And those countries (you forgot to mention Malaysia, Brunei, and South Korea as well) fight amongst themselves over land. China is no more a bully than any other country.

Your username is accurate. Your mind is indeed nothing but plain and simple. How about you let the non-racist rational adults speak.

William Xu, Racist? Yeah, you tell that to the families of those who suffered (Pearl Harbor and Death March). Boy.

I am 94 years old and WWII vet.

So you're not exactly an impartial observer then? Japan was adamantly islotionist until it was forced open by US warships and had the Emperor's head filled with imperialist ideas. We trained them to go after China, then got all upset when they went after our territories as well. From a military standpoint, Pearl Harbour was a perfectly legitimate operation.

Yes, these excerable pigs want the world to swallow the concept that their territorial water go almost up to their neighbor's shores several hundreds of miles across the sea. China sucks, talk about particulart people being greedy her.. Jesus FO CB

Plain&Simple,

That's fine that you hate the Japanese. No one is here telling you not to be upset. But who are you advocating for? Communist China, that who! My father told me the stories of Pearl Harbor, my uncle fought the Japanese in the Pacific, and their father (my grandfather), an engineer, built liberty ships in Mobile.

My father served during Korea. That war against North Korea and CHINA that you seem to have forgotten.

So, while you hate the Japanese, the Chinese are making a power grab and you act like you're okay with that. Newsflash, Japan is not our enemy now, and China may be slowly becoming one. That's what most of these comments reflect...The fact that Japan is our close ally now, and China is not.

If I've got to pick one over the other, it's Japan. That doesn't mean I've forgotten what happened at Pearl Harbor.

CharlieBrown-2945124,

I totally agree with you! I don't hate china but that country is becoming too strong....

The USA is already too strong. CIA = Capitalist Imperialist Aggression.

ottovonranke.......Your ate up!!!!

plain&simple count your blessings and shut the @!$%# up. Japan already paid for their war crimes. You haven't and you will die without paying for your war crimes. Before you produce a brain fart - here is your crime - being accessory to a war machine that nuked civilians.

Yes all the death of wars can be avoided. NOT! The British also hung Americans in the revolutionary war or shot them. French Indian War there were real violent people in that one. China has allowed their people to be exploited by foreign capitalist for huge profits long enough to acquire wealth and market control. Large and small corporations all over the world created this problem, because now China needs to expand and is doing so. It isn't China's people. It is the elite Chinese leaders who benefit just like American businesses do at the cost of the health and prosperity of their people. I was amazed at the palace the puppet in N.Korea lives in. I thought communism was about the people?

PJ: OH PLEASE!!! Enough of that bleeding heart feces about nuking civilians. The US had two options in the summer of '45: All-out invasion or two atomic bombs, our decision makers made the right choice.

How many ciivlians did the Japanese slaughter during their war of occupation in those Asian countries?

WWII was a world gone mad. Revisionists of that time are always so self righteous. Were you even alive then? I wasn't! You cannot use today's moral compass to criticize our prosecution of WWII in Asia.

BTW: By dropping the bomb rather than invading, my father returned home safe, wounded, but sound. I and my eight siblings and our offspring might very well be here because Truman chose not to invade.

China has allowed their people to be exploited by foreign capitalist for huge profits long enough to acquire wealth and market control. Large and small corporations all over the world created this problem, because now China needs to expand and is doing so. It isn't China's people. It is the elite Chinese leaders who benefit just like American businesses do at the cost of the health and prosperity of their people

Capitalism has had a perfect blend with Communist China, it is only those that don't understand their social-economical culture that try to label them.

China has 1 million millionaires, ranks 8th in the world with people that have assets over 100 million dollars. These are the Chinese people and they made their money through Capitalism.

China has a better record of income advancement than America. In China working hard and being creative will make you wealthy, in America being born into the right family will insure your wealth. America has lost its class upward mobility function. People are stuck in the class they were born in.

@Plain&Simple While Japan was clearly in the wrong for attacking Pearl Harbor and causing what is known as the Rape of Nanking, Pearl Harbor was mostly a military installation. Nanking was just a regular city that was pillaged by the Japanese. Ever heard of Unit 731? The Japanese performed forced medical experiments on Chinese civilians. After World War II, many of the commanders of Unit 731, were given passes by the U.S. government in return for their medical research. Now what have we learned? War is Hell, and people in general suck. In all honesty, I think the Chinese have more right to be upset with the Japanese than you.

lololol sure Plain&Simple haha Because how many 94 year old WWII veterans take the time to get online, create an account on this website, and argue about World War II? Elderly people do tend to have more difficulties with technology at no fault of their own. Regardless, I can't believe that an ignorant person like you, is able to utilize a computer all on his/her own. Even if you're physically older than me, you're definitely not mentally rofl! Boy.

@William Xu: Shame on you for assailing plain&simple. Though I can agree with your iput on Japan's behavior toward China during the 30's and 40's, and though I do not agree with all that plain& simple has to say, I think it is disgraceful to castigate the fellow.

P&S has his opinion, and that opinion is embedded in first-hand experience. I think we have to accept why he feels the way he feels even if you don't appreciate or adopt his opinion.

@roger white-3731376

Wow really? Shame on you for believing everything you hear on the internet. Do I not have my right to be suspicious? I've never heard of a 94 year old person, much less a 94 year old WWII vet really using the internet efficiently. Is it possible? Sure. Probable? No.

So if I tell you that I'm an Iraq war veteran who saved the lives of twenty of his comrades you'll just say okay? Little tip, never believe someone touting his/her own credentials in an open forum for discussion such as this. It's impossible to verify. In such a case, simply back your arguments up with credible evidence that can be found from trusted sources of information.

If I could verify that he is indeed a WWII vet, I would just ignore him because his unique experiences have helped shape his opinion. However, I am unable to do so and under the circumstances do not believe his is what he claims to be. I find it demeaning toward all U.S. veterans who have actually put their lives on the line to guarantee our freedoms, just for some imposter to use the anonymity of the internet to claim to be one.

You may think my actions are somehow disgraceful. Well that is certainly your opinion and you're entitled to it. Unfortunately, my opinion of you consists of the beliefs that you are entirely too naive and gulliable. The fact that you believe him to be a WWII vet without any proof is laughable. i sincerely hope you don't work in security. BTW, I've fought against aliens from outer space and have a dragon for a pet.

1St - pj - the atomic bombings SAVED millions of American military and Japanese civilian casualties that would have resulted from a US invasion of the Japanese mainland! Get it straight! Read! don't just have your mind filled with revisionist history. As for implicating Plain & Simple in war crimes, check your history! Somebody should teach you some respect, punk!

2nd - freecascadian - ok! You claim Pearl Harbor was a LEGITIMATE target! Well it really worked out well for the Japanses to launch a SNEAK attack on the US! Didn't it? See Hiroshima and Nagasaki!!!!!!!!!!!!Take care buddy!

3rd - Plain & Simple - Don't pay any attention to these liberal bleeding hearts who never read a history book. Let them ridicule you. Their opinions, like their lives, are irrelevant! Thank you for you service, sir! Thankfully Harry Truman had the guts to drop those bombs and a war the USA had nothing to do with starting. The end result was a free Pacific and the end of fascism and nazism in Europe. To the rest the regins of the world: Your welcome!

During World War II, China had successfully destroyed 60% Japanese troops, if this is not the case, the Native Americans now should speak Japanese, not English.

@William Xu: I really don't need any tips from you. I don't blame you for being suspicious, that is fine.

