To arm or not to arm...
Carraro, Robert J.
life, theater, films, the arts in general is malevolent or positive, ecution. In the absence of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, it or both, or neither; whether, psychologically,...
...and should be invited to continue to do so...
...Since then, "one country pacifism," as the Japanese adults surveyed favored permitting homosexuals to serve in the describe their foreign policy, has led some Japanese to conmilitary, 69 percent of respondents with a gay relative or friend clude that their stance keeps them on the fringes of mainstream took that position...
...petuate residual guilt from World War II indefinitely...
...Homosexuals Japan's democratic structure, with its civilian control over stand at the bar accused as a group of being a corrupting in- the military, minimizes the chances of an extreme shift toward fluence in society, a threat to the effectiveness of the military, a greater military role in government...
...Or knowledge...
...Still, incremental changes underminers of family values, dangerous role models for chil- over the past four decades have now brought Japan to the brink dren...
...The last has been the central point of without the hedge of America's presence, will foster instabildebate in the ongoing struggle between the ruling Liberal ity in Asia and the Pacific as other nations seek to expand their Democratic party, which has governed Japan for virtually all military capacity...
...My own reasons for coming down on the gay thusiastically embraced the concept of pacifism, by which they side are several...
...The reality of postrectness, used on behalf of homosexuals, can influence the war Japan has been that, while leaving its judgments even of professionals...
...overseeing a gradual transition to a significantly armed nation In any case, this issue will be settled (if it's ever settled) not with looser interpretations of the 1947 constitution...
...This "passive pacifism," along Depression child, my mother was strongly devoted to FDR and with Japan's postwar constitution, offered a defeated Japan under the New Deal, and I was orphaned at twelve, therefore an un- the leadership of Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida (1946-47, derdog in life's struggle and a sympathizer with underdogs...
...1948-52), the opportunity to limit political commitments abroad Second, I had a few fumbling homosexual experiences in my so that it could devote itself exclusively to the pursuit of doboys' boarding school...
...There are arguments and anecdotal evidence for such views...
...It could become a more "norly on the need to defend Japan from internal and external threats...
...In December 1991 the long-await6: 26 February 1993 Commonweal...
...Up to the end of World War II this was characterized by and I get mad...
...greater share of international obligations...
...It follows that we Japanese militarism and the quest for imperial expansion that should all try (repeat: try) to be upfront about the sources for led to World War II failed so completely that the Japanese enour conclusions...
...to see Japan participate fully in future multinational operations ROBERT J. CARRARO such as the Gulf War, although this would likely require revi- Robert J. Carraro, a former journalist, is an officer of The sion or further reinterpretation of the constitution...
...Third, like most New Yorkers I have gay seemingly been a matter of national consensus and every postand lesbian friends and neighbors, and far from being preda- war prime minister has publicly distanced himself from expanding tory monsters, aberrant, sex-mad, weak-willed, or poor citizens, military power...
...large numbers of Japanese turned out in demonstration against Certainly the next millennium's historians will consider the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, there were but scattered December 1991-December-1992 a critical year in Anglicanprotests against last year's peacekeeping law...
...Finally, however, this is an issue of justice...
...Finally, it is imly two years of grueling national debate, Japanese forces are portant to bring the pacifist ideals of Japan's constitution into now allowed to play a limited role in UN peacekeeping oper- the mainstream of international dialogue...
...I'm sure I mentioned them in confes- mestic economic reconstruction and development...
...Japanese military units currently in Cambodia have thus ful model, the people of Japan will.have to demonstrate that far been assigned only to rebuilding roads, bridges, and hospi- their rejection of militarism is real, rather than a convenient tals, and they are not allowed to engage in combat...
...Roman Catholic relations...
...whether, vantages (not to speak of contempt and obloquy) upon a whole morally and ethically, homosexual love-making-men lying with class of people who are asking nothing more than equal treatmen, women with women-is perverse, repulsive, evil, or ment for themselves as persons...
...are signs of quiet resignation that their nation must assume a 0 Running In Place...
...corruption in Japanese politics was through "a coup d'etat or CANTERBURY, ROME & REUNION a revolution...
...The subject of the Japanese military is still a delicate one REPORT ON ECUMENISM both in Japan and abroad...
...suspicion, especially in Asia...
...By the mid-1980s, however, Japan's economic expansion had Or it could opt for the more challenging position as a leading become something of a political liability in international cir- peacemaker through environmental protection, economic aid, cles, leading proponents of a defense buildup to further seek to and refugee relief...
...mal" nation-state, which includes a greater capacity for the SDF...
...Given the unique opportunity presented by the end of the The LDP was able to pass last year's peacekeeping law that cold war, there are a great many ways-technological, scienallows SDF troops to participate in overseas UN peacekeeping tific, and financial-that Japan could contribute to global peace operations largely because of a powerful public relations cam- that are consistent with its pacifist constitution...
...But it is also paign by the government in an effort, as one official put it, "to important for Japanese to play a more visible role in aiding thirdeducate people a bit more...
...in this dispute, as in the case of any defendant charged with In fact, foreign pressure, or gaiatsu, has provided the rationany kind of antisocial behavior, the burden lies with the pros- ale for an expanding military capability since the Korean War...
