repressing terrorism depends on the support of outer people, especially Islamic people. Nevertheless, they ignore it. If they abandon their military action in exchange for international court including Islamic sides, the name of Allah will not be able to be used for terrorists. They are willing to give up good chance to eradicate terrorists.

Some American people will ask us: if your family member is killed by terrorism, can you stand the emotion of revenge? This answer is very clear: Yes I can stand, because I know accurately know what should be revenged. It is the emotion of revenge itself!! I know well how the emotion of revenge is strong, because I had bullied every day when I was a junior high school student. I once course the existence of human beings and hope the extinction of ourselves. Therefore, I can assert that American people's emotion of revenge against terrorists is less than Palestinian's emotion against Israel. If someone asks me the question, I will ask again to him, do you have the preparedness to stand the fear of terrorism after now? I guess most of American cannot answer "Yes". They should ask to themselves, which is better to stand the temporal emotion of revenge or the fear of long terrorisms. Only the cool reason can propose this question to American people. Any way, they should not support U.S. military action without answering this question.

 Observing American's reaction against the terrorism, I fell the loss of their confidence as well as strong opinions to support retaliation. They seems they had confidence that their diplomatic politic had been endorsed by the idea of justice, which should be based on the ideal of freedom and democracy. President Bush calls these ideals repeatedly. However, are they so stable and so universal to justify all U.S. diplomacy? American people talk these ideals, as if we cannot live happily without them. If so, however, most of people who live before modern age could not have the opportunities to be happy.

 I remember a famous picture by Goya, in which Napoleon soldiers were shooting Spanish people who supported imperial rule. If American view is right, how this scene can be expressed. Were Spanish people so foolish as to be killed? The people who do not believe in the ideal of freedom and democracy are silly people to die? If so, American ideal is very similar with the ideal of socialists, who killed many people because they did not accept the ideal of socialism.

 We do not live for ideals, but ideals exist for ourselves. And, if our ideals harm human beings, we should change the ideals or the way of their application.

Behind over confidence of their ideals, there is their emotion to expand their idea of justice all over the world. American people desire the universal idea to guarantee their justice, because they cannot find the stable social ideology in their own society. So they endeavor to confirm their idea of justice by forcing it to others.

Moreover, they cannot live without justification for their profit seeking. For American people, their social success measured by money is unique common standard to be happy.

 When I stayed in Texas, I watched TV commercial firm of Street Journal. In this firm, two men who are same old were compared. One became rich reading Street Journal from childhood, another did not so reading fishing magazines. I think one of the reasons this kind of commercial firm was accepted is American people do not deny a happiness of the latter. But, it is also the reason that they regard generally to be rich is to be happy. If they have the chance to advise to others life, they must recommend being rich.

 Any way, it is true that they have been able to ignore others disasters caused by U.S. diplomacy. However seriously American interference damaged other people, it can be justified in the name of 'freedom and democracy'. Even if evil despotic rulers governed some countries, they are justified in the name of 'Anti-Communism', and now, of 'Anti- Islamic Fundamentalists'.

 Regarding cold war, western countries won against eastern according to the rule of competition. U.S. administration feared the expansion of communism and treated various kinds of measures against it. However, it did not contribute to the victory of western so much, because it was inevitable in the history. Rather, over interference to other countries leave decisive scars all over the world with anti-American sentiment. It recurs in Islamic countries.

 Each country has each history and each possible way for civilization, which American people admire with their ideal of 'freedom' and 'democracy'. The realization of ideal must obey each natural spontaneous system. However, U.S. government will not be able to accept this fact, because American system that pursue profits blindly demands others to submit its own rule, in which U.S. keep its priority. U.S. government and multinational corporations invade others unconsciously under the ideal of 'freedom' and 'democracy'.

P.S.  Because of the terror Sep 11 in U.S., I know that American people accept outer world as if it exists over their TV screen. I recognize U.S. is a SHIMAGUNI again.
 

* A New Axis of Confliction [011025-27]

 After AREC agreement, a new axis of confliction appears. That is the confliction between governments and usual people. Even in democratic countries, politicians apt to seek their appearance of nation before the substantial national welfare. Moreover, China and Russia whose democracy is incomplete have priority it over their national benefit. Their alliance may ignore other important problems such as The Kyoto Protocol.

 U.S. diplomatic failure originates from its ignorance of the mind of usual people. Without their support, no state can endure so long. New alliance among nations may extend this failure all over the world. Already Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi fell into dangerous alliance ignoring domestic economic problems. It is very sorry that many people who rule their state worship the idle 'NATION'.

 Considering Afghan's people, I fell how individual power is impotent to them. Their living is depended on ruling groups such as governments, military or economic organizations. Even democratic society is not exception.
 

[On Oct.  1]

Hallow! How are you doing? Iwata desu.

 Last Sunday I found very considerable difference of standpoints between Japanese and other western medias, when they report the internal condition in Afghanistan.