Go to your second paragraph in your #2.16, I know more than enough about human communication and rhetorical psychology to accrately interpret your comment as insulting to P&S specifically and elderly in general.

I don't believe everything I read anywhere, internet included. Even if P&S is an allegorical character, a legitimate view was expressed. I do not particularly agree with P&S, but I do not agree with assailing the elderly.

America might as well get used to China's dominant role in the world. Unfortunately, they have the means and the arrogance, to settle for nothing less than becoming the leading world super power in the 21st century! And the way things are going in the U.S., it will probably sooner rather than later! You may want to think about ordering the Rosetta Stone/ Chinese edition????

Guys give william xu a pass - he is chinese.

@roger white-3731376

This is the quote taken exactly from my comment: "lololol sure Plain&Simple haha Because how many 94 year old WWII veterans take the time to get online, create an account on this website, and argue about World War II? Elderly people do tend to have more difficulties with technology at no fault of their own."

How is this me insulting or assailing the elderly in general??? You must have the thinnest skin ever. It is a legitimate observation. When I say that elderly people tend to have more difficulties with technology at no fault of their own, it is comparable to me making the observation that elderly people have an increased risk to develop Alzheimer's disease. You obviously do not know enough about human communication to accurately interpret a legitimate observation from an insult. I respectfully referred to them as "elderly people", accepted that there were exceptions with this observation, and said that it was NO FAULT of their own. Pretty sure when I hit 70 or 80 I'll have trouble with modern technology. Again, I cannot see how this is insulting to elderly people.

Of course it's insulting to P&S! He's been doing the same to others and so have you! If you were looking for everybody to be respectful, you've come to the wrong place. I make no excuses for my own actions, but I'm really only doing what everyone else has.

Also, while you say you don't believe everything you read, a comment ago you just believed that P&S was a 94 year old WWII veteran! With no proof! Granted it is impossible to prove such a fact on the internet, but he did express a legitimate view on the subject, and I expressed a legitimate view on how I thought his views were stupid. Why wouldn't my comments be insulting? He advocates for the death of an entire country. A country where many of my close friends live. How could I just sit back and shrug my shoulders? He goes on to claim to be a former WWII veteran. You obviously know that I don't believe him and find it insulting to the men and women who put their lives on the line. If you had absolute knowledge that he was instead just an angry ignorant person on the computer, wouldn't you be upset?

@Pat-1988241

I am an American. I was born in the United States of America, support the United States of America, and love the United States of America.

@William Xu: You edited your comment; that does not work with me.

Re-read your paragraph 3 in 2.18: Beacuse you cannot verify, you do not believe. That is very polarized. Then, you go on to use the word imposter. Suspicion is fine, but you went straight to guilty without proof.

No, I'm not thin-skiined, you didn't assail me. It is youwho is thin-skinned! Don't like being called out, do you? Sorry to step on your narcissistic sensitivities. I take that back, I actually love to do that with the likes of you.

William. I have no stake in this debate.

My father fought in the Pacific.....took him years to get over it. PLAIN AND SIMPLE ABSOLUTELY used terminology that indicates to me he 'was there'

If I had to guess.....I would say a Marine. Dad was a Navy signalman who went ashore and directed big guns on the ship. These men have a different perspective....but if you talk to them, once you get past the hate speach, you find out they had great respect for the fighting ability of the "Japs". The hate is because Japanese so effectively killed a lot of their buddies

Oh, yeah...and kind of an age related dig about the technology thing. I know what you mean, but I know a BUNCH of older people that do just fine.

The Island has benn a part of Ryukyu Island chain since 1894. There is nothing wrong for the Japanese to raise the flag on their own land. The chinese leaders have been using Japan as a scapegoat for internal problems and I suspect the same in this case. We in the West should think about what to do when the chinese real estate bubble bursts within the next 5 years.

@NJREP

We liberals read history books we just happen to read more history than just western history books that are really just propaganda to further the lie that we are the best and the only ones that are right(I am refering to my school books of the 80's and 90's). We see both sides of the story! NO country can honestly say they have not harmed another in some way even while gaining independence(some exclusions possibly since I am not a history major)While many actions of the military seem sound with the minimal facts given, some are not. Fear has been used by the goverment and the military to make people follow like sheep! In most places not just US. I do not support ALL military decisions of ANY country.

P&S has a right to his opinon and I have taken care of an elderly gent who refused to let a South Korean nurse assist him. He would scream at her and since she was the only nurse on staff he would have to go without care! Blaming a random person/s for things that happened in the past is no way to live. But knowing world history allows me to see that if China is allowed to slowly "eat up" all that they are curently wanting, where will they want next. You would think in the 21st century we would be moving forward not backward! Land conquering went out of style a few centuries ago!lol

@William Xu: One last observation, Your 2.16, last two sentences: INSULTING!!! Now try to defend those comments!

You wrote them. Enough said. Bye!

@Roger White

I didn't edit anything!!!!!!! Wow!!! Are you kidding me???!!!! You are absolutely ridiculous!!! When you post a comment on here, it gives you approximately I believe two to four minutes to edit your comment. My comment was posted at 10:35 AM. You claiming that I insulted the elderly, occurred at 10:52 AM. However, I didn't see your comment until around 11:10 AM. You're an idiot!!! My window to edit that comment already expired!!! Seems like you have a bit of trouble reading.

If they cannot verify something, then of course people don't believe! Many people do that with religion!! I've never met him and therefore have no reason to believe him! In all honesty, the only proof I have is circumstantial, and I have already listed them to you. Perhaps I was influenced by the fact that he advocated the death of my friends and called me "Boy" which would've possible racial undertones if I was African American. However, he is unable to provide any evidence showing the contrary.

Seeing as how I definitely didn't edit my comments since the window to edit them had already expired, you are either unable to read or just grasping at straws now. I also don't see how I'm narcissistic since I said that I would probably have trouble with modern technology when I grow old, and am in many cases against the Chinese government. And I don't feel like I've been called out at all. This discussion is pretty much dead unless you realize that I didn't edit my comment. Obviously you believe that I "insulted" the elderly and edited my comments.

@Roger White

Those last two sentences: "Regardless, I can't believe that an ignorant person like you, is able to utilize a computer all on his/her own. Even if you're physically older than me, you're definitely not mentally rofl!" Are toward P&S, not the elderly you idiot!! Being only 19 years old, there is a definite possibility that he is older than me! Maybe not.

lol Look at you bolding the word "insulting" and saying you're not thin-skinned. Incase you haven't noticed, a lot of people are insulting each other on this site haha

@Tom

First allow me to thank your family for their service to this nation. I can't imagine what your father had to have gone through. The reason I believe that your father served in WWII, is because like you said, you have no stake in this debate.

Maybe P&S really is a WWII veteran. I don't know what kind of "terminology" would lead you to believe that, but I'll trust that you know what it means. However, I never intended to have a "dig" at the elderly. I'm sorry if anyone sees it that way, but I merely observed that many elderly have trouble using modern technology. It would be the same as me saying that the elderly are more at risk for Alzheimer's disease. You're right! Many elderly people use modern technology just fine! Just like many elderly people never experience Alzheimer's. However, Roger White claiming that I edited my statements are just ridiculous and laughable. In my profile picture, I'm standing with an elderly man. I think that's more than enough proof that I don't have a bias toward the elderly.

