60 Years Ago, the Japanese were our Enemy: now, it's Iraq

(My family hosted a Japanese exchange student last week. This diary comes from that experience.)

Islamofascist. Towelheads. Turn them into glass. Nuke them all.

These are expressions we have heard the Republican right wingers we all know say regularly, especially the callers into right wing radio and C-Span. These callers are encouraged by the radio talk show hosts, by their Congresspersons, and, very subtlely, by our President. Bush talks out of both sides of his mouth, saying that we must be tolerant of Muslims in this country while calling them all "the enemy," and part of the "axis of evil." The hatred for these people in our country is astounding.

Nips. Yellow Peril. Japs.

All words my grandfather used during WWII; words I have heard my father reference when referring to the bigotry of his father. And then, last week, we had a Japanese exchange student. And we loved him.

It struck me this week, as my exchange student stayed with me, that 60 years ago my grandparents felt about the Japanese the same way the most bigoted and fearful among us feel about Muslims. And we despair over this bigotry. We know how wrong it is, we know that 99% of Iraqis and Muslims are just like us, they just want a safe place to raise their kids and live their lives. But they have been so demonized since 9/11, it seems impossible that we will ever be able to get past this. And it does seem so, because when I said to some colleagues that 60 years ago we hated these people, so maybe in 60 years my grandkids will host Iraqi exchange students, they looked at me like I was crazy.

But I believe. I believe that the humanity of us all will win out in the end as long as we have wise leaders, leaders who know that the answer is not always in killing the greatest number of people in the other country. I must admit: after 9/11, I wanted revenge for my husband's 343 colleagues in the Fire Department of New York. But after 4 1/2 years, what does a whole bunch of dead women and children really do for our dead fireman??? Does it bring them back?? Do I feel better? Do I miss them less? No. No. No.

So in my view, one of the most important reasons to work for a Democratic Congress in November is to bring some sanity back into our foreign policy. To stop the hatred, and start the diplomacy. To try to treat the Iraqis the way we treated the Japanese after WWII, so that we can be friends in 60 years.

Is it possible???

and I wonder about the "friendship"...

Japan expansion policies were leading to an explosion. That ended in a tragedy. The Iraqi never attacked the US and the Gulf War was won because they didn't fight, not believing in Saddam. They were betrayed since then by ALL administrations. Then invaded again. Not nuked... yet (the damage is probably bigger though). They have all reasons to hate. After all somebody is trying to steak their wealth and is killing them for false pretenses.

The Japanese have probably a feeling of guilt (like the Germans) that they initiated a conflict that cost them dearly. Now they are under submission. So they trade. One day it will be different. Just wait. What they are really afraid of is China. So the US can wait. But ask the people in Okinawa is they love America... you'll get probably polite answers. Wonder what the answers are at Hiroshima...

from Japan, and he seemed to care about us.

And there is no way I would support attacking Japan, EVER, because they are now real people to my children and I.