 TBS (Tokyo Broadcast Station) introduced the Afghanistan report made by French journalists. It tells us how Afghan people are oppressed by Taliban and showed the hidden cries of discontent and the scene of open execution. On the same day, CNN also showed us the scene of open execution. TBS, however, introduced the interview of a doctor who had worked in Afghanistan for some years. He pointed out executions were more usual rather in former ruler and Taliban used them more effectively
by publication. Not only he, but also Japanese who stayed Afghanistan report, first of all, how Afghan people fall into critical situation. I suppose that the ideal of freedom or democracy is covered with urgent starvation and poverty.

Among them, what is particularly impressive was the report by Ms. Tetsuko Kuroyanagi who represents UNICEF in Japan. Speaking plainly, her report tells us we cannot find any hope in this area. It is usual that there is some hope after the end of war or starvation etc. in spite of huge devastation. However, the Afghan crisis has continued too long after inversion by U.S.S.R. One after another, they have faced disasters for more than twenty years and seem to forget the sense of happiness. Many Afghan children want to have the opportunities to study and say to Ms. Kuroyanagi they want to be teachers. However, the only way to realize their hope is to enter Taliban's school and even it seems impossible for them.

For western civilized people, the ideal of freedom and democracy is self-evident, but its realization demands many conditions. Primary, we cannot share this ideal without enough education and, for this purpose, peace and some material abundance is necessary. However, nothing is remained for the children except ruin. We should notice following fact: We live in the world to observe them through TV screens and can turn off our eyes to others. But they cannot escape from the reality shown in the screen.

The terrorism seems for me to illustrate the hell in our real world.
 

[On Oct. 18]

 How are you doing? Iwata desu  (This is Iwata). The news of bio-terror is also reported in Japan frequently. Even if it was expected, I hope it will not spread any more.

 Now I am a little tired to read English articles that support American standpoints of views, because the information gap between U.S. and others is so large to be called the gap of group consciousness. I do not think American people are so arrogant as Islamic people point out, but find 'innocent ignorance' in their views.

 Some articles emphasis on how much money of American has spent for helping others. But, the authors do not know how much tax of American people has been spent to keep U.S. superiority or its convenience. Who aided Iraqi military, and who foster Taliban as excellent soldiers? These are just the tip of the iceberg. Latin American people will not forget how their government were interfered and utilized by U.S. administration. Vietnams became battlefield and many war recurred in many areas of Asian and African countries.

 Other author of article to support America pointed out U.S. power and richness is so great as to be attacked. But, it is not correct, too. Although U.S. is envied due to its great power and abundance, it cannot be the reason of suicide attacks. Simple gap between richness and poverty cause the admiration as well as jealousy. Then, if there is only gap of abundance, it attracts poor people to U.S. civilization.

 The true reason U.S. to be hated is it forced American social rule to others so rapidly that confused traditional their life stile and native economic system so much. American social system may be a best system, but to force it causes sometimes unfairness. Alexis DeTocqueville already pointed out this problem more than a hundred years ago in his consideration to Native American Indian.
 

Such is the language of the Indians: what they say is true; what they foresee seems inevitable. From whichever side we consider the destinies of the aborigines of North America, their calamities appear irremediable: if they continue barbarous, they are forced to retire; if they attempt to civilize themselves, the contact of a more civilized
community subjects them to oppression and destitution. They perish if they continue to wander from waste to waste, and if they attempt to settle they still must perish. The assistance of Europeans is necessary to instruct them, but the approach of Europeans corrupts and repels them into savage life. They refuse to change their habits as long as their solitudes are their own, and it is too late to change them when at last they are forced to submit.

The Spaniards pursued the Indians with bloodhounds, like wild beasts; they sacked the New World like a city taken by storm, with no discernment or compassion; but destruction must cease at last and frenzy has a limit: the remnant of the Indian population which had escaped the massacre mixed with its conquerors and adopted in the end their religion and their manners.28 The conduct of the Americans of the United States towards the aborigines is characterized, on the other hand, by a singular attachment to the formalities of law. Provided that the Indians retain their barbarous condition, the Americans take no part in their affairs; they treat them as independent nations and do not possess themselves of their hunting-grounds without a treaty of purchase; and if an Indian nation happens to be so encroached upon as to be unable to subsist upon their territory, they kindly take them by the hand and transport them to a grave far from the land of their fathers.

The Spaniards were unable to exterminate the Indian race by those unparalleled atrocities which brand them with indelible shame, nor did they succeed even in wholly depriving it of its rights; but the Americans of the United States have accomplished this twofold purpose with singular felicity, tranquilly, legally, philanthropically, without
shedding blood, and without violating a single great principle of morality in the eyes of the world.29 It is impossible to destroy men with more respect for the laws of humanity.

('Democracy in America 'Volume I 'The Present and Probably Future Condition of the Three Races that Inhabit the Territory of The United States, THE PRESENT AND PROBABLE FUTURE CONDITION OF THE INDIAN TRIBES THAT INHABIT THE TERRITORY POSSESSED BY THE UNION.')
 