Do you concur?

i really would hate to see another World War. and i hope we can manage to somehow not get caught in this, though unlikely. it seems we must interfere with others affairs, like in the middle east. who's side are we on? (thats a serious question)

@Roger White and @NJRep - The US had the option to let go and NOT invade Japan. But no they had to completely vanquish them. What do you think would've happeneed if they had not pursued them at all? This is a complete nonsense explanation that they saved more lives by killing more people. So should iraq have nuked US if they had that option? Because since 1991 Iraq as a nation is completely destroyed for nothing other than maintaining Texas-Saudi oil & defense connection.

The allied forces were no better than the Nazis to most of the world i.e. Asian, Africans, Latinos. WWII is a history of one violent group with other where the more violent group prevailed. Don't try to ascribe morality to the victory. And by the way - history is always written by the victors.

William Xu

I agree with you about how china has more rights to be mad at Japan. People have been talking about Par Harbor but I think nagasaki, hiroshima, and the air raids were much worse. I know what Japan did to a lot of asian countries were horrible but after Japanese lost, China also did many inhuman things to them. For example: Rape. Many Japanese women had to disguise themselves so the chinese won't notice. The Chinese also threw japanese babys into the rivers so they could die. I don't think Japan were the only bad ones in WW2 but theres something I need to tell you. You were talking about how Japanese were using chinese as experiments for making black death but the truth is they never did it.

@Happy824

Oh jeez. At least we agree that China and Japan did a lot of bad things. China's human right's record hasn't been stellar to say the least. Though I'm wondering why there are so many Japanese babies in China that are thrown into the rivers, and in all honesty, sometimes I can't tell the physical difference between the Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. How would they disguise themselves to look more Chinese?

However, Unit 731 definitely existed. Especially since there have been Japanese former guards who came forward and testified. Simply go on youtube, type in Unit 731, and you will see the evidence.

That being said, I believe that stupidity and human cruelty, know no nationality, religion, or race. People do bad things regardless. Some of my closest friends are Japanese, but I can't judge them based on what their country has done no more than what mine has done.

@ Plain&Simple : Yes, there were atrocities committed by the Japanese...but we certainly did our share too. War is like that- or had you forgotten?

Hatred is created by the leadership of both sides to justify atrocity...but only for those committing them.

Future generations always regard them with a well-deserved horror- and dismay that our beloved country could be so evil in the name of saving all that is good.

So, yes...there was Pearl Harbor. Yes, there was the Death March. Both are infamous.

But we also took all properties from thousands of Americans of Japanese ancestry- and sent the owners to prison camps where many died lingering deaths from lack of shelter and warmth, and poor food. They were civilians- men, women and children. Little is said of this- and no effort to restore the property wrongfully taken was made after victory was achieved.

We also killed thousands more with two nuclear weapons for the sake of expedience- to avoid the deaths of American troops. Most of those killed were, again, civilians. So...infamy- on both sides of the Pacific.

What of it? Who is the ally and who the aggressor in this situation? That would be Japan- and China. Live in the past if you like- and miss the obvious peril before our nation of a new bully on the block- armed with the fiscal might traitors amongst our corporate citizens gave them for the sake of parasitically achieved wealth.

Few things are less dangerous to a nation than a warrior unable to discern the enemy- or adapt to change.

You cannot lead, and you will not follow- so, I think you need to get the hell out of the way.

@William Xu: Your being 19 years old explains so much to me about how you see things and about how you react to my calling you out.

You have much to learn, as a former prof of Human Communication, I have the credentials to point that out to you. Of course, you do not believe me because you argue it cannot be verified. Yes, it can; view my profile, contact my friends on face book, do you want to verify that through contacting the schools where I taught? They are: 1). New York College of Thessaloniki and; 2). The American College of Thessaloniki. I can send you my CV e-mail. You want incontrovertible - I can deliver on that! And why am I no longer a prof? Because I recently took a position as an examination analyst and test item writer.

Yes, knowing now what I know of you, this conversation is over. When you get older, better educated, more experienced and have matured, then we can talk. Until then, this quinquegenerian is finished with you.

In the meantime, learn how to take criticism, show some respect for the elderly, get your narcissism checked - and grow up!

William Xu

sorry I think I was a bit unclear. They disguised themselves as guys so they won't get raped.

PJ: Your comments are so cliche and pedestrian that they make you boring to read.

You should get a job writing instructions for making instant mashed potatoes.

If you look at your comment number 2.26, you spelled "Because" "Beacuse"...

It's ironic that you claim to be a former professor of Human communication and can't spell a word that all fourth graders can. If you want me to take a look at your Facebook, then sign in via Facebook like I did.

Here's the problem, I don't know you, and you don't know me. However, right of the bat the first thing you say to me is, "Shame on you for..." like you're my parent or teacher. If you wanted to avoid a verbal spar, then all you had to do is simply disagree. Now you're throwing a temper tantrum like a five year old lol. You're not giving me criticism, you're trying to give me a lecture.

I've addressed every single part of every comment that you point out to be insulting to the elderly. They contained no such thing, and then you claim that I edited my comment. I therefore said in comment number 2.31, "When you post a comment on here, it gives you approximately I believe two to four minutes to edit your comment. My comment was posted at 10:35 AM. You claiming that I insulted the elderly, occurred at 10:52 AM. However, I didn't see your comment until around 11:10 AM. You're an idiot!!! My window to edit that comment already expired!!!" You have undoubtedly realized this, and will not admit that you misread my comment.

Then you attempt to change the subject by pointing out in comment number 2.30, that the last two sentences of my comment in 2.16, were insulting the elderly. I responded in comment number 2.32, "Those last two sentences: "Regardless, I can't believe that an ignorant person like you, is able to utilize a computer all on his/her own. Even if you're physically older than me, you're definitely not mentally rofl!" are toward P&S, not the elderly you idiot!! Being only 19 years old, there is a definite possibility that he is older than me! Maybe not."

You then attempt to save what's left of your pride and change the subject to my age. Lecturing me to respect my elders and to become more educated. You're a definite role model for maturity and experience. Take your own advice Professor of Human Communication who can't spell the word "because" correctly.

If you look at my profile picture, I'm obviously standing with an elderly man. Do you know who he is? I'll give you a hint, he's a former Senator, and has been called a real American Hero. I respect my elders plenty thank you. You on the other hand, are nothing but a cowardly individual who tries to save what is left of his tattered pride even though he has been thoroughly defeated. I pity any students you might've ever had. They obviously didn't get a thorough education.

This is great. One country with 1 Billion people, want 26 more acres of almost inaccessible islands, another country, with one of the world best economies are hassling the other over a flyspeck of land. This is kinda like seventeen year olds comparing the length of their penis with each other. What's another word for ridiculous?

The CIA, "christians in action", probably love this!!

Roger - not interested in stealing your job. You can keep it.

Truth is always boring and those who like to live in fantasyland can easily push it aside by calling it cliche. Perhaps you are running out of brainpower too. So save it for another day.

@William Xu: You just cannot see the forest for the trees, you bumptious little blowhard. BTW: I just loved you pitiful bend-over-backwards, gluteus maximus-kissing act of acquiescence in your post 2.33. "Do you concur"? What a deaparate, narcissistic plea for approval.

And using in your profile the photo of a former senator; pure narcissism. Aren't you special!!

Do come back. I'm having a blast at your expense!!!

PJ: Fantasyland? If I were living in fantasyland, then I would not be reading the news and articles like this.

Oh, before I forget, how many cups of boiling water for three cups of mashed patato flakes?

@William Xu: Oops, meant to use "your" rather than "you" at the end of line one and I missspelled desparate. Oh well, I'm in my fifties, so, according to your view of the elderly, I must be getting senile.

Guess I'll just have to get it all said before I hit sixty, by then, it will be too late!

