politics

Japan's rising sun flag removed from classroom at Canadian school

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I guess from now on all Canadian kids will grow up with a sanitized version of history with flowers and magic only, and anything that "offends" anyone will be expunged from history!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Stupid, but hardly shocking. The trend where the right not to be offended trumps the right learn and grow is becoming the norm.

The teachers should be standing up to censorship, but they are often the ones promoting it. Some mistake education to mean social equity and social justice, while others are afraid that their it's their necks that are going to be on the chopping block next if they stick them out too far in calling for more rational thinking.

Fear in academia. In the present climate, I'm glad my kids aren't going to school in Canada, despite being Canadian.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Why do I feel like someone just nudged the kid to make a petition since if an adult doing it would get more flack? Just speculating here

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Regardless of Japan/Korea/China propaganda one-upmanship.

The kid wasn't even in class so no context to make any kind of informed judgement.

expect better of Canada.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

It was used as a teaching tool for Christ's sake.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

I agree with Canada, all children should be protected from unpleasant facts and thoughts regardless if it is fact. It should go further too though and all adults should be protected and only positive thoughts should be legal

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

could it have been an informed class by a competent teacher on the history of flags and their context and meaning? It's a huge subject.

seems we will never know.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Funny that even the US president seemed to think the US flag had red and blue stripes.

pass the orange crayola please.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Good!

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

It really depends on the context that the flag was being used for. If part of a study of Japan's military expansion pre-WW2, then fine.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Parhetic, utterly pathetic.

its a Japanese Intl School (in Vancouver) right??!!

.... AND how he got a majority enough (9,000 or whatever) - signatures who had 99% nothing to do with that Classroom - to force that decision tells ‘me’ :

that someone did a great but biased Sales job, and

that voters / signatures were rolled over .... because if they were objective , open minded / well rounded then this would never have gotten off the ground :((( This is not how Canadians are, right?Maybe the Signatures came from Korea town?

[Like Korea & Korean’s a lot, but this stuff shows nothing of diversity in an Intl School, rather it highlights narrow mindedness:-((( ]

5 ( +9 / -4 )

@LandOfTheLost you are the only one talking sense on here so far..

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Which version of the rising sun flag, I wonder?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

its a Japanese Intl School (in Vancouver) right??!!

The school is in Canada. Therefore it is under the jurisdiction of Vancouver's educational authorities.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@LandOfTheLost = you make a very good point

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

He was not a student in the history class of Walnut Grove Secondary School where the flag was used as a teaching tool, but observed it from the hallway, according to the school board.

The opitamie of ignorance and stupidity! Obvioulsy he was so hell bent on making a political point he failed to actually do his research and find out why this flag was in the classroom! Also I doubt the school had 9000 students, where did all these signatures come from?

Also the school should have stood its ground more and not given in to the pressure, after all its was a teaching aid. This could lead to a dangerous precedent, whats next banning the flag in text books because they could offend? The truth is that, history is uncomfortable and you may not be happy with everything that has gone of happened, but you have to study it to understand it. You cant say "that is offensive remove it" just because you don't like it and pretend like it never existed. If you seek to erase history you are doomed to a life of ignorance and repetition. It happened, it existed, get over it! don't like it, don't look at it! Want to protest against it, fine but do your research first and don't be knee jerking fool!

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Excuse me but would all those baying at the moon in support of this flag of aggression behave the same way if it was a nazi flag?

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

If it is intended to be used as a teaching aide, it should be stored away, except when brought out for exhibition. Similarly, a Nazi Swastika flag might be appropriate as a teaching aide, if brought out only when needed as an instructional tool. To leave either flag out permanently is to glorify them.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

North Korea and China have plans to destroy submarine detection networks in Japan and the US and send SLBM-submarines to the Pacific, for order to strengthen international voice.

For that purpose, collaborators of North Korea and China are blaming the Rising Sun Flag to destroy the alliance in allies countries with Japan.

In case of agreeing to these, in the future there is a case that these people are suspected of spying from each government.

In fact, the secretary of a US Senator who adopted a resolution to condemn the comfort women to Japan is being detained by the FBI as a Chinese spy.

The Canadian government needs to investigate the parents of that Korean students, and their stakeholders.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Any american, Chinese, korean, etc flags should be removed as well. All countries have committed atrocities.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They just want to shame Japan. You reap what you sow I guess.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

This is a legally acceptable Japanese Naval flag. It is in current use. It is NOT like a swaztika. Japanese Diplomats should order the flags to be re-erected in the Canadian classrooms, or else consider sanctions.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Re: which flag?

Thanks, Ganbare Japan, that is what I wanted to know. So you have seen it then?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Do you understand how sanctions work? Or, do you even know what the word means for that sake?

Yes and yes. The sanctions could be : summons the Canadian Ambassador and reprimanding him; asking for a formal apology for removing the legal flags and hurting Japanese peoples feelings. Or, anything stronger.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Japanese Diplomats should order the flags to be re-erected in the Canadian classrooms, or else consider sanctions.

Japan has no jurisdiction in the affairs of Canadian education.

Trade sanctions would be difficult. Both Japan and Canada are members of TTP.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Like someone here already pointed out, it should depend on the context of how it was used.

