By: SL

SL — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:22:28 +0000

I’m so tired of people labeling Japan as racist just because it is xenophobic. There’s a huge difference. Japan’s homogeneity is one of the things I love most about it, as a foreigner. In America I grew up being taught that I must be extra careful not to step on people’s toes with the language I use regarding anybody who is different from me. Everybody is an (insert ethnicity here) American. Everybody is “special” and we have to be ultra-sensitive to it. I respect Japan more because you actually have to try to fit in. Just being your crude gaijin self is not enough. You have to spend time learning Japanese language and culture and come to understand the Japanese point of view. I would hate for America (A.K.A. The UN, in this case – who doesn’t even accept Japan as a member, but will take in poison-exporting, North Korean ally, China) to impose its will and cultural values on a country it doesn’t understand, hasn’t tried to understand, and probably never will understand. Basically what I’m saying is that it’s far more stressful to have to walk down the street in The States trying not to look at minorities the wrong way for fear of being dragged into a conflict or branded a biggot, than it is to put up with a few awkward stares on your daily Tokyo commute. There, I said what nobody else dared. you can demonize me now.

Comments on: UN racism expert reports on Japan

By: SL