@Roger White

What are you creeping on me now? You think I'm being a "gluteus maximus" kisser by thanking him and his family for their service? Me asking him if he concurred, was merely asking if he agreed. I don't see how that becomes a narcissistic plea for approval.

You're the one saying that I don't respect my elders. The photo with him is just proof that I do respect my elders and have no bias against them. Again, pure narcissism?

Not going to sign in with your Facebook so that I can verify who you are before you change it? Well I guess that's expected from you. So you're not going to address all the other occasions in which you accused me of being disrespectful to the elderly?

Yeah you did spell "desperate" wrong and used "you" instead of your. But fifty is honestly not that old. Don't worry Mr. Professor you're not going senile, you've just always been stupid. I agree with PJ, you're running out of brainpower. Either that or you don't know how to proofread.

Regardless, if nothing else answer me this question. Did you or did you not falsely accuse me of editing my comment?

OnIt: Had to scroll down to answer you. Chinese work hard and are rewarded through there capitalists endeavors? I think if trade barriers,fair wages, and safe working conditions existed their wealth would be no where near those numbers. We allowed them free access to our industries and universities. Yet they still steal ( Los Alamos) information and break laws concerning copyrights. Yes you can make big money with piracy,espionage, and forced labor. I would like it if you could mention some humanitarian causes they are involved in. Maybe in Tibet or some of their Muslim provinces, where by the way they allow prayer. What % of millionaires did you say they have? Could that be 1%?

@Roger dodger - whatever happened to a thing called "brain"?

Go back to your potato thing. BTW have your SS and unemployment checks run out by now?

@Roger White

Wow. I am stunned, so to say, by the fact that this whole argument began with your accusing Mr. William Xu for insulting the elderly, yet you proceed to insult him throughout the argument, repeatedly calling him "narcissistic" and making the point that, because he is young, his arguments bear no merit. So - going along with the theme that the young are frivolous and not to be taken for their word - were the efforts, arguments, and knowledge of those as young as Steve Jobs - among other successful entrepreneurs - when they started their businesses frivolous and uninformed? I think not. I believe that your "tearing down" William's "narcissistic" ego is, in fact, very immature of someone who claims to be a professor at such well-known institutions (doing so is also degrading to the reputation of the institutions). Also, I would think that a professor would be better than to mistake educated for narcissistic (looking at the language structure) or end a fragment with punctuation, so to say (people's language says a lot more about a person than he or she may think).

In addition, if I may state - lest some unfounded criticism be voiced about me, of whom you know nothing - William's statement that it is not logical for a 90-year-old WWII veteran (or any elder, for that matter) to be on a forum is a valid observation. I for certain that my 90-year old grandparents (one of which who is, believe it or not, a WWII veteran), although they may use a computer, do not hang around forums looking to pick arguments with people who happen to state an observation with fact. They do not even comment on them, in fact.

Therefore, I say to you, "shame on you" for calling out and proceeding to insult Mr. William Xu.

.

@Merissa: Calling Billy Xu a narcissistist is no more of an insult than calling a moron an idiot. If Billy respected his elders, then why didn't he use a photo of a parent or grandparent? No, he chose a former senator - pure narcissism. And the fact that he keeps coming back - pure narcissism. He is like catching a fish, letting it go, then catching it again - over and over again, pure narcissism.

I haven't had this much fun with an arrogant narcissist since last August, hmm, there must be something about the month.

And you think I mistook language structure for narcissism. Wow, stupid comment.

Billy is a classic case of the narcissistic "I- know-it-all". Been there, saw that, found those people are hopeless. So, go ahead and hold his flaccid copulatory organ for him.

I have seen many young people make valid arguments, why, I helped them learn how to make valid arguments. Billy, though, did not make valid arguments, only whimsical gaffs. I guess you no more understand the difference between a good argument and a bad one than that compensatory narcissist. You are possibly about the same age as Billy, it figures.

Want further evidence "Billy Who" is a narcissist? He keeps responding to my post. and insisting he is right.

Yes, for a man my age to play this game sounds silly, but I enjoy putting young narcissists in their place.

Oh, and Billy, I'm a former member of the United States Air Force, served in Desert Shield/Storm and my father served in the Navy in the Pacific during WWII. Want to show my father and I the same obsequious acquiescence as you did Tom in 2.33? No thanks! Not from you!

Merissa: Careful about playing smart with English grammar. Your remark about a fragment, hello, get it right. Also, notice your sentence in paragraph 2, " I for certain that my ... ." Forget something there? Going on, your parenthetical; "one of which who..." yikes!

Later, I'm sure! Oh, and I want to thank you and "Billy Who" for keeping me entertained.

You two hurry and write, I am 56, so I need to get to bed soon.

@Billy Who: Missed your question earlier. To answer, no I did not falsely accuse you of editing your comment. You obviously have only one definition for the word "edit". My use of the word "edit" was not relative to the time newsvine gives to editing one's own post. I didn't falsely accuse you of anything. Now, if I were to say that you are a nice person, then you could accuse me of a false accusation.

@Roger

So the so called former professor of human communications, is the first to resort to childish name calling? Well to each his own. I really don't see how William Xu is being narcassistic. Are you going to put the same label on me when you see that I don't agree with you? It's actually kind of funny how after every comment you give yourself a vote. Pretty sure you don't have a fan who followed along this entire argument, support you, and yet doesn't speak up. Rather narcissistic of you.

Pretty sure you're the one who doesn't like being called out. You've been changing the subject repeatedly. First you try to rag on his comments, he counters each accusation, and so you go after his age and profile picture. I don't think anyone sees how William "assailed" elderly people. You're demanding respect while not giving a reason for him to give you any. You are what we call a "troll".

@New York 1980: No, I would not call you a manifest narcissistc. Me? Yes, to some extent. You see, everyone is narcissistic, it is a matter of degree.

Fine if you disagree with, but I question if you -like Merissa - read, I mean READ Xu's posts from first to last and then meshed them with mine. those.

Look, I could not care less if anyone followed and supported me, I'm not that narcissistic.

I don't mind being called out, but Xu sure did not achieve that. I did not change the subject, I maintained my pursuit, missed that, huh? Sure, her countered my "accusations" about like the Iraqis countered Desert Storm - and they lost badly though Saddam (like XU) said: "If I survive, I win".

And what was Xu's fallacy: Setting up a straw figure.

I didn't demand respect for myself.

Now think about that profile picture and match it to his rhetoric in his earlier posts. If you cannot see the disparity, then no wonder you are a Xu fan.

So, read his posts that preceed my first post, read them carefully, dissect the linguistics and be objective. Note that Xu said he did not believe S&P because he could not verify P&S's claim of age and veteran status. However, was XU absolutely certain P&S is not who he says he is? Of course Xu is not. Keep that in mind when - if - you read Xu. Xu went from I cannot verify to I do not believe to therefore you are not who you say you are -thus an imposter. That is what is know as faulty inductive reasoning leading to yet another logic fallacy: rushed conclusion.

And consider this; 19 year-olds can volunteer to suit up, get trained, pick up a gun and fight. and they have to deal with the consequences when a more experienced, better trained soldier puts him in the cross hairs. The same thing goes here - irrespective of age. So don't pamper him because he's 19 and so much younger than I am. Our kids these days...!

@Roger

In your last post to me, you claimed that you did not falsely accuse me of editing my comment. You said that I only have one definition for the word "edit". My definition of "edit," is the process of correcting or revising text, images, or sound. I would say that definition is rather the popular one. So what's your definition?

