Still a Foriegn Policy geek

Mr Smith, (9th district, US Congress)

I am writing in regard to H.Res. 759, about "comfort women" in Japan. I am currently working in Japan in order to learn the language, and would like you to support this bill.

My studies have focused on the Japanese as our essential allies in the global community, and I feel that their refusal to accept their own responsibility for actions in the past is hurting their own, and our interests in the region. Especially now, concerning the issue of WMD in N Korea, their refusal to engage in dialogue until demands are met is creating a stumbling block on an important issue to all parties. In the following link, you can see how the issues of comfort women and wartime slavery generally, are very similar, though numerically greater than, the issue of Japanese abductees.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301640.html

The Japanese, next to the UK, are our closest allies, and this disconnect from reality and hypocrisy designed to play to local constituents is serving neither country. Please support this resolution, and help to bring them closer to participating in a regional historical accounting of a conflict that continues to divide an increasingly important economic and militarily unstable region.

Warmest regards,

Ray Proper III

Johnny Mathis

I had an ephinay today. Part of my education in Japan is learning about discrimination, and how it effects a person. In this case, it is me. I feel the effects of it here, some obvious, some not, but it is undeniably there. My ephinany is that I have become a little paranoid about it. I now see it where it isn't, as well as where it is.

I have a much better understanding of ghetto-ism, and knee jerk reactions to things I interpret as racist. Paranoia is an effect of living in a different culture, this is known, how do I bring myself to better interpret slights intended, from those unintentional, or those simply imagined? It is my mission of the week.

Also, how wrong are the slights? I apply my own standards of modernity to all other cultures, and I know that this is incorrect, but I have no other lens with which to view them. Is there a vision of modernity that can encompass all cultures??? How important are human rights, and what are those rights in relation to OTHER CULTURES?

Louis Armstrong

Same shit different day. I am making some natto curry just now, and the crap is boiling as we, uh, type. Not much going on. Since it is a break from japanese classes for me I have nothing to do at night again when I dont have my part time gig. I am going to watch a movie, eat my curry, and go to bed-while trying not break into the sake and drink all night! Beware the sake! It calls you when you are bored, and when you are happy, and when you are sad... You get the idea, I suppose. Got some new chairs for the "dining room" this weekend. Much more comfortable than the last ones, and they can seat more people as well if you lay em flat. Sounds odd, but if you lived here you would get it! Anyway, my curry is boiling, and I am famished, starved, possibly even a little hungry. Word to your momma or whatever...

silence

But, Itunes is opening! I have news. So, about four days ago, my part time job boss calls and says he wants to speak to me. I figure that he is going to fire me, but he didn't. He actually offered me a job at KTX. He offerred me any position I am interested in in the company. Including CAD and CAM, machinist, office staff, anything. The salary was less than I am making now-with his PT work included, and I told him so. Instead of saying, "oh, ok, too bad" he says he will try and get me the salary I want, but I can only do a few of the jobs they have, and all are filled right now. So, the deal is, we are going to shoot for four months, and see if one opens up. What he actually wants me to do is international sales rep, but I dont have any skills or knowledge, and so they need to train me for a year if they want to hire me, which they do. Basically, what it comes down to is that they know me, they like me, and they want me in the company. I have read that companies do this sort of thing, but I have never seen it! He is even offerring scheduled time, every day, to work on my Japanese. What a guy!

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