first post about xenophobia ...

[bobchiin]

I'm English. We know we are more blessed than anyone, we don't need to be taught.
Sometimes I think the idea of xenophobia against foreigners is found in most countries, especially if you do not look like the natives. In the UK I have heard mutterings against anyone who isn't white or talks with a foreign accent, or kids taking the mickey out of them behind their backs. I not sure if it is more common in an island nation. I know that the British can be very insular when they want to be and sometimes will use the word foreigner as the Japanese seem to use the word Gaijin "but he's so foreign" or "You just don't understand because you are foreign"

So very true, and I'm sure that all of us no matter where we were born were taught some rascism. I know I grew up with more than my fair share coming from the American mid-west in the 1950's and 60's. But I also believe that most of us try to recognize where and when we use discrimination and at least attempt to correct it.

Therein lies the trouble. Japanese won't admit they are rascist, so, there is no problem. No problem, so no attempt to correct it.

I'm fairly sure that even the most hard headed person in the UK saw a foreigner that worked for years to learn the language, learn the customs, participate in the society and do everything humanly possible other than having full body and face plastic surgery, would sooner or later except that, OK, maybe he isn't a foreigner.

Not so Japan, you are born a Gaijin, you die a Gaijin, and probably your ghost is a Gaijin ghost. One day or thirty six years are one in the same, you are still "GAIJIN".
On that note: Had a good day today at school, was called "gaijin" only three times. Once by a student, and twice by teachers. The only thing that is slightly depressing about this is that I have lived longer in Japan than any one of them.

 

[pipokun]

Why?? Isn't blonde a natural hair color.
As the number two economic power in the world, I thought you meant contribute as in "help" the more unfortunate in the world. Adoptions is a great way of doing this. http://www.fww.org/famnews/0629a.html
Helping begins with compassion, but Japan doesn't even have compassion
for your own orphans. So Japan substitutes compassion with money.
Oh? How exactly has Japan contributed to world peace? There is a lot of talk about peace in Japan, but I have not seen much action to help anywhere. When did Japan set up peace talks to stop fighting somewhere.
Where did they mediate a cease fire agreement. Or maybe you mean that Japan contributes to peace because the Japanese government did nothing when Japanese citizens were kidnapped by North Korea. Even the most peaceful of intentions by the JDF of helping to rebuild a country or giving aid to another country is met with anger by the Japanese people. I'm sorry, but peace in Japan means exactly that, the rest of the world doesn't matter.

Just check out the Japanese small arms export control.
But for some, Japan is one of the evil coutries, saying Toyota's SUV turns out to be arms.

And unfortunately, you're living in a coutry with tons of sensitive neighboring countries who say something like "Japan's Militalism again" after SDF went to help people suffering from natural disasters in other countries.

 

[thistle]

'The Jr. High School's job is to make sure each and ever son and daughter of japan understands that they are better than everyone else"

I have a son in Jr. High school here, are you implying they teach them they are better than people from other countries?

 

[Steve Ototo]

My nephew is half-(American/Swedish) and half Japanese. He hated being gaijin so much that he did not wish to learn English. He grew up in Japan. People's eyes only see differences, not similarities. I think this is a human habit among all people.