The Olympic Committee must be given all the facts about the Governor of Tokyo
because Shintaro Ishihara is not only a denier of history; he is a dangerous
maverick who installs anti-Korean and anti-Chinese hatred. Not only this, we are
talking about a rampant sexist who made an alarming comment about the role of
women in society. Ishihara also belittled Africans in another tirade and the
only reason he remains so silent recently, is because the nationalist leader of
Tokyo understands that he is under the international spotlight. Therefore, it is
essential to enlighten people about this individual who stokes up hatred towards
others via un-logical outbursts of inhumanity.
We must all remember that the spirit of the Olympics is about unity and all
nations unifying under the banner of sport. In the past the Olympics was
sometimes hijacked by both ideological sides during the Cold War. However, in
recent times the Olympics is back on track but if Ishihara emerges victorious
then the games will become tarnished.
I stated in an earlier article that "Ishihara desires to leave a legacy but
the real legacy of Ishihara is being anti-Korean, anti-Chinese, and anti-foreign
in general. I am not talking about mild nationalism but an extreme version of
anti-Korean and anti-Chinese nationalism which is based on dangerous grounds.
This applies to historical revisionism and when this applies to an important
political figure like Ishihara, it is clearly dangerous. Therefore external
forces must notify others about the consequences of awarding Tokyo the Olympics
under such a blatant revisionist of history."
Given the reality of the Governor of Tokyo, then surely this issue must be
raised because it is in complete contradiction to the Olympic ideal. I also
wonder why the Olympic Committee is even entertaining the current Tokyo 2016 bid
under such a blatant nationalist.
Therefore, my conclusion is that the Olympic Committee does not understand
the true nature of Ishihara and the same applies to the other bidders of the
2016 Olympic Games. Also, it would appear that people who are in the know are
not raising their voices loud enough. Yet just imagine if Tokyo was awarded the
2016 Olympics. It would mean a victory and a legacy for a nationalist leader who
denies the real impact of the Rape of Nanking and he supports other forms of
revisionism.
In 1990, Ishihara clearly denies one of the worst massacres of the 20th
century, and we are talking about a century which had numerous terrible
massacres. Ishihara made it known in a Playboy interview that the Rape of
Nanking was merely fiction because he claimed that "People say that the Japanese
made a holocaust but that is not true. It is a story made up by the Chinese. It
has tarnished the image of Japan, but it is a lie." Also, more recently he
backed the film The Truth about Nanjing, which also claims that the Nanking
Massacre was Chinese propaganda and based on false history.
So would the
Olympic Committee award Germany if the local governor denied the Jewish and
Gypsy holocaust during the NAZI period? Of course not, indeed the individual
would face criminal charges for inciting hatred. Yet sadly, and to my amazement,
both the Olympic Committee and the people of Tokyo are not speaking out enough
against such an important political leader.
Of course I am not saying
that Tokyo should not be awarded a future Olympic Games, certainly not; however,
Tokyo should be prevented from holding the 2016 Olympic Games under the current
political leader. If Tokyo emerges victorious then clearly it will become "a
very dark day" in the chapter of the Olympic Games.
Other obnoxious
comments by Ishihara include an extremely sexist statement and just think about
what he said. For in 2001 Ishihara stated in the Shukan Josei magazine that he
subscribed to the theory that "old women who live after they have lost their
reproductive function are useless and are committing a sin." He is therefore
implying that women are no longer fit to be alive and that they are useless once
their reproductive function is over.
It is surely hard to surpass such a
terrible and cold-hearted comment but of course Ishihara did not apologize. So I
wonder what he thinks about female sport stars?
Turning back to the often
used "racial card" by Ishihara, then he clearly understood what he was implying
when he stated "Atrocious crimes have been committed again and again by
sangokujin and other foreigners. We can expect them to riot in the event of a
disastrous earthquake."
For people who do not understand the real meaning
of this statement, then let me enlighten you a little. During the 1923 Great
Kanto earthquake many massacres took place whereby Koreans were killed like
lambs to the slaughter. These brutal killings took place because some Japanese
newspapers made terrible false rumors. Therefore, thousands of Koreans were
butchered and other ethnic groups, notably Okinawans, also suffered at the hands
of nationalists.
For Ishihara, he fully understood what he was implying
and this sums up the character of this person. So what would happen today if an
American leader stated that slavery was ok? Yes, he or she would rightly suffer
the consequences but for Ishihara he wants to keep nationalism alive and in its
worse form.
So if you are alarmed by the rants of Ishihara and the menace he poses to
foreign nationals and the stereotyping of women, it is vital that you contact
your respective member of the Olympic Committee and your local politician.
Ishihara may win if people remain silent but if Tokyo does win the 2016 Olympic
bid then it will be a sad day for equality and the international global village.
Therefore, it is up to individuals and organizations to campaign against
Ishihara.
LEE JAY WALKER
