Why were the Korean Comfort Women “silent” so long? To answer this question, one thing you will need to think about is how much women’s “worth” is tied to their status as virgins or “sexually pure” and how women who are not “pure” are shamed in societies. You also need to reflect on how rape has been characterized as simply an “unfortunate consequence” of war—this is not true, of course; rape does not “just happen.”
Why could the words and actions of Japanese officials and government be interpreted as attempts to further silence them?
The Korean Comfort women, to put it lightly, went through Hell and back. They were kidnapped, raped, and tortured, both physically and psychologically. Whatever respect they had for themselves was lost. They were broken. And so for the longest time, they did not speak. To speak was to admit to the world the pain they suffered. To expose themselves emotionally after having built up miles worth of walls to try and protect themselves from the reality of the terrors they went through. To admit they were shamed and impure, and risk being isolated and looked down upon by society. They had been wronged, but they feared the rest of the world would not look at them with the sympathy they deserved.
Throughout essentially all time, rape has not viewed as horrible of a crime as it truly is. It seems to be universally accepted that men fighting in war have needs that need be fulfilled by any means necessary. It matters not how or who gets harmed so long as the soldiers succeed in their mission, whatever it may be. It could be a mother of three children who simply happened to be in the vicinity at the time or prisoners of war. Regardless of whomever it may be, it is, as stated above, regarded as an "unfortunate circumstance of war." That said, the Comfort Women were very much aware that were they to speak out, justice would hardly be served, and that, if anything, they would be the ones more likely to be harmed for reasons stated above. The ones responsible for the cruelty they faced would more than likely be let off with a slap on the wrist, they believed.
Now, however, they speak up because they want the Japanese to pay for what they did to them. They wish the shame they once had and still have to fall to the Japanese. The Japanese government, however, is more than willing to try to allow the cruelty to go unnoticed. They have tried to settle things with the victims privately many times by paying them out of the notice of the public eye. The women, however, will never rest easy until the Japanese own up to what they did. And even then, the physical and emotional scars will still remain.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Freedoms
Of FDR's four freedoms, the goal of freedom from want and freedom from fear especially reflect American and European experiences during the 1930s and 1940s. Briefly explain what FDR meant by "freedom from want" and "freedom from fear" and explain how the desire for these freedoms was the result of American and European experiences during the 1930s and 1940s.
By Freedom from Want, FDR called for healthy economic relationships and understandings throughout the world, which would then lead to a healthy peacetime life for citizens of the world. Many of the problems of the world seemed to stem from some sort of economic misunderstanding. One nation may have gotten angry with another due to an economic decision, and would then issue a decree in an attempt to hinder the other nation's progress until whatever insult they felt had been suffered had been dealt back properly. Economic understanding throughout the world would effectively cut off these sorts of feuds.
By Freedom from Fear, FDR called for the reduction of arms, slowly, but enough so that over the course of time, no nation would be able to wage war against their neighbor. Thus, the world would be free from the fear of a sudden attack from other nations, as, unbeknownst to the world at this time, they would soon come to fear greatly.
During this time, the world was hardly free of want or any fear. Europe was being ripped apart by a devastating war. America, despite reluctance to enter the war, had been attacked by the Japanese. If anybody truly wanted to be free from want or fear, action needed to be taken.
America, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, was a nation wracked by paranoia and fear. As such, steps needed to be taken to assure that they could remain safe. American troops were at last sent to battle the powers that had been attempting to take down their European allies for so long, as well as avenge the deaths of those at Pearl Harbor and keep their nation safe.
On the American home front, people were weary. The nation was beginning to pull out of a major economic depression. The war, however terrible it may have been, had served as an economic catalyst of sorts. The soldiers of the war needed military supplies. America soon dedicated their resources to their allies, and in return, was given money for their services. In the recovery process, however, the peoples' economic fear became fear for their very lives as the devastation of war scorched their great country. Fortunately for them, it became clear that the war was not to be fought on American soil. That did not, however, fully pacify their fears. So they worked hard for the troops to finally be rid of these fears. To be rid of the plagues that had long haunted them.
As bad as conditions were in America, Europe was faring far worse. The first ones impacted by war were the Europeans themselves. Despite all the warnings that had come over the many years that Hitler and the Nazi Party had been active, there was no preparation for what was to come. War came fast and hard. France, one of the main powers in the Great War, had fallen. Great Britain was under direct assault, and every day the country still stood was nothing short of miraculous. Hitler’s influence was expanding. His power was growing. Fear gripped the entire continent. But still they fought.
Hitler, in his arrogance, then launched an assault on the Soviet Union, with whom he had proclaimed neutrality. The Soviet’s fear soon turned into anger, and soon became full blown retaliation. The Soviets and Americans, despite uneasy relations with one another, joined into an Alliance with Britain and the parts of Europe who resisted the Axis powers.
Until the end of the war, it was the want of freedom of fear that empowered America and their European allies. After all, were they to stop pursuing this freedom, everything they held dear to them may have been destroyed in an instant.
By Freedom from Want, FDR called for healthy economic relationships and understandings throughout the world, which would then lead to a healthy peacetime life for citizens of the world. Many of the problems of the world seemed to stem from some sort of economic misunderstanding. One nation may have gotten angry with another due to an economic decision, and would then issue a decree in an attempt to hinder the other nation's progress until whatever insult they felt had been suffered had been dealt back properly. Economic understanding throughout the world would effectively cut off these sorts of feuds.
By Freedom from Fear, FDR called for the reduction of arms, slowly, but enough so that over the course of time, no nation would be able to wage war against their neighbor. Thus, the world would be free from the fear of a sudden attack from other nations, as, unbeknownst to the world at this time, they would soon come to fear greatly.
During this time, the world was hardly free of want or any fear. Europe was being ripped apart by a devastating war. America, despite reluctance to enter the war, had been attacked by the Japanese. If anybody truly wanted to be free from want or fear, action needed to be taken.
America, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, was a nation wracked by paranoia and fear. As such, steps needed to be taken to assure that they could remain safe. American troops were at last sent to battle the powers that had been attempting to take down their European allies for so long, as well as avenge the deaths of those at Pearl Harbor and keep their nation safe.
On the American home front, people were weary. The nation was beginning to pull out of a major economic depression. The war, however terrible it may have been, had served as an economic catalyst of sorts. The soldiers of the war needed military supplies. America soon dedicated their resources to their allies, and in return, was given money for their services. In the recovery process, however, the peoples' economic fear became fear for their very lives as the devastation of war scorched their great country. Fortunately for them, it became clear that the war was not to be fought on American soil. That did not, however, fully pacify their fears. So they worked hard for the troops to finally be rid of these fears. To be rid of the plagues that had long haunted them.
As bad as conditions were in America, Europe was faring far worse. The first ones impacted by war were the Europeans themselves. Despite all the warnings that had come over the many years that Hitler and the Nazi Party had been active, there was no preparation for what was to come. War came fast and hard. France, one of the main powers in the Great War, had fallen. Great Britain was under direct assault, and every day the country still stood was nothing short of miraculous. Hitler’s influence was expanding. His power was growing. Fear gripped the entire continent. But still they fought.
Hitler, in his arrogance, then launched an assault on the Soviet Union, with whom he had proclaimed neutrality. The Soviet’s fear soon turned into anger, and soon became full blown retaliation. The Soviets and Americans, despite uneasy relations with one another, joined into an Alliance with Britain and the parts of Europe who resisted the Axis powers.
Until the end of the war, it was the want of freedom of fear that empowered America and their European allies. After all, were they to stop pursuing this freedom, everything they held dear to them may have been destroyed in an instant.
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