Article

2005-09-18 China-Japan-Koreas

Japan's new opposition leader seeks to revise pacifist constitution

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Posted by phil_b 2005-09-18 03:56|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 To me this has the sound of someone like John Kerry coming out sounding like a hawk right after having been whipped, campaigning on a dove platform.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-09-18 11:41|| 2005-09-18 11:41|| Front Page Top

#2 ...US-imposed constitution.

It was not imposed. From pbs.org no less:

After marathon negotiations in early March, Japanese officials accepted the American draft with only minor revisions. General Whitney's comment at the outset -- "if the cabinet [is] unable to prepare a suitable and acceptable draft.... General MacArthur [is] prepared to lay this statement of principle directly before the people" -- probably helped. Emperor Hirohito, chagrined at having lost so much power but grateful that the throne had been retained, issued an "imperial rescript" endorsing the draft. That fall, after the Japanese people had voted overwhelmingly for candidates who backed the new consitution, Hirohito himself promulgated it before the Diet (Japanese Parliament). Although it ignored his own role in its birth, General MacArthur's message to the nation offered a pretty fair assessment: "The adoption of this liberal charter, together with other progressive measures enacted by the Diet, lays a very solid foundation for the new Japan."

The Japanese people supported the constitution then and have so for almost 60 years. It is not a "US-imposed constitution". US-authored? Yes, but Japanese adopted and adhered to since. It is a legitimate geoverning document despite the author's egregious insinuation.

Posted by Zpaz 2005-09-18 14:56|| 2005-09-18 14:56|| Front Page Top

#3 You better revise it dude, china is going to have to be dealt with at some point and you will need more than a toll free number to the white house to do that.

Posted by Crick Elmuger1423 2005-09-18 23:34|| 2005-09-18 23:34|| Front Page Top

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