Originally Posted by agoodfella

This is EXACTLY the kind of arrogant, inward-thinking, inward-looking, myopic, short-term thinking, "my-way-or-the-highway" thinking that has not only landed us in hot water around the world, but has contributed to the massive anti-American feeling around the world.

While America's past may not matter to the average American sitting at home stuffing our collective faces with a Big Mac watching American Idol, those very same foreign policies we consider to be "ancient history" are very real and very "real and now" for many nations (and their respective citizens) around the world.

We must acknowledge when America has had past missteps. This is clearly a situation which we must examine and, if warranted, apologize for. When America tries to espouse (what may seem to others as) grandiose ideals such as "democracy", "freedom", "equality", "humanity" and then turn around in the same breath and ignore situations such as this where we have literal or figurative "blood on our hands" -- we lose credibility (and friends) faster than you can say hypocrite.

Why is this even important you ask? These are the images and stories that get played over and over again in the hearts and minds of our enemies, those that mean us true and real harm --> from the Guantanamo Bay detention camps to Abu Ghraib, and yes, even back 60 years ago. We must set a better example. We are charged with a higher standard if we are to be a leader and a fighter / defender of freedom and democracy. When we go astray we MUST acknowledge this and correct our course of action.

Bear in mind that Bin Laden, Al Queda, other terrorists don't wake up one day, spin a "wheel of nations" and randomly pick the US to attack. They aren't mindless idiots marching off to their deaths as suicide bombers. Perhaps it would be easier if they were --> like the shooter at VT --> then we could somehow absolve ourselves of any responsibility, then we wouldn't have to ask the hard questions... like "why do they hate us?" "what have we done to deserve this?" Then perhaps we wouldn't need to delve into our own governments actions (or inactions) which, at a whim, can cause longstanding changes or harm to another nation (or peoples) seemingly out of sight and out of mind but those actions can have serious consequences (Iraq is the latest example, but history is replete with our handiwork around the world).

Why does this incident that happened 60 years ago even matter? Why should we, as Americans, give "two shits"? Because we need to start taking some ownership. We need to start asking the hard questions. We need to start repairing relationships. We need to start displaying some genuine humility, humanity. Remember:

"Those Who Forget History Are Doomed to Repeat It"

Originally Posted by Josepha

Thank you, goodfella - incidently southeast asia - where most current pedophilia occurs - is a muslim hotbed. The fact that the most visible pedophiles are european or american (locals blend in) sure as hell is the best argument for Sharia justice and a Taliban that I can think of.

Americans and Europeans are already seen as sex-obsessed, evil and immoral - wonder where the locals would get that idea.

Originally Posted by Josepha

Evidently that doesn't solve the problem. We allowed women and girls to be raped - and women and girls are still getting raped. Hell, just a few years ago, a marine was arrested for kidnapping and raping a little girl in Japan - lone nut, but it doesn't help matters.

Should the US apologize? Offer reparations? Ignore this?

Originally Posted by Steve

Ignore it. It may have been a trerrible thing, but it happened over 60 years ago.

Originally Posted by Josepha

Evidently that doesn't solve the problem. We allowed women and girls to be raped - and women and girls are still getting raped. Hell, just a few years ago, a marine was arrested for kidnapping and raping a little girl in Japan - lone nut, but it doesn't help matters.

Should the US apologize? Offer reparations? Ignore this?

Originally Posted by Josepha

Thank you, goodfella - incidently southeast asia - where most current pedophilia occurs - is a muslim hotbed. The fact that the most visible pedophiles are european or american (locals blend in) sure as hell is the best argument for Sharia justice and a Taliban that I can think of.

Americans and Europeans are already seen as sex-obsessed, evil and immoral - wonder where the locals would get that idea.

Originally Posted by Josepha

I assume this means you are for an immediate invasion of Darfur?

Originally Posted by jpsartre12

Compared to people that practice female circumcision and wrap their women like mummies, I'm not surprised.

Originally Posted by Imperator

I for one would be behind a military response to end the darfur tragedy. but its funny how the UN works..the civil rights commission won’t do a thing but you want us to...where have I heard this before...Nato countries could step in...but they won’t... why not? So we are the answer when it’s convenient but not when we take action on our own.....whatever............

Originally Posted by Josepha

Reread the article - these were not prostitutes. Many were forced by the govt. To say that women and girls taken during war and forced into brothels are prostitutes is like calling a robbery victim a philanthrope.

Originally Posted by jpsartre12

It's news that soldiers frequented brothels?

Originally Posted by Josepha

incidently southeast asia - where most current pedophilia occurs - is a muslim hotbed. The fact that the most visible pedophiles are european or american (locals blend in) sure as hell is the best argument for Sharia justice and a Taliban that I can think of.

Americans and Europeans are already seen as sex-obsessed, evil and immoral - wonder where the locals would get that idea.

Originally Posted by agoodfella

We should ignore this because it happened 60 years ago? No matter how wrong we were? So to you it's just a matter of time before its ok to sweep something under the rug?

Let me ask you this, what is the statute of limitations here? 60 years? 6 years? last week?

and here's another question, what exactly does it cost us to acknowledge this mistake and apologize?

Originally Posted by Josepha

I don't advocate invading Japan and destroying their infrastructure, then imposing a new form of govt on them - Pearl harbor was reason enough to do that once.

This does deserve an acknowledgement, and an apology - or you would have us act no better than those sons of Saddam.

Originally Posted by TheStripey1

The Japanese government has refused to do anything about it. They were the ones that forced the women into the brothels. Why do you think the US should apologize? and goodfella? There have been brothels in war zones for as long as there have been wars. Should we apologize for all of them?