JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT i APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU KEPT IN TOUCH AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

CHRISTIAN

Freedom accompanies responsibility. It is free for you to choose the expression 殿xis of evil,・but you are responsible to have formed your character with which you chose and used it to mention other sovereign nations with dignified people. Our fellow President George W. Bush, are you human, or beast? No Doubt, the latter. Beasts kill. Humans don稚. Aren稚 you afraid of initiating use of force because you have nuclear button to launch? Why don稚 you take a leading role of disarmament involving CTBT, NPT, anti-ABC, and START III. After Iraq war, the UN can replace reconstruction process with ceasefire activity and humanitarian support. NOGs are ready to join. Anyway, people of the world experienced three wars including 9/11 in 2 and half years after your inauguration, you may aware of the facts, because other countries are more sensitive with your position now.

Listen, Pr. George W. Bush. Since the judges agreed it is decisive turning point whether our future will be better or not, the Supreme Court PRECAUTION YOU again:
鏑isten to the justice of Law tearing deep inside you.
泥O NOT LABEL sovereign nations with dignified people. Be careful, and abstain from delivering harmful messages to the world because you are a responsible key person. Homo-sapience is suspicious each other. When next time you make verbal harassment such as 殿xis of evil,・it is the time the Supreme Court will limit your freedom of expression, and dismiss you from the title. Nobles Oblige.・

The US President George W. Bush, understanding the above quoted principles of supreme virtue in Law, judges today agreed that the US Supreme Court warn you NOT TO LABEL the sovereign nations with their dignified people there. Those words such as "axis of evil" you have chosen to label them represents complete ignorance and beast痴 nature of yours. No doubt, it is harassing; even elementary children know they should not label "yellow" or "black." You are in beyond horizon. The US Supreme Court will limit your freedom of speech and expression, and dismiss you from your title next time you label or harass. Listen to the justice of Law sunk deep inside you. Although you claim you are similar to George Washington, the comparison itself expresses your arrogance over ignorance, doesn稚 it, because 電ouble you・stands for ambiguity of beast and human nature of yours. The Supreme Court calls your human heart now. Nobles oblige, proverb says meaning the high rank persons like you must have high responsibility and duty. Freedom of speech or expression can be limited when the person痴 free expression compete with and attack other human rights such as dignity or equality. Therefore, your verbal harassment is as harmful as Adolf Hitler now because of your superior position of the US Presidency.

鄭rticle 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other
limitation of sovereignty.
Article 9. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
United States Constitution reads:
Amendment 1. 鼎ongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or non-profiting the free exercise of thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably assemble and petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

When Does the US Supreme Court Limit the Freedom of Expression of You, Pr. George W. Bush?

Since the judgment of this case is essentially spiritual, constitutional, international, religious, and philosophical, first the US Supreme Court quotes both international and domestic laws, especially to clarify the supreme principles of human dignity, equality, freedom and peace. Listen carefully to the justice of Law deep inside of you. Here is human voice.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads:
(PREAMBLE)
展hereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of
all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in
the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts
which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which
human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and
want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, ・
鄭rticle 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of
brotherhood,

The following is translation into Japanese:
拝啓。

(どなたでもご関心の方に、転送よろしくお願いします。）
私達が真剣に私達自身の平和運動を計画し初めてから、10年以上が経ちました。偶然それは湾岸戦争の時でした。国連で地球憲章が採択される直前の現在というのは、私達平和アシュラムにとっても、平和教育を推進するためにより広範な会員を募集する良い機会でもあります。そして、偶然にもそれは、イラク戦争の直後だからです。

国際、地域的、局地的紛争や外交にもむろん関心があるのですが、私達は、環境(生態)教育に焦点を当ててスタートしたいと思います。それは、すべての個人、国、会社の関心事であるべきだからです。環境については先進国がより加害者であるという意味で、もし私達が自然のために何かをしなければ、もっと罪深いことになるでしょう。

私達は、次の世代です。未来に関心のあるすべての人は、精神的、肉体的に若いのです。ヨハネスブルグの地球サミットで、2005年に始まる、「国連持続可能性への教育の10年」 が採択されました。地球憲章イニシアティヴと共に、平和アシュラムもより広範な善の連帯を目指して、会員を増やし、平和教育を推進します。未来にご関心の方は、私宛、参加のご一通を。また、いかなるコメントも、ゲストブック BBS にて歓迎いたします。
http://hpmboard2.nifty.com/cgi-bin/thread.cgi?user_id=SGY02023

