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Relevance of the "Nanking Massacre" to America
written by JL, April 11, 2006
Book review of
The Nanking Massacre: Fact versus Fiction: A Historian's Quest for the Truth (Paperback)
by Higashinakano Shudo
Most Americans ingest the news and entertainment served by the establishment media without a second thought. The 1960's mantra of "question authority" has been replaced today by "embrace authority." The sky-high approval ratings and prominent flag waving went hand-in-hand with blithe acceptance of the official reasons for invading Iraq in 2003. Today, increasing numbers of Americans are discussing the real circumstances surrounding the entry into war, which were initially either ignored or suppressed by the government. Upon further reflection, more and more Americans are beginning to understand the way in which Washington, D.C. really operates. It is critical that Americans understand the un-spun, unvarnished truth about the world, since bad policy formulated in the U.S. will have dire consequences on the rest of the world.
Most if not all Americans unwaveringly believe the "Nanking Massacre" tale. The message from films and TV is emphatic: "those evil Japanese savages!" Thus, for those who wish to present facts that invalidate the official version of history struggle against a media conglomerate that dictates what is and what is not acceptable discourse. Furthermore, TV news programs have deliberately aired government-produced propaganda as actual news. With most Americans slavishly following the media's position, it should not be surprising that anti-Americanism through out the world has risen to a new and deadly level.
"The Nanking Massacre: Fact versus Fiction" by Dr. Shudo Higashinakano is an attempt to replace TV-depicted nonsense with reality. For those with limited knowledge of the situation in China in the 1930's, a background is given. Although supporters of the "massacre" story will readily dismiss contemporary Japanese media reports emerging from Nanking, Dr. Higashinakano does not rely solely on those reports but cites foreign reports. League of Nations condemnation of Japanese aggression in China is described - oddly, there is no mention of mass atrocities taking place in or around Nanking, despite the fact that Nanking was the capital of the Republic. Indeed, even Mao made no mention, either during or after the war, of atrocities occurring in Nanking. The so-called eyewitness testimonies of the numerous atrocities are demonstrated to be second-hand reports or rumors at best and sheer fabrications at worst. Despite foreign military occupation, Nanking was definitely not a Falluja-like hell. Although in general clearly written, there are several areas of the book with confused English that made reading difficult. One would expect that a $30 book written in English would have better editing.
There are two issues that lie with this book and extend to other books like this (e.g. "What Really Happened in Nanking," by Masaaki Tanaka). First, historians should consider placing the Sino-Japanese conflict in the contexts of both early 20th century imperialism and the threat of Communism. The battle for Nanking was a fragment of the larger struggle between East and West, or, Asians vs. Whites. The "revisionist historians" may want to consider place Nanking within the context of the larger racial struggle. There maybe English language books that previously discussed this theme, but have not found their way into the mainstream, since Japan is still today portrayed as the aggressor in American history classrooms, films and TV programs. There will be those who argue that Japan had no right in interfering with a sovereign country, but a glance at a world map of the 1930's will demonstrate how hollow and hypocritical the argument is. The same people that argue against Japanese imperialism will probably argue in favor of U.S. imperialism in the Middle East. If placed in the proper context, perceptive Americans will be able to better appreciate Japan's pre-war situation.
The second issue that needs to be fully developed in English language books that refute the "Nanking massacre" is understanding the motivation of Asians, particularly the Communist Chinese, of why they persist in bringing up this issue year after year, despite the factual weakness of the allegations. Perhaps the Chinese see "Nanking massacre" as a domestic cudgel, in that the Communists have no real way of uniting over 1 billion people other than by the use of repression or channeling the people's attention on an external enemy, ala "1984". As some minority groups have done in the past in Europe, the Chinese may also be using "Nanking" as a moral-economic weapon, evoking guilt to extract reparations, economic aid and other "donations". Understanding why the Chinese keep the war-time myths alive would help to deflate their usefulness as weapons. Perceptive Americans will think about other situations where guilt underlies policy - and hopefully act to change them.
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The Nanking Massacre Obviously Never Happened
Walter Szykitka (New York, NY USA), May 20, 2001
Book review of
What Really Happened in Nanking (Paperback)
by Tanaka Masaaki
What a revelation! One only has to do the math. The claim in Iris Chang's book is that more than 260,000 people were slaughtered in 7 days. That's an average of 37,142 a day or 1,548 an hour or 26 a minute, or one execution every two seconds, around the clock, day and night, for seven days! And where's the evidence? Where are the bodies, the graves? They do not exist. It's about time somebody exposed this monstrous myth that is regularly repeated by those who want to characterize the Japanese people as ruthless and inhumane. And Mr. M. Tanaka has done it impressively and honestly. The evidence is overwhelming and this book should be read by all those interested in the important relationship between the U.S. and Japan and in historical truth.
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