We could learn a lot from the Japanese...

[preslove]

err, Japanese history is not exactly prettier than USA's history.

And? Japanese people care about each other a lot more than we do because they have a much more homogeneous culture, which is the legacy of xenophobia. The USA has too much of a history of racial and class division to really give a fuck about anybody else. This creates all sorts of problems, including rioting.

 

[Hoober]

And?

And they don't use that as a perpetual excuse to rape, loot, and plunder because it is somehow 'owed.'

 

[Macamus Prime]

err, Japanese history is not exactly prettier than USA's history.

Yes, but the USA has Christianity.

 

[Kroze]

err, Japanese history is not exactly prettier than USA's history.

NOthing beats the USA in term of dark history.

 

[preslove]

And they don't use that as a perpetual excuse to rape, loot, and plunder because it is somehow 'owed.'

If you beat a dog for a long time, it becomes a mean, nasty thing that will bite without thinking. Oppress a people for 300 years and it will create some fucked up social issues that won't go away by themselves.

 

[jtvang125]

I was reading about this yesterday and it truly is amazing that their society can remain calm and civilized even in the most tradgic situations. Many people say that it's because of their homogeneous society but I think it goes beyond that. It's also the duty of honor and respect. Things that, sadly, are lacking by many people today.

 

[darkswordsman17]

NOthing beats the USA in term of dark history.

You're kidding, right? Do you not know any history?

 

[Capt Caveman]

NOthing beats the USA in term of dark history.

You should read up on what the Japanese did to the Chinese.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Does Japan have ghettos and gang problems in the same sense that the US does? I would think that the population density in most areas forces such a mixture of demographics, that you can't create the kinds of class segregation like we have here, and that would make a substantial difference.

Just another factor to consider outside of the generally polite culture.

 

[CZroe]

Americans can be pretty civil after a disaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFjaQoOdJvI

 

[Inspector Jihad]

NOthing beats the USA in term of dark history.

does you live in a cave homie?

 

[bas1c]

You should read up on what the Japanese did to the Chinese.

And the Koreans. Though that was a long time ago and I have no hatred towards them but it's just food for thought before everyone only condemns the missteps in US history.

 

[highland145]

And the Koreans. Though that was a long time ago and I have no hatred towards them but it's just food for thought before everyone only condemns the missteps in US history.

Only the apologists.

 

[Hoober]

If you beat a dog for a long time, it becomes a mean, nasty thing that will bite without thinking. Oppress a people for 300 years and it will create some fucked up social issues that won't go away themselves.

You're missing the point. 300 years of British colonial and American history is but a blink of an eye compared to the Japanese civilization. Read some Japanese history and educate yourself before coming back to try and rationalize 'fucked up social issues' as an excuse for the savagery exhibited after Katrina.

 

[ussfletcher]

NOthing beats the USA in term of dark history.

The Catholic church certainly does, they almost single handedly spread the plague across all of Europe with their stupid crusades.

 

[preslove]

You're missing the point. 300 years of British colonial and American history is but a blink of an eye compared to the Japanese civilization. Read some Japanese history and educate yourself before coming back to try and rationalize 'fucked up social issues' as an excuse for the savagery exhibited after Katrina.

I'm pretty sure that you know jack shit about about American racial history and how it's shaped our current demographic realities. And I'm not "excusing" anything. I'm just pointing out historical causes of social pathology. I guess that's a little too abstract for someone like you...

And please enlighten me with your vast knowledge of "Japanese civilization." Or, did you get everything you know about it from WWII documentaries... ?

 

[Ichinisan]

Yes, we should preform human vivisection like the japanese did.

Performed by civilians?

I don't think so.

 

[jhu]

NOthing beats the USA in term of dark history.

I see what you did there...

 

[darkswordsman17]

I see what you did there...

:hmm: :sneaky: :awe:

He certainly got me.

 

[Gooberlx2]

You're missing the point.

Actually, I think you're missing the point. Length and severity of a country's evil deeds isn't the argument. Japan remains a largely homogenous society with whatever social classes mixed in to the same living spaces due to density. The US is entirely different in respect to cultures between classes and races, and even neighborhood segregation. The construction of these differences is in large part due to the social/civil/racial strife through its history.

Obviously, that doesn't entirely explain away the behavior differences between this disaster and Katrina. General Japanese culture is definitely more polite.

 

[Hoober]

Actually, I think you're missing the point. Length and severity of a country's evil deeds isn't the argument. Japan remains a largely homogenous society with whatever social classes mixed in to the same living spaces due to density.

Perhaps that is the difference -- their culture has simply had more time to evolve. Different social classes exist everywhere.

 

[sdifox]

Yes, but the USA has Christianity.

So does Japan.

 

[sdifox]

And? Japanese people care about each other a lot more than we do because they have a much more homogeneous culture, which is the legacy of xenophobia. The USA has too much of a history of racial and class division to really give a fuck about anybody else. This creates all sorts of problems, including rioting.

Not exactly. Individualism is highly discouraged by the Japanese society. So it is more of a hive mind if you will. It is more stable, yet it is also stagnant and less innovative.

There is a price to be paid no matter what kind of society you have.

One thing USA is lacking a lot though is personal responsibility.

 

[Train]

Anyone remember the Mississippi floods in '93?

A lot was wiped out in a fashoin similar to the tsunami,

I dont recall mass looting then, or am I wrong?

 

[lxskllr]

One thing USA is lacking a lot though is personal responsibility.

They make up for it by their sense of entitlement....