43 years on: Abe's 'ghost worship' contrasts with Brandt'shumility

(People's Daily Online) 14:12, January 06, 2014

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

On December 26 2013, on the threshold of a new year, Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe managed to turn back the clock by paying homage at the Yasukuni shrine, in the eyesof most Asian countries a symbol of Asian Nazism/Fascism.

The Fascist aggression left an indelible mark as one of the darkest periods in humanhistory. The world has witnessed two strikingly different ways to reflect upon this uglypast.

43 years ago, the world watched with respect as the German Chancellor Willy Brandtsolemnly went down on his knees before a monument to Jewish victims at the WarsawGhetto.

43 years later, the world saw Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a different light as hemade his high profile visit to the Yasukuni war shrine. Mr. Abe claimed that he was thereto "pay his respects to the war dead who sacrificed their precious lives". However, one canhardly be expected to forget that among the war dead who made this 'sacrifice' were TojoHideki, the counterpart of Hitler and Mussolini in Asia, Kenji Doihara, major force behindthe Manchukuo, the puppet state created by Japan during its occupation of northeasternChina, and Iwane Matsui, principal culprit of the Nanjing Massacre.

Mr. Brandt himself was in exile fighting against fascism during the Second World War andhe had no personal cause to kneel down. However, he insisted on doing so on behalf of allthose who should have done but did not. Brandt's gesture of repentance and apology wasfollowed in 1995 by the then sitting German Chancellor Kohl, who went down on his kneesbefore the monument commemorating Jewish victims on his visit to Israel.

The grandson of Kishi Nobusuke, a World War II Class A criminal, Mr. Abe proclaimsunabashedly that he has inherited most of his political DNA from his ancestor.

Abe is not alone in his veneration of eastern Nazis. Many seats in Abe's cabinet areoccupied by right wing politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, who publiclysuggested that Japan should learn from Nazi Germany and revise its Constitution bystealth. No government with any sense of shame would have tolerated such a remark, butunder the protection of Mr. Abe, Aso escaped any repercussions without so much as anapology.

2013 marked the 80th anniversary of Hitler's ascent to power. In a podcast on her websitedays ahead of the anniversary, German Chancellor Merkel reiterated that Germany has aneverlasting responsibility for Nazi crimes. "We are facing our history, we are not hidinganything, we are not repressing anything. We must confront this to make sure we are agood and trustworthy partner in the future, as we already are today, thankfully," she said.

2013 also marked the 76th anniversary of the full scale Japanese invasion of China. Whenasked to comment on that period of history on the anniversary of the Marco Polo BridgeIncident, Prime Minister Abe answered that Japan also had a proud history that itsneighboring countries should respect, leaving his sense of morality and honor open toquestion.

At that moment when Brandt went down on his knees, the spirit of the German nationstood up, and Germany confirmed that it was committed to an era of cooperation with thecountries of Europe and with other parts of the world, winning respect and trust from theinternational community. In 2003 Brandt himself was ranked 5th in a vote conducted byGerman public television network ZDF for the greatest Germans of all time.

The moment Abe walked into Yasukuni shrine on a pilgrimage to honor his country's warcriminals, he degraded himself to a political clown with a distorted vision of history,trampling on the feelings of all the peoples from Japan's victims of the Second World War.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert asserted on December 30 that "all nationsmust honestly live up to their role in the horrific events of the 20th century. Only on thebasis of this honest accounting is it possible to build a future with former foes." The truth ofthis statement is self-evident. Without such honesty, it will be impossible for Japan to builda future with its neighbors. The country risks being led up a cul de sac by the Abeadministration.

（Editor：SunZhao、Huang Jin）

Abe's policies to boomerang

China slams Japanese minister for notorious shrine visit

Abe disgraces Japan where Brandt honors Germany

China rejects Abe's offer to explain shrine visit

We Recommend

Chinese Consulate General in S.F. burned for arson attack

Roar of J-15 fighter is melody for operator on the Liaoning

A 90-year-old forester's four decades

Most touching moments in 2013

2013: Joys and sorrows of world politicians

Missile destroyer Zhengzhou commissioned to Chinese navy

China is technically ready to explore Mars

Photo story: Life changed by mobile technology

Bullet train attendants' Christmas Eve

Name: 43 years on: Abe's 'ghost worship' contrasts with Brandt’s humility

The Fascist aggression left an indelible mark as one of the darkest periods in human history. The world has witnessed two strikingly different ways to reflect upon this ugly past.

China's trapped icebreaker preparing for breakout amid uncertain conditions

Trapped Chinese research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong warmed up its engine and tried to broaden an "ice-breaking runway" on Monday, preparing for a possible westerly wind favorable for its breaking-out.

--New icebreaker planned by 2016: officials

5 now dead after China coach explosion

The death toll from an explosion on a coach in northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Sunday has risen to five after a critically injured passenger was confirmed dead.

--3 killed, 24 injured in NW China coach blast

14 killed in stampede during religous gathering in NW China

14 people were killed and ten peole injured in a stampede during a religious gathering in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Sunday afternoon.

New grads look abroad for first jobs

Fu Siyu will take a flight from Beijing to Singapore early on Monday morning. The 20-year-old, who majors in international economy and trade, will work in sales at a bookstore at Singapore Changi Airport for the next two years.

China PMI lowest since Aug. 2011: survey

Four hospital officials stand trial in baby trafficking case

Tuning up for 2014 reform

China's ambassador to Jordan condemns Abe's shrine visit

Africa will remain important pillar of China's diplomacy

National

China's top ten economic events in 2013

Guests visit panda Yuan Zai at Taipei City Zoo

China reports fewer traffic accidents in 2013

Rescuers close to trapped miners in SW China

Society

Big hole formed as road construction site collapses