Random reflections and contemplative thoughts, spiritual insights and humorous anecdotes, fickle film reviews and rambling music musings, occasional (okay, more than occasional) societal and political rants, and a whole lot more... all from the point of view of a humble, constitutional, common sense, conservative, Catholic, work-in-progress kinda guy who never gives up hope, because to be without hope is to become selfish.
"The prewar state kept the populace in a powerful vise: on one side were the internal security laws with their restrictions on freedom of speech (think Humana) and thought; on the other side was the conformist education that blocked the growth of a free consciousness and purposive activity for political ends. The vise was tightened whenever any individual or popular resistance challenged reckless military ([political] action. These laws and public education, used as instruments of coercion and manipulation, were the decisive factors that made it impossible for the Japanese people to stop their country from launching the Pacific war."
"The governments first step was to restrict freedom of thought and speech by tightening the existing antisubversion laws. Their scope was broadened by amendments...These provisions destroyed freedom of conscience. The governments next move was to enact new restrictive legislation. It included the National Defense Security Law of 1941, which stipulated that important government business, such as discussions in the Liaison Conference and cabinet meetings, were 'state secrets,' and established severe penalties for obtaining or revealing such classified information...Freedom of expression was sharply abridged. In addition, the Provisional Law for Control of Speech, Publication, Assembly, and Association instituted a prior approval system for the activities of political groups, political meetings, and publication of newspapers and magazines. The laws contained harsh sanctions for spreading of 'false reports or rumors,' and 'information that confuses public sentiment." (Saburo Ienaga, THE PACIFIC WAR, 1931-1945).
This famed Japanese scholar grew up during the war era, and he published this book in 1968 as part of a battle with the government of his day-an attempt to keep them from once again exerting governmental influence in education. He holds an idea which any form of totalitarianism would find dangerous: An intelligent and informed public is an antidote against irrational and dangerous policies of elititsts, be they military, economic, domestic, etc.
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"The prewar state kept the populace in a powerful vise: on one side were the internal security laws with their restrictions on freedom of speech (think Humana) and thought; on the other side was the conformist education that blocked the growth of a free consciousness and purposive activity for political ends. The vise was tightened whenever any individual or popular resistance challenged reckless military ([political] action. These laws and public education, used as instruments of coercion and manipulation, were the decisive factors that made it impossible for the Japanese people to stop their country from launching the Pacific war."
"The governments first step was to restrict freedom of thought and speech by tightening the existing antisubversion laws. Their scope was broadened by amendments...These provisions destroyed freedom of conscience. The governments next move was to enact new restrictive legislation. It included the National Defense Security Law of 1941, which stipulated that important government business, such as discussions in the Liaison Conference and cabinet meetings, were 'state secrets,' and established severe penalties for obtaining or revealing such classified information...Freedom of expression was sharply abridged. In addition, the Provisional Law for Control of Speech, Publication, Assembly, and Association instituted a prior approval system for the activities of political groups, political meetings, and publication of newspapers and magazines. The laws contained harsh sanctions for spreading of 'false reports or rumors,' and 'information that confuses public sentiment." (Saburo Ienaga, THE PACIFIC WAR, 1931-1945).
This famed Japanese scholar grew up during the war era, and he published this book in 1968 as part of a battle with the government of his day-an attempt to keep them from once again exerting governmental influence in education. He holds an idea which any form of totalitarianism would find dangerous: An intelligent and informed public is an antidote against irrational and dangerous policies of elititsts, be they military, economic, domestic, etc.
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