Thoughts about session 7

[Anonymous]

I agree. I get so immersed in Science topics, this is a very nice change. If you don't use it you lose it. I don't remember learning very much about Pearl Harbor but the little I do remember was a much different perspective that the unbiased one I am hearing now.

[Anonymous]

How ironic that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor to prevent a war using violence. Looking at a map, Japan seems so small yet, they were a force to reckon with. Looking at the cultural misunderstanding that lead to the war, re-enforce the importance of learning about and sharing information on culture.
Most students have learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor and the resulting retaliation of the U.S. dropping an atomic bomb on Japan, however, my History teacher didn't mention the devastation to Japan. I never knew about the amount of lives lost; the fact so many civilian lives were lost; innocent women and children that perished was omitted.

[Anonymous]

I remember when I was in high school, one of my friends, who was Korean, told me that her father would disown her if she ever brought home a Japanese boy. I remember asking her why and she didn't really seem to know or want to go into it. In my ignorance, I couldn't understand what the problem was ( I'd also have to blame some of my poor history teachers in high school). Now I have a better understanding at the ill feelings between the two countries.
This class is just a great venue to educate me on so much history that was clearly missing from my education.

[Anonymous]

"Looking at the cultural misunderstanding that lead to the war"

Im a little confused- can you tell me what were these cultural misunderstandings? I feel like I missed something in the readings or the lectures....

Pat

[Anonymous]

"I also have a difficult time explaining the "positives" of colonialization from any nation. As Professor Pitelka had to address the "positives" of Japanese presence in Korea, I could see the connection to American presence in the Philipines. It did seem to me that the U.S. was a bit more racist in its treatment and view of the "savages" found in the Filipino people. But, education was expanded and under William Howard Taft, the government spent millions on infrastructure, sanitation and they too began to see life expectancy improve. But it was a forced effort and the U.S. only had eyes to improve th Philipines as an outpost to push our Open Door policy in China.
The study of History is so incredibly interesting to me."

rgoodwin

I must agree with you- thank you for bringing this up! Very interesting- the, "positives," of imperialism! (But a perspective that must be considered I think for proper scholarship.

Pat[Edit by="price on Jun 1, 2:06:34 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I found Morgan's information about General MacArthur's role in post-war Japan's reconstruction very interesting. He also had a very significant role in the post-WW11 development of Korea, being the UN (US) military commander during the Korean Conflict. His decisions had profound effects on the East Asia region both militarily and politically.

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