05-03-2012, 10:27 AM
Todd,
I would like to be able to enjoy this poem, but my knowledge of the Japanese keeps getting in the way of my compassion. Despite that, there are some nice images in this. I think some of the writing could be tightened up some though. The first stanza seems especially awkward. As in this second stanza, just cut down some on the wordiness, such as:
"Survivors walk away
only no one escaped
the rationalization that
killing would bring peace."
or maybe
"Survivors walk away
only no one escaped
the application of the
rationalization that
killing would bring peace."
(The following is not just my opinion, but that of several bi-lingual Japanese transplants with whom I worked with at the university. We were teaching a comparative lit class, with several Japanese pieces. The discussion began by them saying, you will never understand the Japanese, because you think of all people as humans like yourself...)
I read an article about how Godzilla was the Japanese way of trying to come to terms with the atomic bombings, something to the effect of a person who has been hurt, continuing to reenact the episode in order to make some sense out of it, except the Japanese have never really been able to come to terms with being so soundly defeated. One could feel sorry for them if he did not know the glee that the Japanese experienced by torturing prisoners of war. All of the countries along the pacific rim, and also China are terrified still of the thought of Japan being allowed to rearm. The only thing that keeps them in check is the big dog that brought them down, and I do not use dog metaphorically, to this day the majority of the Japanese people still think of themselves as the only humans. I have witnessed first hand on a number of occasions how Japanese men when in pacific rim countries treat people of those countries like slaves. You will find little remorse from the countries enslaved by the Japanese during WWII that we dropped the bomb on them. By doing so, we saved hundred of thousands of people from being severely tortured at the hands of the extreme sadist that was the Japanese military. I find it interesting that we make a big deal (and rightly so) of the Holocaust, yet have historically ignored the much worse atrocities committed by the Japanese.
I could relate better to this poem if we had dropped the bomb on someone more deserving of your charity. That it took two bombs to convince them to surrender is somewhat telling in itself. The truest line in the poem is
"We reject this narrative."
After all, how can a superior human being be conquered by an animal?
Hopefully, over time the culture will change, but until then, pray the big dog keeps his foot on the neck of the Japanese. Keep in mind, we dropped the bomb to end the war, they would drop the bomb to start the war.
Dale
I would like to be able to enjoy this poem, but my knowledge of the Japanese keeps getting in the way of my compassion. Despite that, there are some nice images in this. I think some of the writing could be tightened up some though. The first stanza seems especially awkward. As in this second stanza, just cut down some on the wordiness, such as:
"Survivors walk away
only no one escaped
the rationalization that
killing would bring peace."
or maybe
"Survivors walk away
only no one escaped
the application of the
rationalization that
killing would bring peace."
(The following is not just my opinion, but that of several bi-lingual Japanese transplants with whom I worked with at the university. We were teaching a comparative lit class, with several Japanese pieces. The discussion began by them saying, you will never understand the Japanese, because you think of all people as humans like yourself...)
I read an article about how Godzilla was the Japanese way of trying to come to terms with the atomic bombings, something to the effect of a person who has been hurt, continuing to reenact the episode in order to make some sense out of it, except the Japanese have never really been able to come to terms with being so soundly defeated. One could feel sorry for them if he did not know the glee that the Japanese experienced by torturing prisoners of war. All of the countries along the pacific rim, and also China are terrified still of the thought of Japan being allowed to rearm. The only thing that keeps them in check is the big dog that brought them down, and I do not use dog metaphorically, to this day the majority of the Japanese people still think of themselves as the only humans. I have witnessed first hand on a number of occasions how Japanese men when in pacific rim countries treat people of those countries like slaves. You will find little remorse from the countries enslaved by the Japanese during WWII that we dropped the bomb on them. By doing so, we saved hundred of thousands of people from being severely tortured at the hands of the extreme sadist that was the Japanese military. I find it interesting that we make a big deal (and rightly so) of the Holocaust, yet have historically ignored the much worse atrocities committed by the Japanese.
I could relate better to this poem if we had dropped the bomb on someone more deserving of your charity. That it took two bombs to convince them to surrender is somewhat telling in itself. The truest line in the poem is
"We reject this narrative."
After all, how can a superior human being be conquered by an animal?
Hopefully, over time the culture will change, but until then, pray the big dog keeps his foot on the neck of the Japanese. Keep in mind, we dropped the bomb to end the war, they would drop the bomb to start the war.
Dale
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.