yes this is what i've been up to, instead of studying for my paper which is in 3 days' time; as usual, i'm dizzy with this unjustified self-confidence i seem to get drunk on every single semester.
and after watching this video, i'm sure i'll lie awake thinking about issues that are as closely related to my modules as blackboards are to cows. (chalk and cheese... geddit?)
the topic of the debate was this and the guy in the funky clothes was basically stating that he really admires j*apan for acknowledging their war atrocities. according to him, it was 'cool' of ja*pan to apologise for 35 years of colonization, as opposed to the failure on the eur*opeans' part to say sorry after some 700 years of slavery and colonization in afr^ica.
but i feel that the real issue here is not the length of time per se, but the fact that, be it 36 years (yup he got the date wrong) or 700 years, horrible atrocities which were committed cannot simply be erased nor forgotten with one list of statements.
it is admirable that ja*pan came up with a written list and apologised for it; according to the two men in the video, their continent now bears no hostile feelings towards their colonizers- when then, they ask, will the north asian neighbours all kiss and make up?
this video clip made me think about the true significance of history. sure, it's always written by the victors, and it's not an exact science- subjectivity is the norm and disputes are expected. throw in nationalism and patriotism, as well as centuries-old hatred into the mix, and hey you have more than enough material for a struggling phD student's thesis.
however.
i've always been told that if the people of a country forget their past, there cannot be a future. but how much of this old hatred and grievances must go on? it doesn't help that the apologies swing back and forth, depending on the premier's foreign policy at that time; if that's the case, what does this pendulum of erratic remorse say about the true psyche of the people of j*apan?
you know what? with the hallyu spreading faster than the legs of a desperate whore, soft power WILL triumph in the end.. i think. but that only takes care of half the equation, yes? because it's always the victims who cannot forget, who will not forgive.
umm so we're destined to have overpriced airfares between two countries that are just about a rock's throw away?
oh well. politics, schmolitics.
oh oh. i'm about one step closer to vrrroooom vrrrooooom!
oh oh oh. guess who's going to hon*g ko*ng! ^^
no wonder no mood to study la. reces*sion? what rece*ssion?