Your response to NewYork1980, was pretty much telling him to go back and read the earlier posts. The only reason you say that is because you can't point out an specific examples. I've already addressed specific quotes that you have pointed out, clarified them, and provided analysis. I've done this in comments 2.24,2.31,2.32, and 2.42. Each time, you attempt to change the subject onto my age as well as my profile picture. You have no logical argument, and are grasping at straws.

In regards, to my profile picture, I do not tend to show pictures of my family to strangers over the internet. That's why I do not use one with my parents or grandparents. Under your claim that I am narcissistic for uploading a photo where I am standing next to a former senator, I could use a photo of just myself and you could still put the label on me. By your definition, the only way a person couldn't be narcissistic, is if they didn't have a picture at all. Before you ask, I'm definitely not uploading a photo of my friend's siblings... that's just sick. Please take your barely existent flaccid organ out of your mouth, and get your head out of your gluteus maximus. It may be difficult because it's stuck quite deep in. The former... not so much.

If you've ever truly had students, then they have succeeded in spite of you, not because of you. What kind of former professor resorts to childish name calling? I noticed that you failed to provide a reason for it. Instead, you are addressing me by my last name now. Whatever happened to "Billy Who"? If I'm narcissistic for continuing to reply, then you are too because you're doing the exact same thing. However, I mean what I say and I say what I mean. Therefore when I say that you are not worth my time, and goodbye, you know I'm telling the truth. I'm not going to randomly address you again after this like you did to me.

Billy Who

P.S. In comment 2.57, you should've capitalized the letter "t" in the word "those," since it was the first word after the period. In comment 2.47, you misspelled the word "misspelled"! You added an extra "s" in case you were wondering. The fact that you're supposed former professor of human communications and rhetoric, makes it all the more embarrassing. I just played you like a Game Boy.

@Roger
I have read his posts as well as the entire discussion. The posts 2.24, 2.31, 2.32, and 2.42 are directly addressing your accusations and clarifying the statements word for word. You did change the subject and never maintained pursuit. For example, in post 2.32, Xu is clarifying an obvious statement as directed toward the user P&S, which you claimed in a past post, that the statement to be directed toward the elderly in general. After 2.32, in your most recent comment at the time (2.39), you jump at his age and change the subject from possible insult toward the elderly, to an attack on his character. I do not see how you label this as not changing the subject and "maintaining your pursuit". Xu had to address you several times over your accusation that he edited his comment, which you only recently addressed. Unfortunately, you didn't provide many answers, and only bought yourself some time.
Maybe you never intended to demand respect. However, you were the one to initiate the conversation. It's hard to respect someone when before ever speaking to you personally, the first words out of their mouth include the words, "Shame on you..."
I'll finish this statement for you. Our kids these days... are just like us when we were kids. While we might have had advances in some areas such as technology, we also experienced new challenges. Every generation will find their way. The fact that Xu who is 19, was able to outsmart his "elder" just proves that being older doesn't necessarily make one smarter. Of course it could make one more wise, but it could also make one stubborn.
Regardless, I wish you luck in your future pursuits. Hopefully though, it will not include name calling.
@William Xu
Sometimes it's best to win gracefully, and to continue on with your life. Reasoning with some people, is like describing color to a blind person. You'll do your best, but it's ultimately impossible.

Sorry Billy and NY80, didn't bother to read your last posts, won't bother either. Movin' on. Billy can't do that though because he is too narcissistic to let this go. It really burns up a narcissist when someone walks away from him, so I'm leaving you to burn Billy.

It's been fun, Billy. I enjoyed you much more than I enjoy good reality TV. When you and NY80 get together, tell him said "Hi".

No RSVP required guys!!!

@NewYork1980

Yeah your right. I should've learned by now not to argue with trolls over the internet. While technology has given us so many advantages, it has also at times allowed ignorance and cowardice to foster. A perfect example is Roger.

I was honestly surprised when he said that he was a former professor of human communication and rhetoric. Even a high school English teacher has some standards! But to become a professor? Well, it must've not been that great of a school.

New york, what kind of retired professor watches reality television? Doesn't he have a family to busy himself with?

@ William

I don't think Roger realizes that it's you walking away and not the other way around...

You live and learn kiddo! You can give people opportunities but ultimately they have to decide to take it. I have some serious doubts as to Roger's claimed professional background. I'd suggest you'd just relax because there's no way he'll try to prove it because he can't, even though he claimed the contrary. If he could, he would've by now.

"I say what I mean and I mean what I say." Not bad!

@ NewYork1980

Thanks! I appreciate it! Never thought a quote from Doctor Seuss would help me "win" so to say. Oh well. While this "victory" is sweet, I usually enjoy debating at school with more informed and honest individuals. Even if they might have a more convincing argument, I actually at least learn something. While with Roger it was like just smacking around a punching bag.

@Billy Who:

We didn't debate. Lucky for you, you couldn't debate your way out of bed! What, with THREE logical fallacies: Straw Figure; Ad Hominem and; Rushed Conclusion.

Then you declare YOUSELF the winner, only a narcissist does that.

For more information on who Billy Who is, go to wwwnarcissisminfosite.com

@William

Who's Billy Who anyways? Must be someone's imaginary friend.

Oh well you did fine. For those of you out there who need to learn how to actually debate (Roger) please search "Robert's Rules for Participating in a Debate!" on www.dummies.com

Robert's Rules! Jeez, who are you kidding, high school students? Try looking into: !). Harvard Style Debate or; 2). Parliamentary Style Debate. God, you are obviously a rank amateur.

ny80; What you don't realize is that you are that narcissist's facilitator. What DUPE YOU ARE.

But, you chose to support the narcissist, so to change you position now would be an admission of error. Between you and billy. I'm no longer sure who is the more simple minded. But I am sure the narcissist has successfully completed stage one where you are concerned; stage one is recruitment. Good luck with that, sucker.

@NY1980

Why is Roger replying to posts meant for someone else? I really don't get it. Just like I don't get how a former professor of human communication and rhetoric could make all those spelling errors, not capitalize the "b" in "Billy" and not place an "a" between the words "What" and "DUPE". How has he not learned to proof-read what he writes yet? Hahahahahaha

Sure Harvard Style Debate or Parliamentary Style Debate are probably good sources of information, but I don't think it'll do Roger any good since he can't read as shown by the previous comments. He should probably start from defining the word "editing," since general definitions are not good enough. lol

@ William

Not sure. Maybe he wants attention?

Regardless, Robert's Rules of Order was published in 1876 by U.S. Army Colonel Henry Martyn Robert. The book deals with mainly the operations and logistics of the government, but does have a section covering debate, and is currently in its 11th edition. I pointed out the option of getting a watered down version of this book on www.dummies.com, because...well... look who we're talking to.

Hi guys:

billy: I chose purposely to no longer cap your diminution. Golly gee, billy, you got me on proofing, ouch, it hurts so much (sarcasm). Since that is all you got left, take your ball and go home In your #2.63." you said you debated at school. In 2.67 you said:.."are probably good sources..." (para 2). Your comment tells me you do not debate, for if you did, you would know well those two sources.

And what victory is sweet? Like I said above, only a narcissist declares himself a winner because they cannot accept that someone else is right and he, the narcissist, is wrong, lest his sense of self-aggrandizement should the drawn into question. I will not say I won because we did not debate, and if we had, it would take at least three third party judges to make that call. You d not debate!

