General Discussion

Triana

(22,666 posts) Tue Jan 21, 2014, 08:14 AM Jan 2014

To the Japanese fishermen of Taiji from Yoko Ono Lennon, 20 January 2014

TO THE JAPANESE FISHERMAN OF TAIJI
FROM YOKO ONO LENNON, 20 JANUARY 2014.

Dear Japanese Fishermen of Taiji,

I understand how you must feel about the one-sided-ness of the West to be angry at your traditional capture and slaughter of Dolphins. But that tradition was made only when the world, and Japanese Fishermen did not know what it meant to do harm to the Dolphins. I’m sure you have heard so many speeches in which all of these things have been discussed. So I will not bore you with it.

. . .

The way you are insisting on a big celebration of killing so many Dolphins and kidnapping some of them to sell to the zoos and restaurants at this very politically sensitive time, will make the children of the world hate the Japanese.

For many, many years and decades we have worked hard to receive true understanding of the Japanese from the world. And, because of our effort, Japan is now respected as a country of good power and ingenuity. This did not happen without our efforts of many decades.

But what we enjoy now, can be destroyed literally in one day. I beg of you to consider our precarious situation after the nuclear disaster (which could very well effect the rest of the world, as well).

Please use political tact and cancel the festival which will be considered by the rest of the world as a sign of Japanese arrogance, ignorance, and love for an act of violence.

Thank you.

Yoko Ono Lennon
20 January 2014

cc Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

SOURCE: http://imaginepeace.com/archives/20166

14 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

To the Japanese fishermen of Taiji from Yoko Ono Lennon, 20 January 2014 (Original Post) Triana Jan 2014 OP

du rec. xchrom Jan 2014 #1

I watched The Cove chervilant Jan 2014 #2

Unfortunately to many Japanese, Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #3

Classy letter. nt Bonobo Jan 2014 #4

From Zappa to Yoko to Neil Young ... interesting how rockers continue to be the world's conscience. Scuba Jan 2014 #5

Tha's a great point. Deny and Shred Jan 2014 #7

some pertinent zappa social commentary i just stumbled on to 90-percent Jan 2014 #13

Thanks, never saw that. Deny and Shred Jan 2014 #14

There is no excuse ever for genocide of intelligent beings. Nika Jan 2014 #6

Let's not forget also that they still hunt whales dorkzilla Jan 2014 #8

K & R for Yoko. mountain grammy Jan 2014 #9

k and r niyad Jan 2014 #10

K&R suffragette Jan 2014 #11

Caroline Kennedy complained. NCarolinawoman Jan 2014 #12

xchrom

(108,903 posts)

1. du rec.

Reply to Triana (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 08:18 AM

Jan 2014

chervilant

(8,267 posts)

2. I watched The Cove

Reply to Triana (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 08:26 AM

Jan 2014

at the behest of a 15YO activist friend. It took me several hours -- and the help of a good friend -- to recover my equilibrium. I cannot understand how these "fishermen" consider sentient mammals fair game.

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)

3. Unfortunately to many Japanese,

Reply to chervilant (Reply #2)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 08:32 AM

Jan 2014

dolphins are "just another kind of fish"

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)

4. Classy letter. nt

Reply to Triana (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 08:42 AM

Jan 2014

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

5. From Zappa to Yoko to Neil Young ... interesting how rockers continue to be the world's conscience.

Reply to Triana (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 08:45 AM

Jan 2014

Deny and Shred

(1,061 posts)

7. Tha's a great point.

Reply to Scuba (Reply #5)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 09:33 AM

Jan 2014

Include Bono, Willie Nelson and the Dixie Chicks off the top of my head. Not that they were 'rockers' but Pete Seeger and Woody Herman were all about conscience. Having endured her music amisdt John's post-Beatle stuff, I'm not sure Yoko qualifies as a rocker, but your point is well-taken.

Zappa was way before his time, musically, social commentarily, etc.

90-percent

(6,829 posts)

13. some pertinent zappa social commentary i just stumbled on to

Reply to Deny and Shred (Reply #7)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 05:57 PM

Jan 2014

from my facebook zappa groups.

Franks been my hero for over 40 years.

-90% Jimmy

Deny and Shred

(1,061 posts)

14. Thanks, never saw that.

Reply to 90-percent (Reply #13)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 09:03 PM

Jan 2014

As far as his commentary, I remember his 'tax the church' spun my cap when I heard it. His views on censorship also stood out to me. I recall he surmised that AIDS dovetailed well for Republicans and the Religious Right. His idea of narrowing retro has come to pass, too. His autobiography, if you haven't read it, is a fascinating and fun read.

All that said, he is among my top heroes as both a composer and guitar player. He was unique in his ability to include humor in music without it being a joke song. He composed for so many instruments, vocalists, etc. So many players gained their noteriety from playing with him as well. Way, way ahead of his time. Truly missed, and not remembered nearly enough. A Great American.

Once my pasta is strained, I may have to go listen to Inca Roads, Regyptian Strut, Cheapness, Trance-Fusion, Village of the Sun, and many others. I'm snowed in, so it will be a fine way to pass the evening. Thanks for the link, and to Scuba as well for making the point in the first place.

Peace

Nika

(546 posts)

6. There is no excuse ever for genocide of intelligent beings.

Reply to Triana (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 09:09 AM

Jan 2014

I wish the worst for those that did this butchery, I really do.

dorkzilla

(5,141 posts)

8. Let's not forget also that they still hunt whales

Reply to Triana (Original post)

Tue Jan 21, 2014, 09:34 AM

Jan 2014

And they illegally hunt them in a whale SANCTUARY in Antarctica.

Hard to respect intelligent people that continue the wholesale holocaust of our precious marine cousins.

http://us.whales.org/issues/whaling-in-japan