The allied efforts of Korean and Japanese civic groups aiming to make the distortions in Japanese history textbooks an internationally recognized issue. Two organizations, one each from Korea and Japan, will seek international interest in the matter at an upcoming international peace event opening in New York City July 19th. They intend to hold lectures in Washington, Texas, and elsewhere as well.
The problematic textbooks are a major point between the two countries, but internationally there is relatively less interest. That makes the upcoming joint campaign in the US very important. If the issue becomes one that is known internationally it will be far more effective in deterring the Japanese far-right, which threatens the peace in Northeast Asia. Exposing the behavior of a Japan that refuses to reflect on its past will help in keeping it from winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
While this particular joint effort is meaningful by itself, it would be particularly significant if in the future civic groups in the two countries see Northeast Asian issues in the context of world peace instead of devoting themselves entirely to issues only concerning them directly. The textbooks are an issue not just for Korea, China, and Japan; and they are also not exclusively something about the past, either. This is something that relates to peace in Asia and ultimately to world peace as well. It is a potential threat to global peace when Japan is constantly increasing its influence in the international community while never reflecting on the wrongs in its past. For that reason correcting Japan's distortions of history is both urgent and important. In the same sense we hope to see their activities lead to more interest and cooperation regarding things that threaten international peace like the US occupation of Iraq.
The Hankyoreh, 18 July 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Making Japan's Distortions of History an Int'l Issue |
