My opinion of this week(364):

National flag and National anthem

The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education announced they would punish
teachers at public high schools in the capital who refused to stand up and
sing the "Kimigayo" national anthem at graduation ceremonies this month.
About 180 teachers at metropolitan government-run high schools refused to
sing the anthem at ceremonies in March and they will be penalized although
the specifics of the punishment have not been released. Asahi Newspaper
criticized this action by The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education in
their editorial saying why the Board is so radical doing so. 

The editorial wrote such strong action would give big psychological 
pressure not only for teachers but also for students. The metropolitan
government order unfairly restricts the constitutional freedom of 
thought and conscience.

Yes, that is I think the main theme of the issue at this time. The 
editorial is right as far as this issue is concerned. A lot more debate
is necessary on that point. 

On the other hand, any countries are teaching children to have patriotic
spirit by paying respect to national flag and singing national anthem. 
It is quite necessary and reasonable as I see it. Children are educated
so that they love not only their families but also their countries. 
What's  wrong with it?  Unfortunately in Japan, there are argument 
that making such education itself limits freedom of thought and 
conscience. That argument itself is not right according to my opinion.
In any democratic countries such as US and UK, they are educating 
students at any levels to pay high respect for national flag and 
national anthem. 

I am not saying that we just learn the fact from US. But with or without
any instances, I believe that even in Japan such education to teach 
children love and pride to their countries as well as to their families
and neighbors is very necessary. 

In such ceremonies as graduation and entrance, it is quite natural for
students and teachers to sing the national anthem by paying honor to
the national flag. I just don't understand why so many teachers did not
follow such custom or rule decided before.  It is the rule to be followed
at public school. If those teachers who are not agree with that rule, 
they should quit from public school. They can choose to be some private
school teachers where there are no such rules of any kinds.

When it comes to students, there should be some different rules to be
applied. Some of them have some different thought and conscience due 
to religions their families believe in. In some cases the religion
prohibit doing such deed itself. They should be allowed not to participate
to sing national anthem. But they are asked to stand up and follow 
ceremonies without making any interference. I believe such style of 
participation should be allowed as to students. This is the way how 
this issue is handled in some other countries as I understand. 

I am very positive about national education on flag and anthem against
children. They are to be taught love and pride about their countries.
I have no disagreement that any countries including Japan try to 
perform such education on national basis. On the other hand, any 
freedom of thought and conscience should never be violated under the
name of nationalism.

I believe that there is a good balance of the two.

2004/4/3
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(365):

Why don't you correct the mistake?

Something expected had happened finally. Three Japanese civilians have been
taken hostage in Iraq by a terrorist group that has threatened to kill 
them if Japan does not withdraw the Self Defense Force from the country 
in three days. The Government cannot specify  who they are at the moment.
But it will not make any help, although Koizumi and others top officials
of the Government criticized how it is extremely vicious acts of violence
that could never be forgiven. 

The question is now whether or not, Koizumi, as the Prime Minister of 
Japan can help the life of three hostages with his political decision.
Or he just sacrifice their life under the name of a great cause. 
   
The condition to help life of three hostages is the withdrawal of the 
troops from Iraq. If Koizumi Cabinet judged that that is the only way 
to save hostages, they should do so. Many critics has insisted so far that
dispatching the SDF to Iraq was a big mistake. I insisted the same over
and over again in the past. It is expected that some of those mean-spirited
terrorists groups would do something terrible as they have already done
in Iraq and many other places. Something is expected to happen even in
Japan since SDF started staying in Iraq. 

There are some criticisms concerning the conducts of three hostages as
to why they approached to such dangerous places. But some kind of
terrible accidents may happen in Iraq or even in Japan itself sooner or
later including direct attack to SDF. 

Cabinet Secretary Fukuda said at the news conference. "There is no reason
to withdraw the SDF troops from Iraq, because the SDF personnel are 
carrying out humanitarian activities." What a good reason it is! We know
it. But terrorists never listen to it. All of their motives derive from
savage hatred against US. The hate is directed against other countries 
that corporate US and UK started Iraq war without any cause. There were
a big warning about it when Koizumi Cabinet decided to send the troops
to Iraq based on the request from US.

The war in Iraq evolve into a hopeless mess now just like Vietnam war.
The fact was another expectation and warning when the war started. The
overwhelming support to Bush administration on Iraq war is now reversed
in US. But in Japan, the situation is on the contrary. I just don't 
understand why it is.  

