*** From My Diary ***
*Concerning the Reports about North Korea in Japan (1003-04)
Since last week, I have avoided watching TV news, because too many times I must see the picture of the victims of kidnapping by North Korea and the interviews of their families. Concrete scene of victims is so impressive for usual people that they lose the room to consider the background of this matter. I think of the scene of the collision of airplane against twin tower building on September 11.
Individual beings have the superior impact to abstract ideas. Concrete
scene of individual victims may cover or remove the truth that cannot be
found without reasonable thought. Individual scene of ill-treatment may
cause more cruel result. In democratic countries this danger is very significant,
because temporal reaction of usual people can mislead their own country.
Already, the cruel scene of September 11 put U.S. policy on the wrong course.
Though U.S. people begin to consider the fact calmly now, it is difficult
to change the course once decided.
*Possible Fearful Extend of Terrorism (1014-22)
In Indonesia, serious bomb terror occurred. It is reported that Al Qaeda relates to this terror attack, but it seems that is only a supporter of terrorists. This is what I feared. Some people think that the problem of terrorism will be over, if Al Qaeda is crashed. But it is not correct, because this organization is not hard one like nations or multinational corporations. Even if Usama is killed and the actual form of this organization vanished, the name of Al Qaeda can cause terror attack. This terror in Indonesia may predict infinite terrorism by despairing individuals.
Now American people are afraid of indiscriminate murder by rifle. Without herald some Americans are killed. We do not know why the culprit shoot innocent people, but it is sure that he does not have normal sense to other people and may despair of his social life. Even if he is rare, it is not difficult in civilized society to find the people who despaired his life and are isolated from usual people. It is pointed out that this kind of people tends to be attracted by cults and some of them relates to terrorism group.
According to the news reports, American people fear the indiscriminate murder more than terror attack. However, both affairs have same background that is typical in civilized society. Also, American ideology aggravates them as well.
From the standpoint of Japanese people, it is not understandable why many American people resist the gun regulation so much. Even if they object it for the right of their own self-guard, how they can defend themselves from the criminal who dares to shoot you from distance? However, American people will not abandon their right to have guns so easily, because this problem relates to their ideology of justice. Even if the number of victims increases ten times more, they cannot stand only one case that innocent person yield to criminal because he did not have a gun. To retaliate for justice is the fundamental right for people, even if it invites “bellum omnium contra omnes”. This is American ideology. The main problem about this ideology is not ideology itself, rather they are not aware of it enough and behave to others according to this principle.
Human beings tend to ignore what is inconvenient for them. To be aware of their own principle of behavior is to know the responsibility of behavior caused by the principle. Once they admit this covered principle for their behavior, they cannot but accept the result caused by their behavior. If they become victims, they cannot complain the result.
On the other hand, it will be difficult for American people to impose their principle to other people, because their principle depends only on the agreement among American people. As long as they respect the ideal of freedom also for other people, they should not interrupt others judgment whether to accept their principle or not.
The reason why American people can impose their rule to others so easily is they think their rule, the principle of behavior, as self-evident and having unconditional universality. However, it is false. If you consider American mind against gun regulation, you will find how they are unique people in the world.
Each people can have their own principle for their behavior. However, not all of these principles contain universality that can be accepted by others unconditionally. We should recognize that some rules in human society are not common. If you adapt some principle for their behavior, you should consider whether it is universal for others or not.
Now American people confront both dangers caused by the result and responsibility.
However, they are not aware of the possibility that both dangers may merge
and stimulate each other. If the danger is limited in U.S., we will not
be so anxious about the terrorism. But, it can extend whole of the world
with chain reaction. The future of “bellum omnium contra omnes” may be
the fact not only for America but also for other countries.