Forum - View topicNEWS: Barefoot Gen Translator's Speech Cancelled at Japanese Junior High
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Happiness for Subaru
 Subscriber Posts: 242 |
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Thanks for the history section. I haven't heard about a lot of what was covered and it really helped illustrate the issue!
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mdo7
 Posts: 6402 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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That's unfortunate to hear. I hope he can find a chance to give a speech over there at some point.
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EleutheroMaster
Posts: 108 |
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Mr. Gleason, don't give up!
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GATSU
Posts: 15578 |
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Horrible logic, buddy. |
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TheSeventhSense
 Posts: 113 |
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Considering how many stupid lectures (and don't get me started on pep rallies) junior high students have to sit through, this isn't about interest. This is about the principal being nervous over controversy and pulling the plug because he can. |
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MeggieMay
 Posts: 607 |
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I find this situation really disturbing. I agree with TheSeventhSense that claiming this isn't about interest is nonsensical. I also makes me wonder is it really about just the Barefoot Gen or if the fact Mr Gleeson doesn't seem to be ethnically Japanese might be a factor as well? There seems to me, at least, to be a growing backlash against non-Japanese and Western ideas and peoples (there was another controversy a year or so ago about some Japanese feeling there is too much English and European languages being used in Japan). It's not that these feelings haven't been there on some level for years but it seems to be getting worse over the last half decade
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I do have a question about this, though. Where is Iogi Junior High School in Suginami Ward located in comparison to Hiroshima and Tokyo? I have a gut feeling that the location of where this is going on, geographically, also plays into what is going on (I may try and look this up on my own but I thought I'd ask, all the same). |
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mgosdin
 Posts: 1302 Location: Kissimmee, Florida, USA |
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Unfortunately that is likely to be true. History contains controversial elements, indeed you could say it is nothing but controversy in some form or another. It is the duty of educators to provide their students with the information and tools to evaluate history. So those students can understand the controversies for themselves and put them in context as they see fit. Since they can also be used to evaluate conventional wisdom, having those tools and being educated in how to use them is seldom universally popular. Mark Gosdin |
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BonusStage
 Posts: 307 |
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Why is some American speaking in Japanese schools to begin with?
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MeggieMay
Posts: 607 |
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Why not, if he can speak the language? Being a translator and most likely living in Japan, he probably can do both (I'm guessing he lives in Japan because he was invited in the first place). I can remember haven't people from other countries come and speak to school assemblies as a kid. I always liked seeing people from all walks of life come and talk to us at school but YMMV. |
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14889 |
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It'll broaden their horizons.
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Surrender Artist
 Posts: 3264 Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
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If the Principal hasn't read it and the students haven't studied it, then it was probably especially necessary for Mr. Gleason to speak so that at least somebody might take an interest in the subject. Principal Akaogi's actions are poor pedagogical practice at the very least.
She's a mealy-mouthed coward at worst. The given reasons are obviously suspect and a little worrying for a nation under with a hard-right historical revisionist Prime Minister that's grappling with growing racist-nationalist activity. It may be just a nasty anomaly in the nation's history, but that anybody might see fit to indulge those forces is regrettable.
Because... Wait. Why the Hell am I trying to reason with a goddamned replicant. Seriously. What are you? The leader of the gaijin section of the Issuikai? |
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Jave
 Posts: 198 |
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That seems a bit harsh  I can't imagine only the Issuikai might have a problem with Americans forcing their views on other countries. A lot of people in a lot of countries in the world don't seem to like us for that reason.
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Kenshiroh
Posts: 28 |
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"Gleason's speech was replaced by a former elementary school principal who lectured on life using poems instead of the manga." Yeah, I'm sure the kids were really interested in that(!) |
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mewpudding101
Industry Insider
 Posts: 2210 Location: Tokyo, Japan |
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What complete bullsh*t. That principal's answer was Japanese tatemae for "I don't agree with this historical information and issue and don't want my students to agree with it either. Ignorance banzai!"
I think I'm actually going to write a letter to his school. That is absolutely ridiculous, and good for the translator for not getting meek. |
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GATSU
Posts: 15578 |
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Seventhsense:
"Controversy" over a book that's been around for 40 years is about as manufactured as "controversy" over Huck Finn. MeggieMay: They most likely don't want him to possibly bring up the comfort women thing. |
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