And the punching bag... the only bag you punched is that little on containing your test.....s. You couldn't punch your way out of the girls' locker room. I see through you we can now add masochism to the list of characteristics of the definitive narcissist. There are 264 logical fallacies on the official list. I think I'll recommend we make 265 by adding narcissism as a fallacy. BTW: Reality TV is a great source for observing human behavior though I wouldn't suggest all programs. Reality TV evolved from the social experiments sociologists and psychologists were performing in the fiftis and sixties.

NY80: The book, having been published in 1876, does not make for currency. Debate has changed in the last 136 years. A little tip on editions, minute changes are made as a means of maintaining publication. Though I do not know this arcane piece military literature, I imagine the later editions focused on ops and logistics. Let us examine the credibility of the author, re-read your own post, I need not say anything more of that. And the book has "a section covering debate", it's not a debate book.

NY80 what a pity, you seem like a nice guy, I'm pretty sure you are because that is who narcissists seek as facilitators. Now, he is beginning to move you to the exploitation phase. Send that dummies website to billy, he can start with that, sounds like it will be in a context he can comprehend. Did you read?

@NewYork

I honestly think he's the one being the narcissist seeing as how he believes that anyone is even reading his messages anymore. Seriously, just like his students and most likely anyone he ever knew, no one cares about what he has to say. It's like watching a dog chase after his own tail. However, I did get a glimpse of how he said that I couldn't punch my way out of the girl's locker room. What can I say? When a group of women demand that I stay... I guess I have no choice. I'm not sure I would even argue. lol But I assume he'll never have that problem and for that I congratulate him.

If only stupidity was a fallacy, his name would've been on a list the day he was born. What a shame. lol I hope a student never asked him for a letter of recommendation, because that would be similar to a seal of incompetency on the person's resume.

NY, do you like pancakes?

@William

What made me upset was the fact that he had to resort to juvenile name calling and yet claimed to be a former professor. I felt it was just utterly ridiculous. Personal attacks are going to happen, especially when the anonymity of the internet is concerned. In all honesty, there have been somethings that I regret saying.

But yes I love pancakes! I eat chocolate chip pancakes like no one else.

@the guys: I'm certain no one is reading me except the two of you and that's all I want. Just feedin' the narcissist.

Pancakes, huh? Let me know when and where, I'll join you though I'll have something nutritious, pancakes are fattening.

@New York

Well I find the chocolate pancakes too sweet. Usually I go for either blueberry or just regular buttermilk. I remember that there's actually a pancake eating competition in California. My friend went there and said that the winner topped out at around thirty! How does one even do that?!?!?!?!

@William

I'm surprised that food eating is labeled as an actual sport. They have those competitions for hot dogs and pizzas as well. Not sure if that would be something really worth being proud of if you won haha. Apparently the 'athletes' are referred to as "competitive eaters". Kobayashi recently ate 110 hot dogs at a state fair.

That strategy worked great the last time we decided to "sit out" as one Asian power dominated the others....oh wait no it didn't...it led to Pearl Harbor...hmm

Sitting out a war in North Africa, sure that makes sense, but in East Asia? No, that's a very different ballgame and foreign policy shall reflect it.

Be Way: You are stumbling terribly to make a point. I'm sure it will be a stupid one, if you ban find the words to make it!

You don't really get Japan do you? To call them ungrateful is a bit misleading. Did you know that Japan payed 10 billion dollars to the USA in order to support the Gulf War?

@Charlie Brown: And through that ten billion we come to understand Japan? I need more.

@patriot to the bone: Anyone using that moniker gets my vote!!!

Got you to provide the click though traffic and post, didn't it?

hmm, I thought that Taiwan(or Republic of China as they call themselves) is claiming china as well...How funny it is.

What gets me is China and Japan already have more people then they can feed or take care of humanly and now they want to spread (infest) into other peoples territories? I suggest getting their own house in order before trying to take on more people and land then they can care for.

What is with these countries? they cant even feed themselves as it is!

I don't know about China, but F.Y.I., Japan is a developed nation just like the USA & many countries in Europe and they can feed themselves!! Just like many countries, like us, they have their share of economic downturns. I think we are the ones that can't feed ourselves, when millions of our people are on welfare and food stamps!!

Elaine..I have been to both countries and I can honestly say that China is the filthiest rat infested country I have ever seen. Japan on the other hand takes pride in their cleanliness and support of their people. You need to take a good look in you're own back yard, before spouting off about another country that you know nothing of.

elaine-442221

I don't think its japans fault that they need to expand cause Japan doesn't have much land. Even there houses are small.... but on the other hand, China has way more land than Japan.

elaine-442221: Japan has a smaller proportion of hungry people than, say, the USA, and has in addition a steadily shrinking population.

I'm really not a China supporter, but just out of curiosity, why did the Japanese fishermen abandon their base on the islands in 1945? And just because the Japanese may have had had a presence in the islands in the early 1940s doesn't necessarily mean they have a legitimate claim to them. They also had a significant presence in Manchuria and many other East Asian countries in the early 1940s. Since they were the regional superpower in that part of the world at the time, they did pretty much whatever they wanted in the area.

It doesn't matter! If China wants it, they will fabricate some sort of history to take it. Look at the modern map of China? Why are Tibet, Xianjiang, Uigher and other nonHan "prefectures" part of China in the first place? If China had it her way they would rule one third of India as well.

China has gone as far as to rewrite history to their liking, even claiming the cultures of other nations are as their own, such as Mongolia and of the Ancient Joseon dynasty of Korea.

Be Way, WWII ended a long time ago. Let it go. Or are you going to kill the great great grand children now?

Seeing that you're posting via facebook, maybe you should go check to see how your FarmVille is doing. Maybe you can make an anti Japan theme with hay bales.

Ike hana - thank you for bring a piece of history to this story however the roots of hate between China and Japan are what is causing this fight over the islands. The wrongs, the rapes, the murder of women and children, cutting babies out of an alive women, tossing babies in the air to have them land on their bayonets - this is not a distant memory for the Chinese, The Rape of Nanking details the horror the Japanese inflicted on that city, but they (Japanese soldiers) did it everywhere they were in China - they left nothing alive in their wake, no man, woman, child or living tree.

It is true that a 3 year old child from China will tell you they hate Japanese people and when they grow up they want to kill them, they are indoctrinated today - China will never forgive what Japan did. China still weeps for the huge trees that the Japanese cut down for fun.

That being said, while most American's find this NBC"News" story stupid - it is not funny to the Chinese. These are not huge islands - it is the principal, China considers itself the "owner" of the islands (mostly uninhabited) - to have a Japanese flag there, or to have Japanese land on a Chinese territory is considered a grave insult to China. If a few drunk Americans/Europeans/anyone who is not Japanese - put a flag on the island, China would take it down and there would be no story.

The Japanese knew they would get a reaction from China - this flag raising will go on tit for tat... it may seem silly to some but not to the Chinese, their hatred for Japan will survive many generations from now, the Japanese were too brutal for there to ever be reconciliation.

@Ike: Good input, helps focus perspective.

@Be Way: You have brought nothing substantive to this discussion, just empty, insulting comments. My advice: Get smart of get off the computer.

Roger, BE WAY is a troll. I went to his homepage. There is NOTHING substantive on his entire homepage.

Lots of racist and just plain dumb remarks. If he keeps showing up, I'm gonna post a bunch of them.

Unfortunate thing is.....people like him sit anonymously behind a computer and say things that would get their jaw broken in public.

Must suck to live in his skin.

Ike Hana is right. Japan had control until 1945 but they lost to america so america gain control. Although in 1971 Japan gain control again.

No way, bung-hole! The island is MINE! See? I put my flag on it...

Should we lob nukes at each other now?