友情を込めて、敬具。


Tamaki Hosoe, PT
細江 環 <tamaki.hosoe@nifty.com>
Positive Earth Action with Creative Ethics (PEACE) Ashram
http://homepage2.nifty.com/PEACE/

Dear Friends,

(Please forward this message to whoever may be concerned.)
Over 10 years have passed since we seriously began planning to initiate our own peace movement coincidentally during the Gulf War. Right before the Earth Charter endorsement in the UN is a good opportunity now also for us PEACE Ashram to call for broader membership to promote peace education, and because it is coincidentally after the Iraq war.

Although we are concerned with international, regional, local conflicts and diplomacy, of course, we wish to start with focusing on ecology education because it should be every individual's, every country's, and every corporation's concern. In the meaning that developed countries are more guilty in terms of environment, we would be more guilty unless we do something for the sake of nature.

We are next generations. Everyone who care future is young spiritually and physically. The Johannesburg Earth Summit decided the UN 10 Years of Education for Sustainability beginning in 2005. We really appreciate a good timing. Together with the Earth Charter Initiative, PEACE Ashram will expand its members and promote peace education targeting broader coalition of goodness. Those who are concerned with future write to me to join. Also any comment is welcome on our Guest Book Bulletin Board at:
http://hpmboard2.nifty.com/cgi-bin/thread.cgi?user_id=SGY02023

With friendship,

7. 家族的価値

7-1. 教育環境としての家族、共同体価値の崩壊
7-2. 食事姿勢、一家団欒がいかに重要か ?
-発達の視点から
7-3. 人間発達と母の知恵
7-4. 父性、父の背と知恵、そして予言
7-5. 家族、共同体でのしつけ、モラル、精神的教育
7-6. 恩と人権
7-7. 恋愛、結婚
7-8. 家族、共同体、地球家族

8. 民主の時代と、自律、友情

9. 文明的課題としての性教育;
宗教と精神的自律、性教育、そして国連支援

10. エイブラハム・リンカーン、マハトマ・ガンジー、ジョン F. ケネディー、そしてマーチン・ルーサー・キング

11. 宗教的寛容、神学的非寛容

12. 世界平和と、世界宗教の連帯

13. 音楽を利用して、どう純粋な心を育むか?

14. 弱さとデリカシーの価値、貧乏の価値

15. 平和のために、文化政策はどうあるべきか?

16. 生存のために、第一次産業はどうあるべきか？


http://homepage2.nifty.com/PEACE/
Copyright (c) PEACE Ashram, 2001-2002

平和アシュラム
Positive Earth Action with Creative Ethics(PEACE) Ashram

2002～4年の活動。

１．当面、地球憲章本文の普及をまず推進する。教育の場に届けていく。

２．ホームページの更新。

３．インド地震後の人々に、テーマ曲を届ける。ガンジー主義との連携を模索する。

４．Boston Research Center への 資料贈呈。日本の平和研究との、連携。広島平和研究所など。

５．北朝鮮金総書記へ、メッセージを届ける。朝鮮総連を通じて。

音楽とともに、手作り、器用さ、原始的な機能にもこだわりつつ、「平和のトップリーダー」を育成する。日記、俳句、囲碁など、良質な日本文化の継承にも、力を注ぐ。作曲を通し、各チャリティーと協力する。

アボリション2000の「Sunflowerひまわりの種」からヒントをえて、「ACORN(俗称ドングリ)」を自ら植林する。大植林運動の、象徴としての「ドングリ」。American Forest 会員として、まず準備を進める。

又、羽島市の渡辺泰男ご夫妻の「インターナショナル幸の花づな」とは、全面的に協力していく。

≪なぜ今、精神的教育に基づいて社会運動をするのか?≫

1. 環境問題のキーポイントは何か？

1-1. 地球的問題中の環境問題。
1-2. 包括性（特に温暖化）
1-3. 南北問題、公平な富の分配
1-4. 持続可能な発展？
1-5. 大量生産、消費文明の中での環境問題
...循環文明へ
1-6. ドングリと名付けた植林運動が精神の砂漠化と環境問題を救う

2. モラルの衰退、文明の退廃

3. 自由の価値について、

3-1. 人間は自由なのか？
3-2. 個の尊厳と自由
3-3. 束縛からの自由
3-4. 精神の自由と自尊、独立
3-5. 自由と社会的責任
3-6. 自由と平等

4. なぜ私達は、独学と、自己抑制が必要か ?

