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Shinzo Abe's Assassination

theatlantic.com

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Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#21

Post by justin66 »

User23 wrote: post #17
tpmx wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Religion, sigh. So, no, not all religions are violent and/or harmful. I've been an devout atheist since about the age of 10. That doesn't stop me from seeing that: a) some religions are relatively harmless and mostly helpful to their believers b) some religions are very destructive to everyone I don't think we should go much further from here.

Human beings are observably religious by nature. We’re going to worship and make devotion to something, whether it’s God, ourselves, the sky, an economic system, science, or whatever else. There will never be a post-religious age.

If you’re willing to misuse the term “religious” blatantly enough, the above statement is tautologous. Otherwise it’s silly.

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#22

Post by snvzz »

vasdae wrote: post #20
snvzz wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am also an atheist, but recognize religion as damaging, forcing a tilting cognitive fog. Never helpful, a net negative to believers and society. The degree of bad depends on the religion and the believer. Plus one must not forget that, for most believers, religion preceded adulthood, even maturity. Meaning it was never a choice, but imposed through indoctrination and immediate social pressure.

Religion will always exist one way or the other. Many atheists take science as a religion for example, with horrible outcomes.

>Many atheists take science as a religion for example

Admission to thinking about science as a belief betrays lacks of understanding of the scientific method, which is founded on rigorous doubt and verification.

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#24

Post by tpmx »

colinb wrote: post #14
tpmx wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Religion, sigh. So, no, not all religions are violent and/or harmful. I've been an devout atheist since about the age of 10. That doesn't stop me from seeing that: a) some religions are relatively harmless and mostly helpful to their believers b) some religions are very destructive to everyone I don't think we should go much further from here.

[flagged]

Irish, right?

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#25

Post by jasode »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #16

Meta comment on cultural awareness: "Japan wants you to say its leader’s name correctly: Abe Shinzo [1]" Why authors are still messing this up almost 5 years later is bewildering [1] https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/21/asia/japan-name-abe-shinzo-in...

>Why authors are still messing this up almost 5 years later is bewildering

I don't have an opinion on it but Westerners unfamiliar with Asian naming conventions can get conflicting signals.

Some famous Japanese names that are well-known to Western audiences are written "FirstName FamilyName" instead of "FamilyName FirstName":

baseball star: Shohei Ohtani not Ohtani Shohei

actor: Ken Watanabe not Watanabe Ken

Maybe those 2 constantly try to correct every journalist but I'm assuming they don't.

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#26

Post by stickfigure »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #16

Meta comment on cultural awareness: "Japan wants you to say its leader’s name correctly: Abe Shinzo [1]" Why authors are still messing this up almost 5 years later is bewildering [1] https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/21/asia/japan-name-abe-shinzo-in...

The article you linked explains exactly why the issue is complex/unsettled and "messing up" isn't really an appropriate term.

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#27

Post by fatbird »

photochemsyn wrote: post #23

[flagged]

The comparison between South Korea and Israel isn't very strong. America fought the Korean War and still has 28,500 troops stationed there, along with a combined forces command. Some US soldiers are stationed right on the border with North Korea, just so that a North Korean invasion will kill Americans and immediately trigger an American response.

Secondarily, securing Korea as a trading partner for Japan was an explicit part of US post-WW2 strategy, where Japan would be rebuilt as a bastion of the western world's economy, and having local trading partners strengthened that. South Korea has always had a deeply intertwined relationship with the US.

When the Moonies showed up in the 70s/80s, there was no influence to buy. South Korea was already receiving all the support it could handle, and as a cult, the Moonies showed up at the tail end of a lot of 60s/70s spirituality that had already soured the American public on alternative religions.

Whatever you think of the pro-Israel lobby, drawing to the Moonies doesn't really work.

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#28

Post by nihonthrowaway »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #16

Meta comment on cultural awareness: "Japan wants you to say its leader’s name correctly: Abe Shinzo [1]" Why authors are still messing this up almost 5 years later is bewildering [1] https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/21/asia/japan-name-abe-shinzo-in...

As someone who speaks Japanese to be polite, and will dutifully follow all honorifics while in Japan:

Japan doesn't get to change English naming conventions in English speaking cultures and civilizations.

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#29

Post by wrp »

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #16

Meta comment on cultural awareness: "Japan wants you to say its leader’s name correctly: Abe Shinzo [1]" Why authors are still messing this up almost 5 years later is bewildering [1] https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/21/asia/japan-name-abe-shinzo-in...

Every Japanese and Korean person I work with presents their names with the family name last when operating in an English speaking context. Conversely, my (American) name is often written family name first (and in katakana) when I'm in Japan.

Real cultural sensitivity is accepting the social conventions of the society you are operating in.

Re: Shinzo Abe's Assassination

#30

Post by vasdae »

snvzz wrote: post #22
vasdae wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Religion will always exist one way or the other. Many atheists take science as a religion for example, with horrible outcomes.

>Many atheists take science as a religion for example Admission to thinking about science as a belief betrays lacks of understanding of the scientific method, which is founded on rigorous doubt and verification.

[flagged]
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