now I remember, I had actually read a book about Rape of Nanking, and watched movies about that too.

it is definiely something for people that need to be always remember, although JP Gov didn't admit that....(actually, they had change alittle bit and admit some of the fact, but not enough.)


even in the 50s, people still about to find bodys of the victim of Rape of Nanking on somewhere hide in the corner of the street of Nanking.

 

Here's a nice quote from Iris Chang :

I soon had at least part of an answer to the strange riddle of why the massacre had remained relatively untreated in world history. The Rape of Nanking did not penetrate the world consciousness in the same manner as the Holocaust or Hiroshima because the victims themselves had remained silent.

That is somewhat true....they need to sound out and demand reparation...

Sigh,

Bryan

 

Hi people

I was not saying we should forget. What I was saying was that it was something that happened a long time ago and is best left in the past. The use of sex slaves was bad but the rape of Nanking was a monstrous act beyond measure.

There is a danger in fanning hatred and anger over issues such as this. That said, I don't see why or how we can hold the Japanese of today responsible.

I feel that one of the reasons why this act has not had more publicity is because the victims were Chinese.

 

I read the book. It was a tough read. Stuff like this should never be forgotten or washed over or the same things will happen again. History always manages to repeat itself. Look at how many idiots these days are popping up saying that the Holocaust never happened? In a few more generations it will be ancient history and nobody will care unless people keep it in public view.

For example,
How many people in America really KNOW all that much or care about what happened in the Civil War? Most people get a week or two on it in 8th grade history or whatever and then never hear of it again.

Sad, just sad.

 

Have not read this, but I'm familiar with it. I read a different book on another episode in Chinese history, the Cultural Revolution. It's called "A Chinese Mosaic," and is also an enlightening, moving read.

Personally, I never think history should be left behind:
He who doesn't learn from his mistakes is a fool;
He who learns from his mistakes is a wise man;
He who learns from the mistakes of others is truely enlightened.

Don't know where I got that from, but it rings true.

 

I don't understand what you mean by "best left in the past". Can you please explain how we can leave it in the past and not forget it? Please give an example of something (horrorable?) that is now "left in the past" but not forgotten. I tend to agree with you that 200 years from now, it probably would not matter to anyone -- other than to teach it as part of history that such crimes happened (similar to teaching that Martin Luther King was assassinated) and are historic facts. But for now, the crimes happened within our "generation" (i.e., there are people still living who experienced the attrocities first hand), and so it is still news worthy.
I don't see anyone "fanning hatred" in this discussion. Obviously we have all bought (or are very interested in) Japanese cars, so I don't see any obvious hatred against Japan by this group. And I don't see anyone saying that the current generation of Japanese are "responsible" for what happened. All I am saying is that the Japanese should be told what their forefathers did and admit to what happened as historical fact. As a comparison, I think the Germans have managed to admit to the crimes done in WWII. They teach it in their schools as part of history. I think it is this unwillingness by the Japanese government/people to admit to the facts that caused the other Asian countries that suffered so much during the war to be so upset.
Again, I don't understand what you mean. Why does being Chinese make this different? Can you elaborate on this a little more. Thank you.

 

Yea....the Holocaust is being taught in German schools as well as other schools worldwide.

But as Iris Chang stated in her book, many, many history texts do not incorporate the Rape of Nanking into the curriculum or very little of it.

I'm not saying let's relive the whole damn experience. I'm saying let's educate others on what happened so that it will not be denied in history. This was a inhumane incident during war and it should be recognized.

Bryan

 

a long time ago, i saw a interview with the author, and it looked like a really good book to read. totally forgot about it until now.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WhiteS2k
[B]I don't understand what you mean by "best left in the past".

 

Yes, but for Japanese officials and even historians to downgrade what had really happened during the Rape of Nanking or even deny that it even happened is preposterous. Yes, we must not blame the government for what had happened 50 years ago, but should this moment of history be wiped out? I mean, the school's don't even teach it, disregarding what had really happened. I think that is the case here, not whether or not we should blame someone.

Bryan