5. 自律、独立、個人主義、そして友情

6. Identity Crises

6-1. 等質的日本は、どこから来ているのか ?
6-2. 移民の国への同化を通しての Indentity Crisis (アメリカ合衆国)
6-3. 多様性の中での Identity Crises --社会的協働、正常との関係で

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日本語に限らず、あらゆる言語でのご発言を歓迎します！ 読まれるときは、ブラウザーのエンコード設定をご調節下さい。
(This is in Japanese.)

Inevitably, we welcome a borderless society based on info super-highway. The rapid rising of the Internet would transform our way of life or even social structure overwhelmingly. Then, English is a key ability people have to get. Now the Japanese tend to access to only a small cyberspace in Japanese, but they have to expand it. Of course they might not depend on auto translation at all, because it must have some mistranslation and doesn’t afford the delicate nuance. Yet, language itself is just a mean to communicate in. What they think and speak, and how they act in the world is, of course, most important.
Fortunately enough, I think, but unfortunately they are the only victims of two A-bombs, then they have strong responsibility to lead their peaceful future. They have grown up from disaster and poverty after war, because they are proud of being studious and industrious. It might have come from a long poverty and hungriness of knowledge as a barbarian living in remote Far East. Our history has proved ourselves having enough spirit to change our whole earth family into happy and peaceful community.

---Based on Individualism Revolution

Yes, they are group oriented and have less tradition of individualism. Among assimilation of culture, however, many of authors of Japanese books must be individuals with unique opinions. Once they find a homogeneous Japan in themselves, they could change their direction as I have done after studying English. At the same time, they are proud of being cooperative and industrious. The verb work in Japanese, or 塗ataraku・literally means, 鍍o make surroundings ease.・ The Japanese work hard and are cooperative, for they are disciplined no matter what. If only they introduce just a slight change of policy of individualism and open-heartedness, they could become the best partners of the world.
I heard that the Earth Charter campaign had been launched at Hague, Netherlands, in June 2000, and a lot of Japanese have kept and are supporting to promote and encourage the initiative from 1992. The late emperor Hirohito himself took his lead in planting trees and conserving our environment after the disaster of World War II. We love green. We love blue sky. We love animals. We have a lot of naturalists, especially here in Gifu, located at the center of Hoshu Island. Late Prof. Kinji Imanishi is famous in establishing Japanese naturology and the author of "The World of Creatures." We have Nawa Insects Research Museum at the foot of Mt. Kinka.
Finally, I have to mention that once we experienced homogeneityｭbased ultraｭnationalism or fascism and caused the second World War. After that, they seem to have succeeded in democratizing and modernizing our society rather superficially. Still they keep to be the Japanese with similar spirit before Meiji revolution, as I mentioned above. If only they can change their homogeneous culture into cosmopolitanism, they might be able to lead the globe from Far East where they stand.

Culture has bigger exclusive power than the gun, because it is our choice. When the Japanese keep to have the inferior complexity with western culture, rapid liberalization without responsibility accelerate the disastrous decaying of moral and chastity. The dying of hair color among students represents it. Daijuku Sutra reads,
"... then people will all let their beards, hair and fingernails grow long ..."
Instead of long, what does dying or coloring them mean from the viewpoint of civilization? If it is a local phenomenon, I would oversight. We see them in a remote rural village as well as Roppongi, Tokyo. Is it such pleasant that all Japanese younger fashion Hawaiianize in a similar way?