...Japan deserves credit for the financial and recently with the dispatch of 700 troops to Cambodia as part diplomatic contributions it has made to international society of a UN peacekeeping force...
...The issue has been whether outcry over the recent Japanese shipment of plutonium from the Yoshida Doctrine has left Japan ill-prepared politically and Europe is an unfortunate reminder that Japan is still viewed with institutionally to deal with the demands now placed upon it...
...A Japan that Self-Defense Forces (SDF), and the challenging issue of con- is perceived by its neighbors as acting independently, especially stitutional interpretation...
...The views expressed here are his own...
...In the absence of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, it or both, or neither...
...by experts but by amateurs: the rest of us...
...The depth of conviction American-imposed "peace" constitution intact and publicly adamong anti-gay advocates, and their sheer numbers, have con- hering to the idea of an unarmed country, the government of siderable impact that is similarly unrelated to the force of their the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) has, in fact, been arguments...
...ROBERT G. HOYT merely a sexual variant, in itself neither better nor worse than heterosexuality...
...Unlike 1960, when 0 Rich In Possibility...
...of the last four decades, and the opposition parties...
...A Japanese military officer was fired last year after writing a magazine article contending that the only way to correct the "injustices" of influence-peddling and A GLITCH OR A GULF...
...Unscientific, yes, but I note that whereas in a a fervent nationalism fed by state Shinto and reverence for the mid-January New York Times/CBS poll only 42 percent of all emperor...
...I was a domestic and foreign affairs...
...disguise for apathy, requiring greater civilian participation in Nevertheless, some members of the ruling party would like crisis areas where humanitarian efforts are most needed...
...The international scrutiny over the past few years...
...Which course should the Japanese be enaddress Japan's "international responsibilities," culminating most couraged to take...
...to remain militarily engaged in the recult questions regarding U.S.-Japan relations, the role of Japan's gion to prevent any additional rearming of Japan...
...and the Roman Catholic church can now be most Nonetheless, although the majority of Japanese staunchly sup- accurately described as R.I.P., meaning: port their constitution which "forever renounce[s] war," there 0 Rest In Peace...
...Since ters, its troops have slowly but steadily been built we're all sexed, we all have a stake in the matter-and a lim- up so that they now constitute one of the world's ited perspective...
...But to be a successations...
...RETHINKING THE CONSTITUTION I speak of "assumptions" in that 205-word sentence because, in my judgment, there is no evidence on either side of any of these issues so compelling that it will simply overwhelm the opposition, shaming them into silence...
...of abandoning "one country pacifism" for what many Japanese I think that the arguments can be refuted and that the evidence leaders see as the status of a "normal" nation-state...
...whether, psychologically, homosexuality is radically unfair to continue heaping disabilities and disadis an aberration, a basic flaw, or simply a difference...
...Is that bias...
...In my view, it would Japan's unique position in the world as an economic giant be a mistake, however, to push the Japanese into assuming more that avoids military entanglements has come under particular of the military burden for settling disputes...
...international dialogue...
...That is, a to the contrary is a great deal stronger...
...Even the word for patriotism, aikokushin, still reminds many older Japanese of the fervent nationalism of the first half of this cen- The relationship between the Anglican Communion tury...
...Anything negative anyone says about felt a strong sense of isolation, heightened by a feeling of uniquehomosexuals in general I apply to these people in particular, ness...
...The debate focused on the ques- world nations beyond the scope of overseas development astion of whether or not participation in collective security, even sistance, which always carries the stigma of leading to expanded peacekeeping, is barred under Japan's constitution...
...Commonweal 26 February 1993: 5 Earlier arguments in favor of a stronger military focused sole- Japan now has two options...
...After near- business opportunities for Japanese companies...
...sonal ignorance, and/or homophobic fear...
...Check One...
...The point is that matic, economic, and military-to pursue its interests...
...First, because of my life experience my knees understand a world in which military power plays no role in tend to jerk toward the liberal side of most issues...
...Yet, throughout the twentieth century Japan has they're admirable people...
...They argue Asia Foundation's CenterforAsian Pacific Affairs in Washington, that continuing Japan's pacifist uniqueness serves only to per- D.C...
...Japan's defense agency director has publicly urged the United States to remain militarily involved in Asia to "block Japan from re-emerging as a major militarist state...
...This is further illustrated by The Persian Gulf War, in particular, raised a number of diffi- Asian pleas for the U.S...
...The tactics of victimization and political cor- ten strongest armed forces...
...and, finally, whether the belief that homosex- REPORT ON JAPAN uality is of its very nature a social disvalue, a psychological aberration, and a moral evil is founded on sound, time-tested personal and social values or is rooted in inherited bias, per- TO ARM OR NOT TO ARM...
...But that's just my opin- country that can freely use all of the traditional means-diploion, which has never been taken as definitive...
...The experts, including ethicists, moral theologians, and biblical exegetes as well as Despite Japan's reputed aversion to military matpsychiatrists, anthropologists, and sociologists, differ...
...sion but they were neither repulsive at the time nor devastat- Keeping the brakes on expansion of military capabilities has ing in the aftermath...
Vol. 120 • February 1993 • No. 4
