a new heir born today for japanese throne

[Regenmeneer]

Shalom aleichem

Haha, two way history lessons Some interesting stuff about Perry that I had not heard or read before. I guess the Dutch left their mark in many places around the world. Some positive, but some very bad ones as well

I was really disappointed I didn't get to meet you in Arcen this year. So I'm really glad your returning next year, so I get a second chance.

Reg

[Lee]

Regenmeneer,

I too also thought I would meet you at Arcen.


How could we not have met?

Except, perhaps you don't know what I look like and I had not been certain what you looked like...

I had really wanted to meet you as I had met so many other Dutch friends with whom I had been communicating via this board and others for years and years...who previously were only names on the board and who became life long friends after our finally meeting.

Perhaps, we could have passed by one another a dozen times without knowing either was the other...?

Toen Feyen who proved a fantastic host found time to take me around with him to introduce me to quite a number of people who I otherwise would not have met...and, to his fellow club members.

Yes. You should be very proud of the Arcen show. And, we will return, next year, I have been telling everyone about our good times there...so, undoubtedly there will be far more visitors next year from this part of the world.

One suggestion I have, however, is that I would encouraging the show coordinators to have a scheduled bus running every hour back and forth to the hotel in Venlo...where most of us stayed. It would have made our visit so much easier. And, convenient.

Regenmeneer - post your picture. ok?

All the best,

Lee
Grand Cayman

[saratogatan]

the name of the new prince of Japan contains 2 Chinese characters, the first means 'relax, and not be moved by outside factor'. Although some wants to argue that it also means 'peaceful', you can also argue that it means 'long and lasting'.

The second character means a lot of stuff which has no western counterpart. It can mean 'merciful', but they are not 'merciful' per se as the western world normally underestand. Depending on how far fetch you want to go, it can also means 'die for believe in the righteous'. There are so many meanings taht can be associated with this character, that it can also mean 'with the right knowledge'. In some case it can also mean 'with the right power'.

I hope the name mean 'relax, merciful and righteous one'. To many in Asia who have suffered the Japanese cruety during the second world war, the sin the Japanese committed during that time can only be the name reflects what the Japanese real think.

stan

[Lee]

Dear Friend,

It is hard to rationalise the extraordinary level of any of man's acts of cruelty or to place blame upon any single nation or sect, religion, geographical region or place in time - since the begining of mankinds keeping of records of this world history - without accepting what will someday in the not distant future history consider to be the cruels act of the 20the century - the dropping of atomic bombs onto predominantly residential cities, such as Hiroshima or Nagasaki...be called?

Cruel? Indeed.

Thus, to call one nation any more cruel than another people, seems abundantly unfair.

It would seem throughout all of history that there is no nation who can pass through the eye of the needle without blood on it's hands and the most unforgiveable acts of cruelty in their present or past.

And, that dear friend - is truly the tragedy.

Thus, is the Japanese more cruel...if so, more cruel, than who else?

Above is just my opinion...

And, my sincerest prayer for our having a better understanding between all the people on this earth. And, appreciation of our need for the total forgiveness and brotherhood of all on this very small blue marble wherein we share with our yellow, brown, black, white, red and multi-religious followings..humans.

...before, we all start tossing atomic or nuclear bombs at each other as not long ago our caveman forebearers had thrown rocks at their nearby neighbors!

Lee
Grand Cayman

[saratogatan]

Lee,
I like your idea about 'forgiveness'. However, Japan has yet to formally apologize for all the suffering it brought upon the innocent people in Asia, the root of 'forgiveness' is simply not there.

things are easier to say than do, especially for those who have not sufferred. Lee, I bet your view would have been very different had the Japanese have replaced one of your grandfather's arm with a pig leg, and that was a common experiment carried out in China. personally, have seen photos of Japanese soldiers carrying swords with babies (mostly caucacian) dangling from it, and most babies appeared to be still alive (heads were still upright). I can tell you, kid, that is not an easy experience.