They now have many problems in education. Bullying among students even in elementary school, lack of students' originality or creativity, and so on. Our traditional education places too much emphasis on listening to teacher's lecture, not on discussion. Teachers give the only true answer, while students memorize it. They don't need to think for themselves. They often are quiet when discussing some topics. When someone expresses his/he opinion, others agree almost automatically. Then, our education creates similar Japanese student always talking about yesterday's TV animation or Playstation 2. When a student doesn't watch same program, he might lose a topic, and could be bullied. Their present education must reinforce the identity crisis. So we have to emphasize our lifeｭlong education. This shall be the key to reform. Also it should be oriented by selfｭeducation, selfｭtraining, and selfｭregulation.
I mentioned the tendency of moral decay in recent days, which the most remarkable phenomena are the young prostitution and the erotic videos. Video film studios willingly look for pretty girls who don't hesitate to make love in front of a camera and staff members. According to westernization and modernization they inevitably welcomed freedom in every field. Freedom does not mean selfｭindulgence, but it must accompany responsibility regulating people themselves. Unless adults can indicate the right way by their own behavior, it is very difficult to lead young generations. Those who buy the female students are the former generations. They might have failed for introducing free culture in the field of sexual expression. It must be more difficult because it is the field of instinctive desire. Now they have no other way but prohibiting legally, but it must be based on our awareness of moral crisis in all generations. Unless they face themselves with instinctive animal nature seriously, they can't introduce a good cure for these phenomena of erroneous freedom.

It must be one of the greatest factor that they have the seniority employment system. It has been established so firmly that it could not be broken up easily so far. The unemployment rate is low even when they suffer from economic recession. The longer they stay to work, the better they have the advantage. If only they evaluate the worker by merit system, why do we need to cling to the permanent employment? This is truly a solid ancien regime. Without big error, people might stay any longer. Thus they tend to respond employer's instruction passively but not to work actively, taking a risk to reform against habitual patterns. Together with school education, we call it an escalator of elite course. Any graduate student from famous university can keep working for bigｭbusiness until they retire, even if his/her life is not so creative, but too boring. This educationｭemployment system is soｭcalled an assembly line of labor in Japan Co. Ltd.
I did not take this escalator when I graduated from senior high school, and decided to live as a reformist. Many students joined the campaign to protest the governors of their university and the government to improve our education and society, but their campaign faded away day by day. I chose a newly found university based on a Buddhist philosophy, and took another approach to reform our society based on our individual reform. I could not have predicted to gain a good company to go after graduation, because we are the first students. Being poor at sociology, I majored in law which might be a wrong decision, but I chose my poor subject to cover the hole. Two years after graduation, I came back to natural science field and learned physical therapy, in which I found my permanent expertise but not permanent employer.

Every time I claim that the side of a patient's bed they sit up from is different. They had better use sound side and not affected side, which causes functional limitation or even accident often. It might be a tiny fact but I wish to educate coworkers to have such a point of view. Many of nurses or carers might wish to deny my instruction, because they don't want to make their jobs busier. I have to act carefully. People easily act based on their worship of economy. But, economy in true meaning must be based on effectiveness. Unless they make effort to change their system by discussion, evil circle will accumulate into irreversible viciousness. I find my view and myself far beyond ordinary thinkings. I'm very proud of it, but always suffer the decisive differences from others. May be a long enthusiasm being as a therapist has changed my character completely.
As for worship of money, prosperous and secure life spoils our hungry spirit and seems to increase people's habit to act like others. TV advertised, "Neighbor's car is bigger than ours," which illustrated mutual competition for materialistic prosperity. Is my car the status symbol? Am I jealous of others with gorgeous car? I see it is just a locomotion tool, but most people don't. Increasingly, they seek to polish a new shining monster. To almost all foreigners, they the Japanese appear to be economic animals. Further, they don't have so much of a gap in income like that of the U.S. An average income means an average consumer's choice. An average life style reinforces their similar way of thinking. Also, the media or companies seek to stimulate our instinctive desire evoking a similar, not variety of demand. Yes, our thinking is average.

Japan's medicare system comes from a long regional tradition of history and is late in modernization. For ordinary people, there is not enough accurate information even in our anatomy or physiology, then people tend to prefer simple way to keep healthy and look for advertisement with full of ignorance from a professional point of view. This can be said one of the ruling structure of people in the name of another mobocracy making medicare a secret. With less correct information, it in fact functions so. People obey a physician whoever is. They often don't know even the name of a medication, or its function of course. When it comes to surgery, families always say, "We totally depends on you, doctor. Please help us. We obey any of your instructions." They could search for the second opinion, but still it isn't popular even in crucial cases. Then the medical accidents seldom cause the court issues.
Many organizations are now democratizing their system, but still it is oriented by topｭdown decision making. This could also be resulted from long tradition of obedience. Many people complains about their bosses behind the scene but not in public. When I began to reform our system, every time I face some barrier or even persecution. Executives don't care about the quality of nursing, but I always strongly care. Nurses or carers don't care about the management of patients' environment from the point of daily function or their quality of life.

