Well, I think it's pretty clear what we need to do in light of the bombings in London. That's right — attack Syria. Those bastards. I have a lot to say about all this and a lot to say about the ridiculous things George Bush has said in the last 24 hours, but I can't seem to find the right words.
After discussions with my Japanese friends about why the Chinese and Koreans hate the Japanese so much, I've mostly gotten shrugs of the shoulders and the blank Japanese I'm-oblivious-to-the-world-around-me reaction. Well, a quick read of my Korea guidebook is helping bring light to the whole situation, namely that the Japanese occupied Korea for some 35 years and did any number of horrible things there. Basically, the Japanese told all the Koreans that they weren't Korean anymore and made everyone speak Japanese and live like the Japanese. This while raping the women and brutally killing everyone who opposed them. The Japanese see this as all water under the proverbial bridge, but, as we all know, 60 years is not a really long time, especially considering some of the nonsense wars that continue in the world from stuff that happened much, much longer ago.
The point being this — the Chinese people are not lazy, grudge-holders and your lack of empathy is pretty damn cold as far as I'm concerned. You might want to also tear down your shrines that honor the folks who were in charge of this whole mess. That might be a good start. Also, this last dirty secret — Japanese people are descendants of the Chinese, by way of Korea. Not the gods.
Just to clear all that up.