Yes! It's been a long time since the last nuke. Go ahead. We'll watch.

@ Airborn, Buzz and Harry: Thanks for the comic relief - really - thanks! I've been reading much of this and it's gettin' pretty heavy.

Thank MSNBC we can't toss nukes through newsvine, WWIII would have begun about an hour ago.

So what you guys are saying is that China and Japan aren't getting along? Wow, really? I would have never guessed. Amazing what you can learn from just reading postings on the internet. Hey, Thanks for the update, if I hear anything interesting I'll be sure to share it with you fella's.

To the contrary, China has committed mass genocide against its own people. What do you think the one child per family policy is? Forced abortions or murder of the 2nd children of families. Until China allows people to have as many or as few children as the USA allows can we really judge them. IMHO

@Ritchie - you are correct that many babies (usually girls) have been killed, but China is seeing the error in that now because there are more males than females in certain generations, they are trying to combat the killing of the girls.

That said, if every household in China had one car - and China built the infrastructure to handle that many vehicles, there would not be one hectare of arable land on which to grow food (rice, soy beans, etc). China needs its rural communities (who produce the food for the nation) and they do permit rural families to have more than one child - the couple must get approval from the government first, but they are allowed - some can have more if they only have girls (as culturally, boys are the ones who inherit from the parents). No system is perfect - China has such a large population to feed, the country cannot afford to have the Duggars way of life - people would starve. It is not a perfect system but it changes over time to accommodate the needs of the many - China is more adaptable and more transparent than say - the Vatican.

You've given me an idea!

Why don't they resolve the dispute with a food contest, something along the lines of a rice-eating relay. Picture a long table with four contestants on each side and a big bowl of rice in front of each. The two outermost at the table start, but the next in line must wait until the first one on his or her tean is done. Gordon Ramsey would be the judge, and the whole thing televised to the world.

Wow. I am truly in awe. Not a single period in that entire, gargantuan run-on sentence you just spewed forth. Just a butt-load of commas (along with a pair of oddly placed question marks). Most impressive, sir.

Stop the cruelty, people! Periods need luvin' too!

Then you're an idiot for divorcing your wife because she made a right choice in choosing a Honda (they are far more reliable than American-made cars). I bet your ex-wife is happy that you divorced her since she will no longer put up with your nonsense attitude.

the death count in Hiroshima was 260,000 plus residual damage to generations to come and hitting an all time low in misuse of technology globally, ever... but i would have to look up Nagasaki and add it all up to see if we can start to let it go. i may just agree with you. Nagasaki will be the tiebreaker.

hey, so speaking of retards, i wonder how the native americans feel about you right this minute?

zippy12 you are super stupid.

1: Japan doesn't have nukes.

2: American's killed more japanese than japanese killing americans. Even after the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki, there were still radiations so many innocent people who weren't even in the war had died. Even after the war so many people died because of the bomb. and your talking about PAY BACK!? I think we did enough.

We forgave the Japanese for Pearl Harbor and the Bataan death march because we needed them as an ally to counter the emerging communist threat in Asia after WWII. The same reason we forgave the Germans all the atrocities they committed; we needed them to help counter the Soviet Union's designs on Europe. Different continent, same reason. We forgave them both because it was in our national interest to do so.

BTW, I've owned nothing but Japanese cars for the past 30 years. The American cars I've owned have been a huge disappointment. Hate to say it, but Japanese engineering, and attention to detail, blows away America's best efforts.

Pearl Harbor, Bataan Death March. I'm going to say what I have seen so very often on these boards.

GET OVER IT!!!! I am pretty sure that just about any one associated with both of those are either dead or are very very old by now.

There now, doesn't that feel better? <sarcasm>

What a stupid thing to say. Thousands of Americans were killed by the Japanese. We should just forget about it because it was over 70 years ago? In 70 years, most people alive when 911 occured will be dead. Should we forget about that too? History does repeat itself. Of course I doubt you ever opened a history book.

Mechanic; says American cars and trucks have classics and antiques Asian models don't. Know why? America use to build the best in the world for the best price.

Tiredvoter...he has a point. The past is behind us we shouldn't dwell on the sad points, but pull ourselves up and drive on with a sparkle in our eyes, a smile on our face and a brisk skip in our walk. Yep, oh...and pop another Paxil to boot.

All kidding aside...my father was at Pearl Harbor during the attack and then went on to fight across the Pacific against the Japanese, wounded twice and decorated for giving back as much as they gave him. Yet, as I was growing up he never mentioned or demonstrated any hatred towards the Japanese. My father went on the fight in Korea, and he didn't hate the Koreans. He served in Vietnam in the early days and came home with no particular angst with them either. My brother and I both served multiple tours in Vietnam and while it took a little time, we both got over our resentment of the nasty little bastards, and now we don't harbor any hatred towards them. So it's hard for me to justify hating the Japanese for a war fought in 1941-45. Having said that, I can understand why the Chinese and the Koreans hate the Japanese. Read some history and learn what the Japanese did to Nan king, Hong Kong, Manchuria and Korea and you just might have a different opinion about their ability to be cruel. All armies commit atrocities during war, but the Japanese went for the Gold medal in Asia. They would run daily stories giving accounts of which officer was leading the beheading competition. It was very popular and closely followed in the Japanese news. Try to imagine My Lai happening on a daily basis with American newspapers keeping a running tally and urging different army units to surpass the last slaughter. Yeah, they did that. You might have a different opinion of the Japanese if you spent a little time reading more of their history and less time worrying about which car to buy. Me, I'm over it because it just doesn't matter to me, but it doesn't mean it isn't a passionate topic to others.

Going back to what Happy said, in and around Hiroshima and Nagasaki there are still "cancer clusters." People die young there and of painful cancers not usually associated with other parts of the country or even Asia in general.

I realize some people have a disdain for reading history books, but the atomic bomb was developed to drop on Germany, before Germany could build their own and drop it on our ally, England. The government memos have been unsealed for quite some time. Germany was the original target - but, the US government feared that they would not be re-elected (amongst other things) because the US had/has so many "German-Americans." They did not want to alienate that large group of Americans, secondly it was an easier sell to the American people to bomb the Japanese because they were a different race than that of 1945 America. The Germans were Anglo-Saxon, if you put a German National next to an American National, who could tell what country they were from, it wasn't considered racism then - but it was easier to denigrate the Japanese who didn't look like the average American. That is why Japan got the atomic bomb. The official story (before the records were unsealed), was that it was to save the lives of American troops - it may have saved lives, but that was not the real reason it was dropped on Japan.

Civilians died from atomic bombs. People died from those bombs years after they were dropped. Babies were born disfigured years after the atomic bombs were dropped .Babies were never born because of those bombs were dropped .

Civilians died at the hands of Japanese soldiers. Women were sent into prostitution for Japanese soldiers. Men in the allied forces died fighting a war Japan started. How many widows did they leave behind? How many babies were never born because of that war Japan started ? Practically every small town in America could weigh in on that question, just as Japan and every country in that war can.

Such relentless focus on the atomic bombs. They were not the only atrocious acts that took place in a world gone mad. Look up the world's worst atrocities and mass deaths, Hiroshima and Nagasaki rank pretty far down the list. I do not wish to dimish the horror of atomic weaponry as used in WWII, I only wish to put it in perspective.

