2003  January

*The Need of Competitive System in Democracy  [030102-06]

 Though many people expected for peaceful world in 21 century after the end of Cold War, now the world suffering from disputes. They come from the greed of limited people and ignorance of many people. According to TBS TV program in Japan, many young American people do not know not only where Tariban was located, but also where is their own country. Also in Japan, many people accept usual news as if it is unrelated to them, though it may influence their usual lives immediately. Recently, I think that the democratic system should adapt the self-responsible system and principle of competition. The society, in which ignorant and arrogant people responsible for their own behavior, will demands us to construct better system for ourselves.

To introduce competitive principle into democracy, it is necessary to guarantee the independency of local governments and establish the principle of publication. We need to examine each result of politic that is managed by representatives, considering who elected them. Each people is estimated by other peoples. Under such system, the people who elected excellent statesmen who propose good model of governing will be respected. On the other hand, the people who elected politicians who utilized politic for their own purpose will be despised. Primary, it is important for politic to establish the principle of local autonomy.

In the level of national politic, concrete policies should be key point. Political parties should be institutions to propose and realize their policies. It is difficult in modern times that a party is composed by people who share same thought. Modern politic is too complex and contains various kinds of branches such as economic, diplomatic and social welfare etc. Therefore, in national assembly, it is impossible that each party forces each member Yes/No according to party lines. What a party decides is fundamental tendency, and even if there are cases to force party line to members of assembly, it considers the possibility of abstention. The choice whether to force positively or negatively will extend the relation between party and its members. Each member should have his or her own specialty in assembly and responsibility for their policy. They must make clear their position with their supporters.

The most important weak point in Japanese politic is a lot of unaffiliated voters. They sometimes represent criticism against ruling party, but indirectly have supported it by abstention from voting. Consequently, they have admitted the political power depending on profiteers. Their behavior is the representation to escape from their political responsibility. They always pick up faults of opposition parties. However, they have ignored their responsibility to raise good parties against ruling. We tend to avoid doing something never experienced. During the age of Cold War, Japanese people feared the opposite parties that contain some color of socialism and were content with the ruling by L.D.P. As a result, stable relationship between L.D.P. and profiteers was established. Many people notice this fact, but look the other way finding fault with opposition parties.

All statesmen insist that they are the reprehensive of all nations. But it is not true. They are reprehensive of limited nations and their role is to realize the wish of their supporters. Therefore, it is necessary for statesmen to declare who is their supporter and what is the profit for the people who support them. If we can recognize well their purpose with their supporter, the voters also have responsibility to utilize their statesmen for their own purpose. And, the people who ignore politic will be blamed, if the representatives abuse their power for limited people, because they supported indirectly them by abandoning voting.
 

*Beyond the Idea of Possession [030118-20]

Is there any absolute possession in our life? The answer is NO, because we cannot rule absolutely anything even our body. Jesus said, “Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black”. Even if we get something by our own effort, it is not absolute possession for us, because we cannot do something without aid of God. Much more, our idea depends on preceding ideas before us.

This is the reason why I deny insisting copyright too much. There is no idea not depending on others ones. However, it is also true that there are people who regard something that they related for produce as their own possession. I will not deny the effort what they paid for something that they made. But, it does not mean that they have exclusive right to others. Intellectual wealth should be offered publicly, as long as it does not invade someone’s effort for making it. I do not agree on the idea intellectual ownership that U.S. government insists.

All discords come from the thought that something is his/her pure possession. However, modesty and peace of mind depends on the thought that everything is divine being beyond his/her possessing. I find the reason why Baien was so humble, although he had been ignored his great philosophy.
 

*The History of Israel, again [030129-31]

 Israeli people did the worst choice in their election. Though it is expected due to hard situation caused by Palestine terror attacks, it shows us how democracy is mistakable in the case to judge other people. However, it is a hope that there are people who voted on Labor Party, even a few.

When I heard this news of Israel, I cannot but think of following part in MATTHEW.

   The whole crowd answered, "Let the responsibility for his death fall on us and on our children". (MATTHEW27: 25)

The result of democracy is cruel. There remains no excuse to impose their responsibility for political failure to limited leaders. Above part will be the phrase of curse against Judea, not only for Christian but also for Muslims.

However, it is also the truth there were some people who rejected present administration and wanted the dialogue with Palestine. They are the salt of Israeli.

   Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. (MATTHEW7: 13)
 
 

Hallow! This is Iwata. How is your New Year?

Today, I introduce you the topic of Japanese sumo wrestler, Takanohana. Sumo is very popular sport in Japan, and Takanohana was located in the highest rank in sumo wrestling, Yokozuna. But, a few days ago, he declared his retirement, and many sumo fans are reluctant to it.

He was one of greatest sumo wrestler recently. Though he had not kept good physical condition and been absent for a while, once he came back and won championship. In this sumo tournament, he came back again after absence and challenged the championship, but harmed his leg and decided his retirement.

Many people admire his activity in this tournament, but it was too pitiful for me to watch his match, especially after his physical accident. Considering too long his absence, he should had retired more early. However, his pride could not allow it. He was most attractive sumo wrestler and the popularity of sumo depended on his existence pretty much. Then, I guess he could not retire, even if he wanted.

He has too much the sense of responsibility for sumo world. Both his grandfather and father was great sumo wrestler and he had had the burden of sumo lovers since a little boy. During the time of his absence, he had been blamed. He had been exposed the eyes of people in world, Seken.

Seken is very difficult Japanese word to translate, but it means the world composed of unidentified people. Takanohana had been great sumo wrestler under the pressure of Seken. However, the people who are sensitive to Seken are not only he, but most Japanese people are sensitive to the Seken’s eyes. It produce the extreme sense of responsibility, and sometimes brings absurd but tragic result.

Do you know ‘a forced double suicide’ in Japan? There are some parent who killed his/her children when he/she suicide in Japan. It is nothing but homicide, but from the standpoint of murders, it is a reaction of the extreme sense of responsibility to their children. They have too much consciousness to bring up their children, but it becomes the motive for homicide, when they cannot raise their children. They cannot stand to leave their children after their death, and delete the responsibility
to their children killing themselves with their children.

Actually, it is said this kind of forced suicide is rare out of Japan. Someone may say it is a result of the lack of faith to God. However, though this kind of forced suicide is not frequently in Japan, it is also true that more than 30 thousand people kill themselves every year in Japan and much more people are suffering from melancholia.

Why Takanohana could not retire more naturally? Many Japanese people admire him, but I know that many of them blamed him during his absence. Why they do not notice the fact that their attitude derived him difficulties. Seken is very irresponsible to what it does, but Seken is fearful for individuals like tyrant. To tell the truth, I could not but find the problem of Japanese society in this topic.