Even in an age of informed consent, many Japanese physicians can't educate patients very effectively because they don't have enough time, further they have turned into technoｭchemicians which I made a new term meaning chemical medicine experts diagnosing aided by machinery and technology. While therapists have to educate and explain patients as an everyday task in order to encourage exercise and selfｭtraining with full of time to talk with them. Now we do believe therapists can perform physical examination even better than physicians, while they seek to be upｭtoｭdate with technological and mechanical advances. They tend not to see people as human but just with disease in terms of technological outputs, while we see patient as an actively living person with functional skills. I know many kinds of experts now work in health care field, but physicians rule whole in an outｭofｭdate manner here. We therapists are fortunate to have education system for Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degrees now in a few colleges. But at the beginning of our history, physicians enforced to settle three years' education which still keeps to be our main stream, because they wanted to suppress our status and control over.

As for ruling structure of common people, every aspect is resulted from our long history. For ｈexample, I work in a health care field where I can notice a conservative pyramid letting physicians become the top rulers. Physical therapy here is a newly established profession with only 34 years of history, at the beginning of which aided by World Health Organization and many foreign therapists. We have highly intensive educational, practical or research environment because of the need. We have been, and are now, enthusiastically searching to make our practice up to date with pioneering spirit. I believe its quality has a high standard and is not delayed from an international viewpoint, although the numbers of therapists or the fields they work are limited.
But we are allowed to work directed by physicians and not to open private offices even if we have our own system of assessment and treatment, while masseurs, acupuncturists and moxabustions, which generally one therapist have three of all, are allowed to have them. Here physician's direction has no meaning, or often confuse us. Nurses are always running directed by physicians, not even having their own system to assess and treat patients in such a small facility like I worked. They seem to me just physicians' assistants with least identity or pride of their job field. The Japanese health care system is totally different from that of Western where many experts work in their specified fields with high status and leadership.

Japanese proverb "Nagai mono niwa makarero," meaning let us be rolled up with anything long, symbolizes our obedience to authorities, while "I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu," meaning a frog in the well knows not the ocean, our narrowｭmindedness that comes from closed society. Japan's long history, of course, has cherished our sophisticated culture, but long isolation as an island country and a closed policy in the Edo Era seems to have formed very much complicated our social structures, connections, and customs that are suitable for the natives but great bars for foreigners or foreign companies.
Whether general Japanese tendency poor at foreign language might come from its closed society, from its grammar differences, or from bad education system just to pass the exam, the result is that they are very quick absorbing foreign ideas or information in translation. Then we owe much to the precious translations. Japan is, I believe, a big country with full of information from all over the globe, but it is just in Japanese, the references of which are so limited that they have to make a great effort to find out what they want. On the contrary there are huge quantity of traditional cultural accumulation that could not and would not be translated into other languages. These closed, narrow minded frogs in the well have biases or prejudices even now.
For example, music is one of the decisive identity crisis from the beginning of modernization. So let me have a little time to demonstrate in singing.
* demonstration

By the way, let us discuss the causes of their cultural homogeneity. One student called their culture the agricultural society which originated by growing rice where cooperation had been the essential need without recent qualified machinery but with just skillful hand labor. Feeding is an essential cultural basis. Ours, based on rice growing, has not been changed long from the ancient days of Jomon or Yayoi, the emperors' government and aristocracy, medieval military governments, ｭｭwhere the main tax was rice and the ruling areas were measured by the amount of its productｭｭ industrial revolution under Meiji Imperial Constitution, through post-War democratization and modernization. So he insists in their cultural peacefulness and cooperativeness, but, on the other hand, dependency on others oriented by such agriculture. However, why do people tend to think or act so similarly even if they value harmony of our group? Wasn't there any need to have their own way of life or thinking?
The Japanese are obedient to authorities. Even if political issues, they tend to let it be by rulers giving up people痴 influence on them. The long time isolationism that the Tokugawa shogunate had kept from the 17th to 19th centuries might have reinforced such a tendency. Otherwise the origin must have been very early. The shogun closed trading except a small amount with China and Holland and rejected immigration totally because they feared the propagation of Christianity. Buddhism is one of the origins of our culture which we owed our obligation to Nepal, India, the Silk Road, China, or Korea which transferred its great sutras and philosophy. Temples under Tokugawa Shogunate, however, were used to identify citizen's permanent address, and people are not allowed to convert to another religion or sect of it. Even religion itself was, and still now tends to be, used as a tool to rule ordinary people. It forms one of the ruling structures, of course with exception.