One can only forgive by remembering. And to forget, is to risk repeating history.
Fulltext of Charles W. Sweeney's Hearing Before the Committe
>>>>>TESTIMONY OF MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES W. SWEENEY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, RETIRED

…………We know that in a pre-invasion meeting at the White House on June 18, 1945 Admiral William Leahy predicted to President Truman, based on the experience of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, 30 to 35 percent of the 770,000-man invasion force would be killed or wounded in the first 30 days of an invasion of the Japanese mainland. That calculates out to about a quarter of a million American men. President Truman remarked that the invasion would create another Okinawa from one end of Japan to the other; one of the most horrendous battles we ever fought. Now it would be expanded the whole length of Kyushu, the southern island of the four main islands of Japan. The Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed. General MacArthur's chief surgeon. Brigadier General Guy Dennett, estimated that in the 120-day campaign to invade and occupy only the island of Kyushu, 395,000 casualties would be sustained. For President Truman, for me and for my crew, the probability of so many casualties was not an abstraction but a sobering reality.

………………Now, 50 years later after their defeat, some Japanese officials claim they were the victims, ignoring the clear evidence of their own brutality and mind set. Incredibly, how can any American academic support such a proposition, thus aiding and giving support to a 50-year attempt by the Japanese to rewrite their own history and ours in the process. Such an effort to rewrite history does a disservice to both countries. There is an entire generation of Japanese who do not know the full extent of their country's conduct during World War II. By forgetting our own history we contribute to Japanese amnesia, to the detriment of both nations. Unlike the Germans who acknowledge their guilt, the Japanese persist in the fiction that they did nothing wrong. That they were the victims of circumstances. This only forecloses any genuine prospect that the deep wounds suffered by both nations can be healed. We must know and remember history.

OKAY NOW. Did ANY of you read at the end where I wrote "SARCASM". huh did YOU???? Just by the post I can see that you did not. Why am I not surprised? See this is what happens when you do not READ!!! Then you go off half-cocked and you think that you have done something really smart, when in actuality all you have done is prove my point once again about the ranting and non-reading that goes on in the vine.

Oh and for the future ex pat: Reading is fundamental and so is comprehension so I am going to post again and then see if you can find the snark at the end of the post. M'kay?

Pearl Harbor, Bataan Death March. I'm going to say what I have seen so very often on these boards.

GET OVER IT!!!! I am pretty sure that just about any one associated with both of those are either dead or are very very old by now.

There now, doesn't that feel better? <sarcasm>

Oh and I pick up a book every day and have been doing so since I first learned how to read, so after some over 50 yrs of reading, I'd say I'm pretty well versed in History and understanding sarcasm.

Please educate yourself first before posting. Japan does have a military and its called the JSDF (Japan Self Defense Force). It has approx. 240K active soldiers in its army, navy, and air force. Their constitution disallowed from maintaining a military with "major military power that might pose a threat to the world", however agreements were made with the U.S. that they be allowed to maintain a military for defensive purposes only while the U.S. provides for the bulk of Japan's military defense. This all helps the U.S. to reduce its cost in defending Japan.

Parappa...I understand your point, but you left out the parts about the US spending billions of dollars to protect Japan while it built up it's economy at the expense of ours. I don't hate the Japanese, but I don't fawn over them either. They are a very predatory economy protected by the United States. You don't remember Mitsubishi selling our top secret propeller technology to the Russians do you? You haven't read Friedman's "The Coming War With Japan", though it never happened, it does hearken us back to the days when it was not inconceivable that a Pacific-Rim war could break out between the US and Japan back in the 1980's. I don't believe we can trust the Japanese not to pursue their own self-interest over own national interest. We can't be trusted either. It's not about goodguys and badguys; it's about everybody looking out for their own self interests. The Japanese Self-Defense Force is a standing joke (the average age of the JSDF is 43 compared to 26 for all other armed forces) they need Ensure and Depends to launch a mission. What stands between Japan (Taiwan, Philippines, etc.) and China is the United States. Korea has sufficient deterrence, but the others are virtually defenseless. Japan's economy has been stagnant for nearly twenty years, they are totally dependent on outside sources for fuel, metals and ore, and foodstuffs. Without the US, Japan would be an outer island province of China.

If China or Russia was in the Gulf of Mexico doing oil exploration drillings and 'pushing their weight around' what would the Great Satan do? See, what I mean Pilgrim? China has controlled that region for 5,000 years and the Japs or the pissy ant American's or nobody are about to tell them where they can go or not go in the 'China Sea.'

We are very concerned with China's aggressive search for natural resources, that's why we stationed more Air Force assets there last year.

CANBERRA, Australia — The U.S. military presence in Australia is expanding, with plans underway to have more U.S. aircraft rotate through the south Pacific continent.

The Marines and Navy are expected to expand their presence in the region as well, with plans to deploy about 2,500 Marines there over the next several years.

The agreement was announced Wednesday at a joint news conference with President Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. It is widely viewed as a response to China’s growing aggressiveness, although the president insisted that the U.S. does not fear Beijing.

China responded swiftly, warning that an expanded U.S. military footprint in Australia may not be appropriate and deserved greater scrutiny. Obama called the plan “significant,” and said it would build capacity and cooperation between the U.S. and Australia. U.S. officials were careful to emphasize that the pact was not an attempt to create a permanent American military presence in Australia.

Australian media is reporting that plans call for B-52 bombers, F/A-18 attack aircraft, C-17 transports and aerial refueling tankers to operate out of the Australian air force facility at Tindal, about 200 miles southeast of Darwin.

As an added note, reading on history...the Islands were signed away to Japan near 50 years before WWII. After Japan, the next claimant is Taiwan. Mainlind China's claims are invalid.....and for the record Cowboy...you want a closer approximation, it'd be the equivalent of Russia trying to claim St Lawrence Island away from Alaska long after they signed it away to the USA. Sorry, but the evidence has me backing Japan on this one.....anything else is just the Peoples Republic crying over spilled oil...in a place Japan has reserved for fish.

Jeromy T Hingst:

'... the islands were signed away to Japan near 50 years before WWII"

Who did the signing away? And why?

I understand war is hell. That one has been over several years.

While not condoning Plain & Simple's remarks, we haven't walked in his shoes (I haven't). A few days ago I was on a bus in NYC, I sat next to an older gentleman, we were going to the same street...he had an accent, so I asked him were he was from, he replied, "Hungary." He looked at me again (I'm 4'11" female), he had tears in his eyes, just saying the name reminded him of a terrible time, he then said, "I lost everyone I knew." I held his hand, we didn't speak for a few minutes, then we did - but not about WWII... it is still alive for those who lived through it and lost those they knew or loved.

Mom, is that you? Quit dragging out your "great satan" nonsense and go take your pills!

AZCowboy - Quit bragging about where you are from - it is painfully evident every time you write a couple of sentences. Your ranting is pathetic and stupid beyond description. Why not run along back to your daddies - Rush and Glenn Beck. Post on their sites, they are made for your ilk!!

LOL

Thanks, this seed needs a bit of humor.

If we cannot separate ourselves from the cancerous growth, can we at least cut it out and try to prevent it from recurring?

The Republic of the United States of America is now comprised of two unrelated opposing entities;
the 'American people' and the 'Federal government of the United States'!

Actually when the US invaded Canada we got our butts handed to us. Thanks Canadiennes we needed that.

ROFLMAO

PS and the last time we invaded Mexico, we didn't find Poncho Villa, and we were chased out. Good practise for WWI though.

how many wars and suffering does anyone need before they learn to find a different solution!what nation has the right to put millions of people in hell? who dosent want peace? i believe in self defence, i also think that both China and Japan did some horrible things in the past, but what nation hasn't?

and how did we go from china and japan to canada and mexico? i did'nt read everything.... :/