marks@ADS.ARPA.UUCP (03/26/87)
> > Date: Fri, 20 Mar 87 14:28:46 +0100 > From: mcvax!cwi.nl!tomi@seismo.CSS.GOV (Tetsuo Tomiyama) > Subject: Policy - American Militarism > > Now, I am strongly against such a posting circulated ALL AROUND THE > WORLD through the net. [...] I think > this kind of postings should be even prohibited from the world wide > net distribution. [...] > > I propose, therefore, to submit postings relevant to militarism should > NOT be PROHIBITED but at least requested to be MARKED as military > related article at the responsibility of original authors (rather than > by the moderator), just like advertisements from tobacco companies, so > that if I don't want to read it I can skip it. re AMERICAN-MILITARISM: Very Interesting...that we should get such an opinion from a Japanese. A review of recent history shows that Japan's main contribution to the 20th century has been a series of brutal attempts to subjugate its neighbors (China, Korea, the Philippines, etc). The only reason that Japan was not able to impose its barbarianism on these peoples was AMERICAN-MILITARISM. If it had not been for AMERICAN-MILITARISM the infamous and cowardly attack on Pearl Harbor might have ultimately lead to the subjection of America to the same atrocities as Japan's other victims. It was the Americans (including the American military) which rebuilt Japan from a devastated military dictatorship and tried to give the Japanese people a chance at the opportunities and responsibilities of freedom...a lesson which is apparently totally lost on mr tomiyama. It is common practice today for the adherents of all stripes of totalitarianism to decry AMERICAN-MILITARISM because it is the ONLY thing which stands between them and their goal of world domination. If they can get us to reduce our strength and vigilance then they can resume where they left off 40 years ago. Philip Marks [That's a bit strong, isn't it? Mr. Tomiyama can hardly be accused of desiring world domination just because he's an ardent pacificist. I'm sure that many Japanese have learned the lessons you mention. The new generations of Japanese are no more responsible for, or necessarily prone to, the excesses of past leaders than I am responsible for the past mistreatment of Native Americans, Negros, or Orientals in this country. AIList is a good forum for debating the linkage of AI and militarism, but let's not debate militarism per se. And for the record, I am the one who chose the title "American Militarism". I think the original was just called "Submission for mod.ai". My choice of title still seems appropriate, but I'm sorry if it rankled anyone. -- KIL]