They don't have enough tradition to think as individuals, and they think as a member of some group or organization that they belong to. They tend to see a person who graduated from a famous university, not by his/her intellect itself. Anyone who works for a big business earns more money the longer he/she stays not because of his/her merit, and tends to be treated as an elite. Even experts with long career might not be able to make much money unless they were promoted or recruited.
The Japanese seldom debate on a topic seriously, strangely enough though. In a mono-racial country with just one language rapidly standardized by the mass media, unique opinions sound there will be so contrary, that their holders hesitate to express them knowing subsequent discrimination from others. People tends to talk about light topics such as yesterday's baseball game or star's gossip. To make it worse, TV also strives high audience rating by looking for highlighted topics only for average interest. It can be said a kind of mass idiot or mobocracy, which might be easier for journalists to form similar public opinions. Generally Japanese can't be said to be opinionated.
Self-sacrificing for the benefit of others is a key characteristic for the highly educated, and should be one of the most important virtues of responsible leaders. But, full of knowledge often accompanies egoistic personality. Further, recent tendency with materialistic prosperity which is called an age of satiation might be a hotbed for hedonism. Actually Japanese culture is now morally decaying, the evidence of which is bookstores. They could easily find a good book in any bookstore for a reasonable price before. In addition to being expensive, they sell quite many unreadable books or magazines which confuse people’s choice especially in the convenience stores. Now is the time to form their strong identity that is unwavering whatever environments surround them.

--- Identity Crisis ---
---Where Is Homogeneous Japan from?

Unlike the United States, Japan is really a country of monoculture. How and why? Not only because of one race origin, long history of an island country, fairly secure and stable cherishing of our cultural development without experiencing invasion or colonization by other countries, there must have been a lot of causes to form our present situation, homogeneity.
It might be least effective to change our heart that General Douglas MacArthur occupied us for several years. The Emperor's family originated form invaders from Korea, then ruling all over Japan settling shrines as military bases and controlling the leaders of original Japanese into Iwami, or the west Shimane Prefecture. Although at the time of ancient history, it must be the beginning of general Japanese tendency to obey authorities.
The one can say of us having least identity or originality, but with full talent to absorb anything from abroad, imitate and modify it. Originally, Japanese culture might have been that way. Even the characters to express our language we borrow from China. It was quite efficient for a barbarian living in remote far East Islands to use ideograms in expressing his thoughts. With importing our ancestors created the Katakana and Hiragana phonogram systems derived from them. Importing, absorbing of concepts, imitating, and modifying are some of our characteristics that we became good at. Imitation itself sometimes makes much more value than the original when effectively modified in a crowded, dense population with hard competition. Similarly, electronic products made in Japan which were like toys and synonyms of cheap in earlier days, are good examples of that.
However, today's discussion is not for the virtue of their culture but so called the identity crisis they crucially face.

Because of the passionate contents, timing before American Independence and epoch-making position, it still has historical significance among documents around the beginning of the United States history. Here is another example of the power of writing which changed history.
Thirdly, also Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet B. Stowe cannot be overlooked. Writers do not write novels for a practical purpose, but they write because they want to. However, her novel had a very practical impact on eliciting people’s concern against slavery, and thus contributed in releasing many “Toms.” Of course we have to mention the Civil War and the influence of leaders such as Pr. Abraham Lincoln who contributed, too. From a citizen’s point of view, her story’s power must have been strong on contemporaries because they could not have succeeded in releasing the “Toms” without citizen’s agreement. Further, her novel functioned well to enhance people’s knowledge and sympathy for them.
Today, in a rapidly accelerating changing society, each individual might find himself/herself too nameless and powerless to influence world at all. In addition, younger generations increasingly don’t care for politics and civilization, so nonvoters might have high percentage in countries. Now, however, the info-highway has connected almost every human activity and knowledge to form a tremendous cyberspace. Email exchanges have progressed written communication more than before and enabled what we can call direct democracy. An individual can communicate with any VIPs if he/she wishes. Therefore, the power of writing can be said more important, although we have a huge amount of garbage information appearing and disappearing one after another. The pen is mightier than the sword. This is the time to appreciate the old proverb.

