Flame Off

The video I watched for the Flame Off assignment is about the Korean people’s demand for Japanese sincere apology. In the video, Korean people want the apology from the Japanese government about certain things like comfort women and glorifying war criminals. In 1960’s, Japanese prime minister officially addressed a special statement of apology and even compensate with a huge amount of money. However, current Japanese government is addressing something that takes back from what they have said earlier. I engaged in the debate as the Korean side to give rebuttals against the Japanese side. MilkeyW says that Japan has nothing to apologize to Korea because they helped the modernization and development of Korea. Also, MilkeyW talks that Japan helped Korea to remove the threats of Russians. I gave a rebuttal for this claim. First, I admit that Japan helped the modernization but the modernization does not give Japan a reason to deny the history and refuse to apologize. MilkeyW’s comment does not contain any problems in the video. So, I told the user to study the East Asian history before you comment this kind of problem. Another comment that I wrote for rebuttal is about the fact that Japan already gave a form of apology with money so Japan does not have to apologize once again. I agree with the idea that the repetition of same apology is useless. However, I told this user that the problem is actually about the Japan’s negation of the history in Asia. It is more important that Japan should respect other surrounding nations. Other than that, I claimed indirectly that Japan should apologize about the negation of history by giving evidences with pathos.

I mean, you should listen to what Miller just said in the vid. True that Japan helped the modernization of Korea but that has nothing to do with Japan's apologizing what they did in Korea in colonial period. Also, Japan is making numerous take-backs what they've said earlier (official apology). Also, Russians were not the biggest threat in Korea at that time. I think you should know more about the East Asian history before you say something about this problem.

I agree what you said about the peace treaty and compensation. I, as a Korean, personally want to know what the Korean government did for comfort women with the compensation. Also, we need a third party to look at the problems between Korea and Japan for objective views. But I think you should admit that Japanese politicians in nowadays are really expressing their nationalistic ideas that might upset not only Koreans but also Chinese. The problems among the nations are not the apology. It is the matter of how to deal with such sensitive problems in East Asia.

I totally agree with what Miller said for the solution. Korean government were not doing well to make sure they get the "real apology" from Japan. And that's why many Korean people still eager for the apology from Japan. Also, I'm really curious about why Japanese right wing keeps saying something that literally takes back what they've committed.

The things about the Japanese colonialism: 1. For the modernization of the colony, Japan destroyed most of the Korean palace and other historical properties 2. Try to remove Korean language 3. Massive killing and harsh torture of people who shouted the independence of Korea 4. Forceful military draft for WWII 5. Unit 731

To most Asian countries that had been colonized by Japan, Japanese soldiers at that time are considered as war criminals. Current Japanese nationalistic behaviors such as attempting to empower Japanese Self-Defense Forces for the reason of defending surrounding Asian nations are really annoying some of Asian people. Using of Rising Sun Flag also annoys many victims of the Japanese colonization.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJNHc59eP4I