did the u.s.have to drop the bomb?

[Seanus]

I know. I was referring to European treaties signed between Germany, Poland and the Soviet Union especially. Poland was trying to usher in a new era of peace, spearheaded by Piłsudki's visions.

[fluffy0000]

How much glue do you sniff before you type?

[Seanus]

I'll avoid that question as it's a cheap shot. Come back when you are ready to discuss sth. This is a forum in case you hadn't noticed.

[fluffy0000]

take this kitty.

[Seanus]

Thanks, gifts are always welcome Now, care to discuss sth?

[Ryzorian]

I only sniff glue every other friday.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by komitsuki

Why not? Nobody expected South Korea to become very anti-American after the Cold War.

I think being anti-American and being "anti-hawk" are two different things. I too have many problems with America. I don't think that it is a good idea (nor is it very realistic) to see America's role in Asia disappear in the near future.

Originally Posted by komitsuki

Now that the LDP is collapsing, there is indeed a greater possibility for Japan to become anti-American. Hell, some of my Japanese buddies are already anti-American. LDP is very infamous for doing shady deals with the American government for over 50 years. When things are exposed, there is a great possibility that Japan will turn anti-American.

My Japanese buddies are actually VERY anti-China. So which viewpoint represents the real Japan? Let's not play this game because I have Japanese buddies too. Instead, how about we discuss this according to what is in Japan's medium and long term interest.

Whichever party is in power, what we can expect them to do is to act rationally according to their agenda. An anti-America Japan is completely irrational no matter what your political platform (unless that political platform is is founded on something like Marxism or fascism of course)

Originally Posted by komitsuki

And China should stay that way because I don't want China to become just like South Korea: dysfunction-ally democratic, semi-borderline autocratic for over 50 years.

Dysfunctionally democratic? While South Korea may not have the perfect democracy. I don't think you can call South Korea a dysfunctional nation. Compared with China and taking into account it's size. South Korea's performance is MUCH better.

Originally Posted by komitsuki

Most of the crisis in 2009 is based around the Kaesong Industrial Park, a North Korean factory complex that is partly owned by South Korea. America is out of the card.

Your perspective is so narrow! I know you know your history... so don't be so stupid.

Originally Posted by komitsuki

Just like the American Donald Rumsfeld illegally sent several nuclear devices to North Korea?

I fail to see the relevance of this to anything I'm saying. Furthermore I'm not aware of this incident. A US politician sending nuclear warheads to North Korea? Sounds absurd... but I have an open mind... why don't you educate me (i.e. give me a link or a reference)

Originally Posted by komitsuki

You're right though, actually. Confucian countries have the worst form of democracy. Technically, South Korea and Japan are as authoritarian as China. Democracy in Asia works only if the dominant party leads its way to self-collapse. (ex. LDP in Japan)

That's bullsh*t. While Japan and South Korea do have problems... the checks and balances that their system provides is MUCH fairer than that of China. However democracy works in Asia... democracy works MUCH better than strictly authoritarian regimes.

Furthermore, democracy is not completely incompatible with Confucianism. Nor is the cultural reasoning for the oppression of political opinion a valid argument. Culture is not static. Culture is a dynamic and complex concept which moves and changes with time. Especially in the 21st century amongst modern countries.

Originally Posted by komitsuki

I welcome South Korea and Japan being very honest to themselves, instead of spewing rhetorics like "DEMOCRACY!". Securing themselves being very honest is a very Confucian approach.

Democracy is not rhetoric. What's rhetoric is your idea that Asian nations are incompatible with Democracy because of confucianism.

You see such arguments not just in authoritarian Asian states but also in Africa and the Middle East too. Ironically the countries that claim that they are culturally incompatible with democracy also tend to be the countries which feel the need to restrict the voices of dissent within them. (Zimbabwe for example). What I'm trying to say is that the cultural excuse only serves to legitimise oppression and power.

Also you speak as though Japan and South Korea have only one voice. While obviously they may see themselves as one on some levels, the myriad of interest groups and political opinions contained within them, especially today makes democracy of some sort the only solution to a prosperous and harmonious society.

[Ronin4hire]

Komitsuki is Canadian????

I thought he identified himself as a Korean-Chinese.

While I'm aware that he can have Canadian nationality and Korean-Chinese ethnicity, his anti-liberal arguments seem to be more compatible with a more ethnic nationalist mindset.

[komitsuki]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

I think being anti-American and being "anti-hawk" are two different things. I too have many problems with America. I don't think that it is a good idea (nor is it very realistic) to see America's role in Asia disappear in the near future.

I see it as a very good idea because it will reorganize the South Korean government to a better transparent government.

Dysfunctionally democratic? While South Korea may not have the perfect democracy. I don't think you can call South Korea a dysfunctional nation. Compared with China and taking into account it's size. South Korea's performance is MUCH better.

At least the Chinese parliament, despite being a single party, is more functional. South Korea often lock the parliament to pass laws and policies after that idiotic corrupted pro-American president came into power.

Your perspective is so narrow! I know you know your history... so don't be so stupid.

Your perspective is laughably limited. Go read some South Korean articles.

I fail to see the relevance of this to anything I'm saying. Furthermore I'm not aware of this incident. A US politician sending nuclear warheads to North Korea? Sounds absurd... but I have an open mind... why don't you educate me (i.e. give me a link or a reference)

Rummy's North Korea Connection What did Donald Rumsfeld know about ABB's deal to build nuclear reactors there? And why won't he talk about it? - May 12, 2003

That's bullsh*t. While Japan and South Korea do have problems... the checks and balances that their system provides is MUCH fairer than that of China.

And Japan has a single dominant party system for how long? Checks and Balances system doesn't guarantee when it is a single dominant party system like Japan and indirectly South Korea. South Korea's case is wee bit different.

However democracy works in Asia... democracy works MUCH better than strictly authoritarian regimes.

See South Korea today. Do you think it really works? Democracy IS the worst political form for Asia because of our culture.

Culture is a dynamic and complex concept which moves and changes with time. Especially in the 21st century amongst modern countries.

Only applies to West that superimposes its culture and thinking to other non-Western countries.

Democracy is not rhetoric. What's rhetoric is your idea that Asian nations are incompatible with Democracy because of confucianism.

And that's true because confucianism has primarily a meritocratic kernel. And democracy is poorly a meritocratic system.

You see such arguments not just in authoritarian Asian states but also in Africa and the Middle East too.

This is why I limited to Asia (more specifically East Asia). I don't think that is a problem.

What I'm trying to say is that the cultural excuse only serves to legitimise oppression and power.

Of course. This is why East Asia should never become democratic. I call it meritocracy.

Confucian political value =/= authoritarian.

today makes democracy of some sort the only solution to a prosperous and harmonious society.

Only applied to the West. You see, I never criticize the West having democracy. Don't twist my words.

[komitsuki]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

Komitsuki is Canadian????

By nationality, yes. There are a lot of FOB-ish Asian Canadians these days.

I thought he identified himself as a Korean-Chinese.

Yes.

his anti-liberal arguments seem to be more compatible with a more ethnic nationalist mindset.

Anti-liberalism doesn't tend to become ethnic nationalism. Besides, I don't follow the Western way of political thinking. If I have an ethnic nationalist mindset, I should hate Japanese people without any reasons in my situation. I don't. Why would be ethnically inclined, which is an 19th century Western thought to today?