Writing represents the power of wisdom. Therefore, it is not only the rhetoric but also one’s action, thought, and humanity as a whole. Today, when we visit a big library or bookstore, I wonder how many books I could and deserve to read among many. Further, I have to ask whether a book can affect our age effectively. Is the writing so important now? Can an individual effectively change others by writing? I often feel no confidence in my writing. Therefore, I would follow the history first.
To begin with, let us study Hippocrates of Cos in ancient Greece. Hippocrates is said to have divided medicine from religion, and many medical records and treatises are attributed to him. His contribution and influence in the field of health science is overwhelming, so he is called the Father of Medicine. Despite the pioneering era, he analyzed the cause, used some assumption to apply for diseases, and wrote clinical records of those days. In addition, his most important contribution has been the establishment of ethical code, the Hippocratic Oath. Physicians and health professionals are privileged to treat patients. They are even permitted to use a knife for surgery. Then their moral and ethics have to be authoritative and strict. Now, when medical students graduate, they recite the Oath and vow their ethical conduct. Here is the power of writing lasting for 2,500 years. Many classical scriptures and writings are such things that have kept inspiring people, and thus changed our history indirectly and directly some time.
Next, I would mention Commonsense by Thomas Paine. Although he wrote it not so long after he settled into America from Britain, it inspired and ignited people’s courage to stand against the British colonization. Reprinting after reprinting, the publication reached an amazing number though it is fairly short.

From the beginning Mr. President was an aggressive war hawk. He progressed National Missile Defense. He denied Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. He withdrew the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. He recognized China as competitor instead of partner. As soon as he was inaugurated, Iraq overreacted in responding around the non-flight zone, then the U.S. and British forces bombed Baghdad coincidentally 10 years after Gulf War. China plane approached the U.S. spy flight and made it landing on an island. Even Osama bin Ladin himself might have overreacted the Bush regime. So everything seems to me the competitor’s overreaction to our administration and policy. If we had Al Gore as our president, we could have had another world. I am not a Democrat, but I dream. The world is now “Eyes to eyes, teeth to teeth.” And American unilateralism means nothing but isolationism and developing countries is accumulating hostilities because of a key person.
Japanese government also clearly “support” the presidents decision and action, although even many political leaders say “unavoidable.” Don’t they have pacifist constitution that denied eternally all war as a mean to resolve international conflicts? I am ashamed as a citizen that Mr. Koizumi is a racist as his visit to Yasukuni Shrine clearly shows evidence.
Anyway I have nothing but a prayer for a quick ending and not too much casualties. And I hope that the humanitarian support and reconstruction process will soon come on. The UN should be respected by America and be further strengthened. All people in the world don’t like divorce but in stead like the harmony of a global family.

The Iraq war

I might have been better to write formally in my composition class for this topic because this paper might be very informal and emotional. As a citizen with pacifist constitution and from an only one victim country of two A-bombs, I always feel a strong mission for peace. So I am against any war or local conflict with violence at all. But in this Iraq war I have to be careful as an American resident to avoid any misunderstanding.
I was almost about to have joined the protest against the war rally in Boston, but my host stopped me saying, “I am responsible for your safety and there may be violence.” I thank her.
Until quite recently I didn’t even know the meaning of preemptive strike nor the details of Mr. president’s strategy as well. He may used this terminology to justify Afghanistan war because the U.S. had experienced the terror of 9/11 which seemed to be an international crime. I am even against the Afghanistan war because I believe war cannot produce peace and it involves lots of civilian casualties. So alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction also cannot justify the use of force.
If the president truly wants to fight for freedom and democracy for the Iraqi people, he should not have ignored the U.N. resolution. Now the Security Council is sprit. And NATO is sprit. How can we say this is the international democracy? They should have continued the inspection. If he and his administration want to topple the dictator by force, how can this unnatural democracy last after we succeed in getting it?

I was always bullied when I was an elementary student by a violent classmate who used pro-wrestler’s strategies. Then it was my habit that I say “give up” as soon as possible and wait till he releases me. I didn’t have so much physical strength and even suffered from lung tuberculosis from the age of 13 to 15. It was not so severe though. At the same time, I began singing in a coral group. Such a weakness and my music interest might have developed my sensitivity. I value my character very much.
However, we should be strong enough physically and spiritually to survive and win in a very competitive society, of course. I found I can’t change my delicate and somehow weak character. Once I dared to pretend to be strong and really wanted to be strong, and it caused much stress. At last I came to realize that knowing my weakness well can cause enough pure and strong attitudes toward life. In another words, working enthusiastically as a therapist helping people with disabilities has changed me very much, and I don’t fear whatever happens even with my weak and vulnerable character. Living in weakness can produce ultimate strength.

