World War II began near an unremarkable town called Wanping, China in July 1937 and ended with soul-destroying fury that ballooned as giant mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With two atomic bombs, the United States stuffed the genie of Japanese militarism into the American bottle. Under its watch, post-war Japan has maintained an elegant deception as a beacon of … [Read more...] about An end to Japan’s elegant deception
The Cultural Revolution and Free Speech
PBS's Frontline recently aired a documentary of behind the North Korea scene. Among all of the images of the expected misery, poverty, hunger, want, there was 1 segment which I thought was greatly overlooked. A quick exchange between a few North Koreans behind closed … [Read more...] about The Cultural Revolution and Free Speech
Avoiding the Dirty Business of Justice and Politics is Not a Good Solution
Politics and Law is the business of Justice. And the Business of Justice, law and politics, is a very dirty business. Periodically, whenever I feel safe and secure in the knowledge of my place in the world and in my profession as a lawyer practicing somewhat boring law fields, I go visit a court or a jail for a field trip. If you have never done it, in whatever country you … [Read more...] about Avoiding the Dirty Business of Justice and Politics is Not a Good Solution
Shinzo Abe – Little Napoleon of neo-militaristic Japan
``History is a set of lies agreed upon,’’ is a gem from Napoleon Bonaparte’s treasure-chest of quotations. The Prime Minister of Japan might take a shine to that saying from France’s greatest empire-builder. Shinzo Abe is resolutely convinced that the staggering horrors of World War Two are falsehoods; the punishment meted out on defeated but beatific Japan - it had waged … [Read more...] about Shinzo Abe – Little Napoleon of neo-militaristic Japan
A Brief Note on Elections – that Bedrock of Modern Democracy…
This is a brief note on elections - that bedrock of modern democracy. A key and indispensable pillar of modern democracy - heck modernity - is the notion of elections. Elections, many believe, are a fundamental way for people to express their voice, and some believe even for people to engage in self-determination as envisaged in the Charter of the United Nations. Without … [Read more...] about A Brief Note on Elections – that Bedrock of Modern Democracy…