Some officials of  Koizumi Cabinet said it is shameful in international
society if Japan withdraw SDF now from Iraq bowing to pressure from 
terrorists. I don't think so. What's wrong with correcting the mistake
made in the past?  They should listen to painful voice of families of
hostages. They are victims of serious mistakes by Koizumi Cabinet.

It will be a very difficult and hard decision for Koizumi and for his 
cabinet because of the promise made to Bush administration. However, all
he has to do now is very clear. He should announce the withdrawal of the
troops from Iraq first. Then he should resign from the Premiership. 

There will be a general election that will decide the future course
of this nation to go. This is very important matter as such as far as my
understanding is concerned. I pray for this happen in next day or so.

2004/4/10
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(366):

Heaven helps those who help themselves

Three Japanese hostages had been freed finally. That was a very good
news indeed. In our ML, Akira Kato referred the proverb quoting 
"heaven helps those who help themselves" relating the issue of  
self-responsibility. I fully agreed with this message. 

Japanese Government have certainly made a lot of works to help three
hostages that led to a good result. But the reason why they were 
rescued finally due to the fact that they were really working for 
people of Iraq without having any relation with Government itself, 
or Self Defense Force in question. The fact moved a crime group 
convicted by clergypersons.

The Government authorities said the reason why they the crime group 
freed them owes to the fact that the Government refused their demand
to withdraw SDF from Iraq very clearly at very first stage. That's not 
true at all. The fact may be the other way around. The solution 
might have been faster, if the Government did not say much on that
issue.

I do not intend to say that the Government should listen to the demand
of criminal groups. Such request should never be heard in any ways as 
a nation. Even Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party
supported this Government attitude. That was  also a right stance as I
observe the whole circumstance.

The Government should not listen to the request vowed to such 
unjustified pressure. And the request by such unjustified way was
turned down. That is fine. But it is not the end of the issue itself.

Dispatch of SDF to Iraq is still in question. I support the demand
of opposition parties to withdraw the troops from Iraq under the
current situation in Iraq.    
　
There is one other very important issue relating the case at this
time. Soon after this serious case  end up in very good way, a number
of arguments occurred concerning self responsibilities of three 
hostages. They made their activities in such a dangerous place 
disregarding warning from Government authorities. They are responsible
for providing such a big confusion against the country and world. 

Some officials of ruling parties even mentioned that they are liable
for the damage caused by their deed. They said the Government had 
spent at least 2 billion yen to save them.

What a gutter-level of comment by a poor Japanese politician it is! 

Asked by this issue, Secretary General Powell of State Department
said: "I don't think so. I respect supreme motives of those hostages
to work for Iraq  as well as high morale of those soldiers of Self
Defense Force in such dangerous place in question.

I have not heard such wonderful comments from any one of those 
Japanese politicians.

2004/4/17
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(367)：

Despair on the reform of current pension plan

At the final stage of current diet session, ruling parties are trying 
hard to pass pension reform bills. Pension reform will become one most
important point of controversy in coming election of the House of
Council in June. As a matter of fact, the present pension reform bills
are nothing but to send the serious problem to the future by shifting
more burdens to future generations.  

Koizumi's statement on integration of pension system increased confusion.
Corruption by the President of Dentist Association of Japan amplified 
it. There was an amazing fact that social insurance premiums paid by
people have been spent to construct condominium buildings for employees
or staffs of Social Insurance Agency. The most critical and distrusting
fact was that three cabinet members did not pay their social insurance 
premiums for some periods of time in the past. All those facts are just
samples  to provide fundamental distrust to the current pension plan.

During the diet session to discuss this pension bills, hostage accidents
in Iraq happened. Interest of people and mass media turned to those  
accidents rather than to this very important national issues. The ruling
parties now try to enforce passing the bills through the current diet 
session. It seems natural that opposition parties make resistance against
this move including the refusal to attend some sessions.

　The Government have warned young men who did not pay social insurance 
premiums in many occasions. But the fact that many Government officials
including cabinets members neglected to conduct such very basic duties 
as people of Japan make such warnings useless. 

The issue on pension reform will become one most important point of
controversy in coming election of the House of Councils. But the issue 
will be paid less interest after ruling parties have created a fait accompli 
by passing the bills at this time.

It is very possible the pension plan will not function any more in the future
if the current situation last. All of our generation may think that it is
none of our business so far as  we can get some pension during we are alive.

Is tomorrow is another day?

2004/4/24
Tadashi HAYASE