送交者: xh 于 2006-4-27, 13:04:23:
[I know the topic is cold here. But I really like what the kid wrote after reading the e-mail by the assistent professor to MIT. He sent this to a local Chinese mail list. Share with you guys with his permission.]
The terrible atrocities that occurred during that time
in history when the Japanese tried to occupy China
surely depict the ugly side of humanity and are indeed
disheartening. It is unfortunate that any human being
or race should have to endure the ugliness of war,
subjugation or human rights violations. It is
important to note however, that the exhibits
portraying the brutality that occurred are informing
people of what occurred and encouraging us that we
should learn from these atrocities and never commit
them again. On the History Wiz site that the assistant
professor noted as inappropriate there is a quote by
Cicero in the top right corner that states, “To be
ignorant of history is to remain always a child.”
These website are to educate and inform. If he would
taken time to grab hold of his emotions and be a
little more pragmatic, he would have noticed that
there were many exhibits on the history wiz site that
were critical of such exhibits as the Jewish
holocaust, American imperialism, south African
apartheid, the ukranian genocide and would you believe
-- Tiananmen square and the Tibet issue... (how dare
they) and many more.
Indeed they are not condoning those actions of the
Japanese but rather are speaking out against them by
displaying them. The texts and drawings are not
intended to “humiliate Chinese people by arrogantly
glorifying the fascism and atrocity of Japanese army”
as the assistant professor emotionally stated. They
are shedding light on history, they are telling the
story of what happened. Is that not what the Chinese
were so upset about a year ago or so? Many Chinese
were upset that Japan wasn’t portraying the truth in
their textbooks. So what is this assistant professor
telling the world with this emotional tirade? That if
the truth were really published in the textbooks then
the Japanese would be “humiliating the Chinese people
by arrogantly glorifying the fascism and atrocity of
Japanese army?” It seems nobody can win with this
over-zealot emotion- driven science scholar who should
probably be back in China where a great deal of the
truth is censored and thereby he can avoid being
offended by the truth.
Seeing those displays of history makes be very sad and
causes me to have a sick feeling in my stomach. I am
so sad that those things occurred in China just like I
am saddened at the horrific numbers that died while
building the great wall of China or the terrible
things that occurred during the occupation of the
native Americans her in North America. (or any
atrocity for that matter)
I think that the MIT assistant professor is
misunderstanding that these postings are to inform the
viewer/scholar/audience that these terrible things
occurred and should be acknowledged and denounced.
They are not supporting what occurred as much as they
are presenting what occurred. They are not 'art' in
the sense of 'art.' They may be "art exhibits" but are
more of means of preserving history. If one paints a
picture of war to preserve the moment it is preserved
through an artistic means but could still provide a
very satirical statement.
The Chinese assistant professor who wrote his opinions
seemed to allow his emotions to overtake his
intellect. He should first seek to understand and then
to be understood. I reviewed both of the links and
they are indeed academic and are not racist. The
carved blocks portrayed the things that occurred. Yes
the carving is an art form but the images are not
celebrated like say the Mona Lisa would be.
I would encourage you and other Chinese scholars to
see things in a more objective perspective and a less
subjective one. Control your emotions and celebrate
that the truth of what really happened to your fellow
Chinese is being told, after all -- isn't that you
have been asking of the Japanese government when the
textbook problem surfaced?
Lets all be careful not to be hyper-sensitive and
easily offened. Let us all use our brilliant minds to
logically think before spewing our emotionally charged
fallacies. And let us strive to forgive one another in
a world that so much needs forgiveness. I am saddened
to see so many Chinese hatred toward the Japanese or
vice versa just like I hate to see whites or black
hate each other. Its time to work on forgiving the
Japanese of so many years ago.
With respect to your opinions,
James