“People who comprehend a matter in all its depth seldom remain true to it forever. For they have brought its depths to the light; and then there is always much to see about it that is bad”. Nietzsche - Human, All Too Human 489.

There is much to admire and be fascinated by in Japan. Most of all - it is the level of control. The philosophy of liberal individualism is no better implemented than in Japan. The notion that one’s autonomy and self-determination can form one’s identity free from external interference. But the ideas have to be taken from somewhere. The Japanese are masters in the art of appropriating others ideas and practice. Using them as a means to an end. In all that is external to the function of the mind - this is palpable. Clothes, fashion, technology, design, food, music and entertainment. But some things cannot be changed through choice. They may not even be wanted to. Things like personality or spirit. This is seemingly beyond total control i.e. beyond the individual’s power to systematically and completely overall and decorate. This is not applicable merely to the Japanese. But they provide the best and biggest empirical case study for the hypothesis that the individual can choose who and how they want to be.

There are many foreigners who are fascinated by Japan, almost to the extent that they themselves want to be Japanese. A person that thinks much is not suited to membership and allegiance – he thinks himself through and beyond. Do the Japanese have anything that we as Westerners do not? Something important like a better ‘way of life’? Buddhist principles ad practice perhaps? Third person attributions of psychological experiences are enabled and facilitated by behavior, which includes language. The most evident Buddhist practice in Japan, although not mastered, is a form of mindfulness. Being mindful that the wrong kinds of thoughts and expressions of such are an obstruction and are unhelpful in trying to achieve something greater. Saying what one really thinks and feels, if of negative consequence, is not encouraged. They practice control. But the thought does not disappear. Patricide and matricide is a common occurrence in Japan. Remember the war? Manchuria? Kokoda? Buddhism is used as a means to an end also. Power and control is the end. Japanese are proud of that which is Japan. Even more so than Australians. Honor, at times in their history, has been more important than life and love. Absurd. But that is also what makes it fascinating. The absurdity of it all. Japan is like a caricature of the West. All our cultural and spiritual complexes and quandaries are exacerbated within that tiny island.

This area is regarded as the slums in Osaka.

But still has more to offer than Eastwood.

The story is that after the world fair in 1970, with over 60 million visitors, the area became infested with drugs, junkies and Yakuza.

The party hangover which lasted 40 years.

In the excitement and rush to produce the necessary infrastructure and facilities for the fair - nails were left out, bricks were made of cardboard and workers were left unpaid.

Just up ahead are the most homeless people I’ve seen congregated together in Japan. Three.

Japan does not have the best record of looking after its left fortunate. Not really part of the culture.

But cleanliness and sanitation are.

Despite one of the biggest economies in the world – driven by the demand for the over-packaging of consumer products- there is never a scrap of paper or plastic to be found on the ground.

The streets are cleaner than my apartment.

Tsukiji is the biggest wholesale fish market in the world.

It is in the heart of Tokyo.

I was looking for whale.

I would have eaten it to.

But all the tasty stuff goes early before the sun comes up.

5.30am is the advised time to get there for the action of the Tuna auctions.

Only tourists go to see it. Locals don’t bother. But Tourists have in recent times been banned. Something to do with poor hygiene.

It’s just a fish. A large one yes. But Japanese are as familiar with Fish as we are with beef. We don’t go to auctions of beef for fun.

Managed to get out of bed around midday. After three changes on the subway I was there by 2.30pm.

Not much left.

But I had to buy something.

Still don’t know what to do with it.

Consequences of the Japanese work ethic.

Japanese businessmen all look the same.

It’s a standard uniform of a dark navy blue suit, immaculately polished black shoes, dark tie, a short-length haircut no longer than a week old and a black brief case.

In Japan there has always been a sort of social stigma relating to those who are not like everybody else.

A well-known Japanese proverb: If a nail sticks out, hammer it down.

No big shots that advertise their ego.

Do they all go to the paper factory from ‘The Office’? No. But the outward manifestation of personality and emotion is kept to a minimal. Subtleties of culture.

Subway conservative and restrained. No talking on mobile phones and no talking in general is the norm, indeed it is the rule. People have respect.

Honor system.

So very tired. Not drunk.

We got on the train at Shinjuku going to Shibuya. He was like that when we got on and he remained that way when we got off. He didn’t move.

Brought much shame to his corporation.

But who could identify him ?

He unknowingly sacrificed respect for laughter. He will never know.

He finally got some sleep.

No harm done.

http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/04/07/iraq-a-defining-moment/

Again Saleem draws upon a variety of other people’s blogs and merely guides the discussion with some intermediary guidance, commentary and explanation.

This blog is dedicated to explicating the details of the current battles and power struggles which are occurring between the opposing military and political factions in Basra.

The first blog which Saleem extensively quotes, illuminates the personal qualities and respective positions of the two different warring parties. It also voices the expected outcome of the present dispute: “I believe there will be so much innocent's blood in the streets”.

A selection of blogs which critique the American/Western press follows. As does conjecture about the role of oil companies in Iraq, both in the past and in the present.

Again various links are provided, which give the full account/opinion from which the excerpts were taken. The material is highly particular and involved, difficult for a Westerner - who is only familiar with mainstream media – to really follow, as the material and the discussion assumes the reader is familiar with the subject area and persons involved.

Again the selected blogs are highly opinionated and do not desire to attain even a semblance of objectivity.
There is no mistaking that the persons writing are very much in the center of the action and have a familiarity and great interest in the events and persons discussed- probably because they live in the area of concern (Basra) and experience the consequences of the decisions and behaviors of the various political and military figures discussed.

Irag blog

http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/author/salam-adil/


Blogers name is Salam Ali. He is an Iraqi who has spent most of his life in London.

Salam draws upon a number of blogs from persons living in Iraq who give first person testimony of everyday life and experience in a variety of Iraqi cities. The first blog selected details the emotional turbulence and regular anguish that fills the life of a young Iraqi girl. One blog is about the dearth of electricity and fuel available to the Iraqi people. Another excerpt of a blog tells of the common practice of kidnapping, the countless deaths and of bodies lying/decomposing upon the road. The last excerpted blog voices anger towards the American government for inflicting such horrors upon the Iraqi people and suggests that the Regime of Saddam Hussein was by far a better alternative than the present.

Salim adds very few sentences of his own. He writes so as only to guide the discussion and structure the selected blogs into a coherent and informative unified blog of his own.

Salim provides the links to the entire blogs of which the excerpts were taken from. These links were found to be more detailed and more interesting than Salim’s.

Salim lives in London, whereas these bloger’s actually live in Iraq.

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