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"Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
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girl.of.your.dreams
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
A friend of mine made a film about these specific women: [thehouseofsharing.com]

They are a fascinating, brave group of women.
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hello.kitty
04/30/09

@girl.of.your.dreams: Kudos to your friend.
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maneki neko
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
I'm writing a research paper on this very subject right now, and it's so incredibly difficult to wrap my mind around.

On the one hand, I can understand that the Japanese people today wouldn't want to be blamed for atrocities like what was done to these women, or the Nanjing massacre, or any of the other horrible crimes, any more than I would want to be blamed for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as an American. But at the same time, these atrocities didn't just happen, someone did them. The USA takes responsibility for the atom bombs, although I have my doubts about the common sentiment that they were necessary to prevent a land invasion.

In order for these women to get the justice they deserve, shouldn't somebody take responsibility for it, acknowledging that their suffering occurred and it was wrong? But whose responsibility is it? I'm guessing the Japanese would argue that those who are responsible are long dead...
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topsy
04/30/09

@maneki neko: That's what pisses me off the most. All the Japanese have to say is 'Hiroshima' and that's the end of the discussion. Hiroshima was an atrocity but as you mentioned, the US has taken responsibility for it (the more I've studied the Japanese involvement in WWII the more credence I give to the land invasion argument). Germany has taken responsibility for the Holocaust. Yet the Japanese refuse to own up to its many, many war crimes. Maybe it's because most of the victims weren't white. The UK has never hesitated to discuss what the Japanese did to white members of the Commonwealth (A Town Called Alice anyone) but ignores anything else. These women will die and never, ever, get the justice and the apology they deserve. Shame on Japan and shame on us for letting Japan get away with it.
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hello.kitty
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
The government--and other responsible parties--will not apologize for this atrocity. Not during these women's life times.

They won't apologize because they feel their actions were justified. Did plantation owners who abused their female slaves apologize?

As roodles already posted: "I'm pretty sure the Japanese government is just waiting until these women die."

But h*lla yes for those women who continue to protest outside the embassy. Keep making noise, show the world you cannot be silenced.
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gobblegirl
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
This is really neat, and heartwarming in an odd way. I learned about the comfort women in high school, and it's such a sad story. I'm glad these women have some comfort of their own now, no pun intended.
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gobblegirl
04/30/09

@gobblegirl: Material comfort at least.
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mayfly
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
What the fuck, Japanese government? How hard it it to apologize for something so completely heinous? Are you too busy playing RapePlay to even address this?
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gobblegirl
04/30/09

@mayfly: Anything to do with the Japanese actions in WWII is extremely politically contentious in Japan, for obvious reasons. The government has been criticized for decades on their behaviour after the American occupation, because in many ways the official line has been to move on and forget about it. School textbooks print lies and deliberate omissions, and as a society their ties to recent history are fuzzy and complex, I think.

It's really interesting from a history/political science point of view to compare the post-war attitude toward "war guilt" in Japan and Germany, as it's been very different in both countries.

Anyway, I think to compare an incredibly complex cultural identity issue (and I'm not saying they shouldn't apologize, because they should) with the fact that Japan happens to export a lot of weird and scary porn is way missing the point.
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maneki neko
04/30/09

@gobblegirl: Very well said. There are dozens upon dozens of books that have been written about Japanese War guilt. It's an extremely contentious issue, and the answer to the question "Why don't they apologize?" is going to be a hard one to answer. (I'm actually doing research on this right now, so I'm pretty interested by this post.)

Part of it has to do with the fact that the Japanese government now doesn't see themselves of a continuation of the wartime government, based on the presence of the anti-war Article 9 in their constitution, and the general tendency of the culture to separate itself or blame everything on the military. But it's a hell of a lot more complicated than that...
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
I saw a group of former comfort women protesting in front of the Japanese embassy in South Korea. It makes me so sad that the Japanese government refuses to give theses women any closure or dignity. All that many of them want is just an apology. I saw signs taped up in Seoul that said "As long as Japan exists, there will never be peace." There is so much anger still, I wish Japan would try to make some amends.
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samethingwedoeverynightpinky
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
These women are amazing.
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cupscake
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
they would also need to appologize to the Filipina Comfort Women too!
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hello.kitty
04/30/09

@cupscake: Yes indeed!
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roodles
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
I'm pretty sure the Japanese government is just waiting until these women die b/c they will never apologize for it. I think this was the first year that the president didn't visit Yasukuni to basically pay homage to dead Japanese war criminals that did horrible things in Korea and Manchuria so regret and restitution are not at the forefront of the Japanese government's collective mind.
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happysquid
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
I was reading about this in the newspaper this morning, along with some incredibly depressing story about this heinous rapist that targeted senior citizens in the 1970s and 80s who only recently got caught. Eugh. World fail.
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Evil.Stubs
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
I saw The Vagina Monologues this year and there is a monologue that is supposed to be from the perspective of comfort women.It made me cry.

The Japanese government needs to make their public apology. I can't even imagine all the terrible experiences these women endured.

It is admirable that these women are speaking out.
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Majrhoulihan
04/30/09

@Evil.Stubs: The year that Comfort Women were the spotlight monologue, Eve was under a lot of pressute to pick something more timely. She refused - precisely because she thought they women had waited too long.
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Kali Mama
04/30/09

@Evil.Stubs: There have been efforts underway for decades to get the Japanese to fess up and apologize for the sex slavery, the railroad slaves, and the Indonesian internment camps, let alone get them to prosecute the officials involved.

It's never ever going to happen.
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misspell
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
That's incredible. It's a shame that the thing that brought them together was so painful and cruel, but the level of community and security that these women have together is something that most people can only hope for.
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morninggloria
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
I hope that someday, humans evolve slammable vaginas.
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Jello Mix
04/30/09

@morninggloria: Or penises that snap off like lizard's tails. Don't worry, boys! It'll grow back in two to three months.
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notheretomakefriends
04/30/09

@morninggloria: or detachable , like Wanda suggested.

My fear is the government will only officially recognize it in 20 years from now, when they have passed away and there is no fear of monetary reparations.

But then again, i'm a cynic
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tailfeather
04/30/09

@morninggloria: Re: Slammable vaginas.

And your prayers were soon answered! In a way...

[jezebel.com]
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angelheadedhipster
04/30/09

In reply to "Comfort Women" Seek Their Own Comfort
Um, the Golden Girls WERE adamant activists...

of cheesecake.
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serreca
04/30/09

@angelheadedhipster: And CONDOMS! CONDOMS! CONDOMS!
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