What is your most prized possession? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Weakness and Delicacy
America is a country of winners. Because it is strong, leaders and people might lack delicacy and then get more hostility from other countries. I love and value my delicacy, which comes from being aware of my weakness. Further, if one feels sympathy even with enemies with delicacy, which may be a key virtue for the 21st century and for Americans especially.
A healthy person can’t understand sick one’s sufferings. Without experiencing disease himself/herself, disease might totally be a different world. Once one is aware of his/her pain inside oneself, one can feel sympathy of other’s pain. On the contrary, the stronger the country and people are, the rougher their senses seem to be. Therefore, Americans should be very careful and treat other countries people equally with sympathy, because it is after the time of the Iraq war. Our strength and rough approach can easily be misunderstood and get a very bad feeling especially by developing and Muslim countries.

Dear Cathy,

I'm happy hearing from you, really.

I notice that cyberspace has its structure, in which each individual access his/her cyberspace. So, I don't care if my access counter counts slowly. It's up to you. Enjoy it!

Dear Cathy,

Remember using [refreshing] button, or just push [F5] button. Websites are always updated.
I just added some new links.

Thanks.

http://homepage2.nifty.com/PEACE/education/

Dear Tamaki, I will get to know this slowly. IT is the way I enjoy going to a museum-a little bit frequently.

I hope to look at a little section of this whenever I am at my computer. Cathy

Dear Jammy,
Thank you for visiting my page and the very first comment
on our Guest Book BBS!
Take care of yourself, and enjoy your trip!

Hola amigo!It has been to Puerto Rico for three months.
An official language is Spanish although Puerto Rico is the autonomous state in the United States. Now, it is shaking [ which becomes the state in the United States / or or ] by whether independence is achieved. It talks also about the base problem of the U.S. Forces like every day like the Okinawa problem of Japan.
I am sorry that coming to have got the postcard becomes late.Is it HP containing power? Please do your best from now on.

Why Should We Do Civil Movement Based on Spiritual Education Now?
1. What are the Key Points of Ecology Issues?
1-1. Ecology Issues among Global Problems
1-2. Comprehensive Problems Especially in Global Warming
1-3. South-North Issues ? How to Get Fair Distribution of Welfare?
1-4. Sustainable Development?
1-5. Ecology Issues in Civilization of Mass Production and Consumption
-- Into Civilization of Recycling
1-6. A Planting Trees Campaign Named ACORN Saves Spiritual Desertification and
Ecology Issues
2. Spoiling of Moral, Decaying of Civilization
3. On Freedom
3-1. Is Human Free?
3-2. Dignity of Individual, and Freedom
3-3. Freedom from Restriction
3-4. Spiritual Freedom, Self-Reliance, and Independence
3-5. Freedom and Social Responsibility
3-6. Freedom and Equality
4. Why do We Need Self-education and Self-regulation?
5. Autonomy, Independence, Individualism and Friendship
6. Identity Crises
6-1. Where is Homogeneous Japan from?
6-2. Identity Crises through Assimilation in a Country of Immigrants (USA)
6-3. Identity Crises among Diversity?in Relation with Social Collaboration, and Norm
7. Family Values
7-1. Destruction of Family and Community Values as an Environment of Education
7-2. Importance of Posture of Feeding, Communication and Humor While Eating with Family? From the Point of Development
7-3. Human Development and Mother's Wisdom
7-4. Paternity, Father's Back, Wisdom, and Prophecy
7-5. Discipline, Moral, Spiritual Education among Family and Community
7-6. Obligation and Human Rights
7-7. Love and Marriage
7-8. Family, Community, and Earth Family
8. Age of Democracy, and Faith as an Origin of Autonomy and Friendship
9. Sexual Education as a Task of Civilization
--Spiritual Autonomy, Sexual Education, and the UN--
10. Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King
11. Religious Tolerance and Theological Intolerance
12. Coalition of World Religions
13. How to Use Music to Nurture Pure Spirits?
.... and so on