 The ideal of free economic activity does not always bring welfare to people. I felt so, when Japanese prime ministry visited Southeast Asian countries in 1973(?). In those days, I was a junior school student and watched the scene that many Asian people protest the Japanese Prime Minister visiting, but all their clothes, electrical commodities and automobiles were made in Japan. Japan was regarded as a invader to their economic and social system. I feel a contradiction between economic
expansion and native human life.

 I guess there are many chances to notice such problems for American people, too. But I think many people ignore them under the name of 'freedom' or 'democracy'. However, these ideal cannot be materialized by outer force. Even in Japan, we struggle to construct true democratic society after the democratization by U.S. Subjective and sustainable efforts according to individual traditional social peculiarity is essential for realization of 'freedom' and 'democracy'.

 Compulsion of these ideals often causes tragedy. Do you know Goya's famous picture 'El 3 de Mayo de 1808 en Madrid'? It illustrates the massacre by Napoleon army, which advocates 'democracy'.

      http://www.mcu.es/prado/villanueva/16.html

We should recognize that ancient people were not always unfortunate without the ideal of 'freedom' or 'democracy'.

 Old Chinese philosopher told us following story. Once KONTON (which means 'chaos') treated his friends kindly in his home. His friends appreciate him and consider returning his favor. KONTON did not have eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Then, they decided to bore his body to give these. But, after boring he died.

 American people may think that people in developing countries are ingrates, or feel they bite the hand that feeds one. But we should not ignore U.S. diplomatic policy has utilized them for its purpose, even not for American people.

 I doubt whether American medias tells us truths about this problem. Even if tells truth, it is difficult to select and assess important information in their telling. We cannot obtain valuable information by passive attitude. Only by watching TV, it is hard to find truths that are unwilling to us. Yesterday, I know the danger of cluster bomb by
BBS. It scatters mines on the grounds and its evil remains even after the war end (please, click following URL).
 

       http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/cluster_bomb/

       http://www.accuracy.org/press_releases/PR051799.htm

 We may miss the information that tells tragedy over our TV screen, if do not have enough will to focus on the truth.

 At the end, I introduce you a Japanese group that work for global piece campaign.

       http://www.peace2001.org/index.html
 
 

[On Oct. 25]
 

How are you doing? Iwata desu (this is Iwata).

It is very sorry that the number of victims by anthrax in U.S. is increasing and more innocent people have been killed by bomb in Afghanistan. I cannot but hope that many people remind of the original spirit of religion to desire peace.

A Japanese who I know through Mr. Morioka's site (life studies) made very interesting page to introduce the advertisements carried on New York Times about the terrorism on 11 Sep. This page is written in Japanese but some parts that quotes original text is in English. I introduce you this page in order to show some Japanese people grapple with this problem eagerly.

   http://members.tripod.co.jp/saihikarunogo/nytad.html

In the advertisements shown here, the advertisement by Conference of presidents of major American Jewish organizations attracts me, because it cited the words of Old testament. It quoted the words of Deuteronomy (31:7-8) to encourage American people. I understand its aim, but it struck me as incongruous. I introduce correspond article in Bible.
 

7  And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 8 And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
 

This cited article says 'for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them'. But it seems me to justify attacking not only Al Qaeda but also the people who are antipathetic toward U.S. and Israel, even not supporting terrorism.

  This is the place to describe how Jewish people went through many hardships after Exodus. They struggle not only with foreigner enemies but also with starvation. And so, it is the place for the weak people who oppressed by storng enemies. In Exodus1 6:3 describes the hardship of Israel with the complaint of children.
 

3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, [and] when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
 

 Considering this, that phrase of Deuteronomy (31:7-8) seems to be the words for Palestine or Afghans who are suffering from starvation and battle.

 There is following phrase in Proverbs:

17 Better [is] a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. (Proverb 15:17)

It is true that the terror attack caused miserable tragedy, but America is the greatest country yet. Who can eat a stalled ox in peace, who eats a dinner of herbs in battle field? Nevertheless, U.S. government step forward the struggle of hatred by military campaign.
 

 Last summer, I was poor health and it was only way for my study to listen to Bible reading in English. And so, I listen to the Gospels and heard the scene of Jesus' crucifixion again and again. I am not a Christian, but felt the Jesus' sprit of silent resistance against evil. If it is allowed to use Islamic word, that is ultimate JIHAD.

 Someone may think non-violence against Al Qaeda and Taliban is cowardice. But, it is not true. Non-violence resistance demands us extreme courage and endurance. I want to ask those people who support military action in Afghanistan: Do you support it in order only to satisfy your own revenge emotion?

 Early Christian people suffered from persecution. I think it was bitter trial as well as old Jewish had experienced. But they have new weapon except violence. The author of Hebrews wrote as following (Hebrew 12:2-6):

2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

  I think the above is more suitable for American people than the former part of Deuteronomy, because American 'have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin', but be blessed people to be worth being 'chastened and scourged'.

 I think it is failure U.S. government took military action against Taliban, because U.S. lost the opportunity to alliance with Islamic people to exterminate terrorists. We must endure this undesirable situation for a while. It is not only for Americans and the people who are antipathetic toward U.S., but for people all over the world.

 I hope we keep the Jesus' spirit of silent resistance together.