STATUS OF GETTING AN APOLOGY FROM JAPAN

STATUS OF GETTING AN APOLOGY FROM JAPAN

by Robert Schneider

Recently communications to the Congress and a large veterans org. were suddenly terminated. It was probably orchestrated by Washington to avoid having Congress debate the apology issue  since the government  informed Japan in March 2005 that the US is supporting them fully to become a permanent member of the Security Council of the UN (and they have never apologized) .

It is seen that  a debate in Congress  about getting an apology could make the Congress look foolish.

Then the question is asked : Why is an apology needed after 60 years If you have watched actual footage of the war in the Pacific, the horrors quickly become apparent and we become uncomfortable or worse. An apology is needed to honor veterans and all Americans who lived during those years and those who didn’t……

If you doubt the statement, look at the film again. An apology would also help the US to preserve it’s heritage and provide closure to  citizens; memories are fading quickly and veterans are dieing . Some people will say that the present government in Japan had nothing to do with WW-II so no apology is needed. That statement is not accurate. Japan does have ties to the war years ; for example the prayers said for war criminals enshrined in Yasukuni Shrine and worshipped by some of the administration.

There are other ties which are left to the reader to track down.  A simple answer would be that civilized people apologize when one is due.

The actions by Washington have stopped the apology program but only temporarily. Work remains to be done!

 Robert Schneider can be reached at [email protected]