Anyway, I know when the Japanese talked about peace and kindess, it is totally bull s**t. This will not change until the day they own up to the suffering they brought upon people in Asia.


stan

[Lee]

My friend,

Nelson Mandella, said, after being released from twenty+ years of being in a prision cel and the ending of several hundred years of Apartied (spelling?) in South Africa..."That I could choose to hate and smile whilst watching my enemies blood run in the streets for all of the years of the atrocieties that have been committed against my people or I can offer and extend forgiveness and try to bring a peaceful understanding between both people.

He sought understanding.

Therefore, no one died. And, no one sought what would have uncontrolled bloodshed and the two cultures were able to reached a level of humanity, heretofore not previous experienced after several decades of human suffering, torture and barberous murders.

As a Jew, who now has been studying Buddist philosphy for many years I can certainly relate to the historical signficance of any period of time in which you would like to compare that which you just wrote of...

I could mention the three hundred years of the Spanish Inquistion...where Jews in Spain, Portugal and Italy, Austria etc...were slaughtered by the tens of thousands. Or, where the Jews of England and their explusion for six hundred years (before which thousands also of wholly innocents were burned at the stake, killed, tortured and worse...) or, the more recent history of the Holocoust with six million were killed. Or, the hundreds of Pogroms thorugh-out all of history against my people...whose only crime was to be born Jewish.

Yes, no nation, including the Chinese or Japanese is without a similar barbarbic history and (worse) and none are without guilt.

However, much like the middle east now, do we all seek and find a secure source for peace and a way wherein we can live with one another or do we choose to again permit generation after generation to go on repeating the ugly history of their parents?

Mankind is basically good. Not evil.

It is therefore encumbant upon those that are "good" to find others of equal mind and value to find the answer and the solution.

As for certain if we have learned anything at all from mankinds horrific history, war and many hatreds, distrust and dislikes and the continious retribution against those who had wronged them - the answer shall be that we have achieved nothing but more of the same.

With all sincerety I wish you a warm and loving week-end,

However, I am going to now feed my koi.A peaceful and co-existent speicies of fish...

With hope for all mankind, I remain

Respectfully,

Your friend ~

Lee A
Grand Cayman Island
BWI

[Regenmeneer]

Lee,

unfortunately, one of the few words the Dutch have added to the English language is "apartheid"

When I think about it, the Dutch are a funny people. Very tolerant in some cases, like in the times of protestants and jews being persecuted. But also responsable for the slave trade from Africa to the Americas.

Reg

[saratogatan]

Lee,
at issue is not if anyone is clean of any innocent blood in his/her hand. The problem is that the Japanese ruling party, including the emporor, have not publicly apologize for the suffering they have brought upon innocent people in Asia, while many of them still alive.

Worst yet, many in Japan believe the crime they committed during the second world war were merely fabricated 'cause the lost the war.

The last Emporor of Japan did not like the japanese war criminals cause they 'brought great damage to the Japanese people', per the diary kept by a clerk in the palace, but those criminals and the their soldiers fought the war for him, how about those who suffered in their hands ? that did not look to worth any consideration. Almost all of the Japanese war criminals believed they were buddish, and committed horrible crimes against buddism teaching. That gives me 1 good reason to believe when they talk about peace, mercy and love , they really don't mean it.

If you follow the recent court cases, in Japan, brought forth by the former forced prostitues from countries like Korea, China, Taiwan. They were summarily dismissed as 'baseless' by the Japanese Judges. and Goverment. anothe proof that they believed they have done nothing wrong.

stan

[johnsmith]

Stan, you're a racist idiot. The war ended in August 1945. That means that anyone of age of majority ( 16 even) alive then, is over 77 years old. The leadership ages of 30- 60 are 121 to 91 years old!!! - let it go. Unless it makes you feel good- then hate away! JR

[saratogatan]

JR,
you are going inside out. The people in Asia have been longing for a formal apology from the Japanese goverment, and I don't see why they can't get one, unless, the Japanese see them above the rest of Asia, and that is exactly what you said : racist.

You really amazed me by calling me racist idiot. Looks like your memory of the ZNA NorCal has faded badly, do I need to remind you on your racist comment on me ?

stan