the ology of charm

Japan Orders Revisions to History Textbooks

The Straits Times, March 10 2006 (Pg 8)

There has been plenty of dispute over the controversial content over these textbooks. Although it is not clear as to the exact extent of these alterations, I am glad that at least they are facing up to the truth and doing something about this. The Chinese people who were violently against the textbooks will be thus appeased and this will not worsen Japan-China ties. They are already bad enough as it is, what with previous anti-Japanese protests in China over the approval of the controversial textbooks.

I think it is important that students today should learn the truth about their past, be they from Japan or anywhere else in the world. Even if it is a black mark on the history of the country, it will still be a lesson worth learning for future generations. Also as our world is run on a lot of information, it is vital that the information be accurate, whatever it is.

There is more in the article about Japan PM Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni war shrine. There has been a lot of conflict about this as well, as both China and South Korea are unhappy about it. They should make it clear once and for all whether these visits are to be considered as personal or official. As Prime Minister, Koizumi represents the whole of Japan and by making it "official", this would seem to others, especially the Chinese, that (as stated in the article) "Japan has not fully repented of its past". He should put the interests of the country first and do what is diplomatically correct for the sake of the country.

**image from here.

posted by Charmaine @ 2:37 PM