But also, the thing is, there's a lot of signatures here, and it actually may start the discussion of what that flag represents and means, which is currently lacking in the West. I think many people would just associate it with the Karate Kid.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@CrucialS

Thanks for beating me to that. I knew people would be quick to incorrectly compare it to the Nazi swastika as usual. At the same time, they completely ignore the fact that the German military used the Iron Cross in WWII and still do to this day. That would be the correct comparison to the Rising Sun flag.

But why bother being correct, when you can be dramatic instead, right?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

More South Korea anti-Japan propaganda. As mentioned, the 15 rayed Rising Sun flag is the Naval Ensign of the JMSDF, with whom, the Royal Canadian Navy together with the US Navy carried out the Keen Sword joint exercises. So the Canadian Navy has no problem with this flag but a school in Vancouver has to "remove" it?

https://navaltoday.com/2018/10/15/canadian-ships-to-join-us-japanese-drill-keen-sword-for-first-time-ever/

Comes a time when the western nations need to get a clue as what is behind this anti-Japan movement carried out by Korean and Chinese diaspora all over the world.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

correction: 16 rayed

https://www.newsx.com/world/62259-japan-us-test-anti-missile-ships-joint-military-exercises

7 ( +10 / -3 )

According to a Canadian news source, the flag wasn't 'taken down', a decision was made to 'relocate the flag to a part of the classroom where it wasn't visible from the hallway.'

So it's still there.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/walnut-grove-secondary-school-japanese-imperial-flag-1.4912360

Seems it's not only the Korean students in Canada who need a safe space. (The offending word still appears in all its glory in posts by nakanoguy01 and forzaducati. Maybe their posts are seen as weather forecasts?)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The 16 rayed Rising Sun flag has been the Japanese Naval Ensign since 1889 and flew alongside the allied powers in WWI. It is NOT the equivalent of the Nazi flag which existed from 1935 to 1945 and represented the Nazi Party. The Rising Run flag is equivalent to the German Iron Cross Flag which has been in use since 1870 and is in use by the German military today, just as the Rising Sun flag is in use today by the JMSDF.

The nations which fought the Rising Sun Flag have no problem with it as it is not the equivalent of the swastika. It is absurd that Koreans have a problem with it since they served under that flag from 1910 to 1945 as Japanese citizens. But then what isn't absurd about Korean historical revisionism.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

The Rising Run flag is equivalent to the German Iron Cross Flag which has been in use since 1870 and is in use by the German military today, just as the Rising Sun flag is in use today by the JMSDF.

Your trial at explaining away war crime memorabilia is laughable. Why should it matter how long an object was in use? This particular war crime item was mounted during the subjugation and indiscriminate mauling of South East Asia et al. The only reason there aren't as many voices raised about its abolition is because they simply haven't gotten around to it. That and the economic power Japan wields over them. Wake up!!

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Japan wields economic power over the United States, UK, Australia, the NATO countries.....LOLOL

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Japan wields economic power over the United States, UK, Australia, the NATO countries.....LOLOL

Oh dear... Do I have to? Oh well.

https://www.focus-economics.com/blog/the-largest-economies-in-the-world

Us exempt of course.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

LandOfTheLost

100% correct.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Wallace FredToday  10:47 am JST

Why should it matter how long an object was in use? This particular war crime item was mounted during the subjugation and indiscriminate mauling of South East Asia et al. The only reason there aren't as many voices raised about its abolition is because they simply haven't gotten around to it.

Can you explain why the Union Jack, the French Tricolour and the Dutch flag is not voiced in SEA the same you do?

They were far more subjugation and indiscriminate for far longer time and yet they have no problem with them now.

Stop singling out rising sun and stop putting words into other nation's mouth. You do not speak for them.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

All flags should be removed and not just from classrooms. They are divisive and nationalistic. Leave them to sporting events if you simply must have them.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Can you explain why the Union Jack, the French Tricolour and the Dutch flag is not voiced in SEA the same you do?

I thought it was obvious. They were victors and unfortunately got to write the rules. It's why war criminal proceedings were restricted to Japan and Germany. How's this not obvious?

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Well, we have established that it is actually the normal J Navy flag which was on view in the classroom, and not the Japanese Imperial Army flag in the name of which so much harm was done during WWII.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

PS The navy and army flags were indeed similar, but clearly different designs to friend and enemy alike.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Wallace FredToday  02:44 pm JST

They were victors and unfortunately got to write the rules. It's why war criminal proceedings were restricted to Japan and Germany. How's this not obvious?

Have you even studied SEA history?

The Dutch tried to regain Indonesia by force AFTER the WAR and had their arse handed. Same with the French in Vietnam which led to the Vietnam war in which the US got their arse handed along with SK.

The British knew it was a lost war and retreated without a fight.

It has nothing to do with any proceedings PERIOD.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I really liked the flag but my Japanese wife said that it is associated with old school thinking and its like the German flag for Hitler and his way. I never got the tattoo. We still have to admit its a good looking flag. And it is just a FLAG

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Clarence CainesToday  12:32 am JST

I really liked the flag but my Japanese wife said that it is associated with old school thinking and its like the German flag for Hitler and his way

Your Japanese wife thinks that way because since 1945 for the last 70 some odd years Japanese people have been brought up and conditioned to associate anything with WWII as "evil" including war itself which is true. Because of this the 16 rayed "Kyokujitsu ki" has become associated with Japanese war movies and the black truck right wing nutbags, and a symbol of fascism for most average Japanese. But she is completely wrong to think it is the same as the swastika and maybe you should inform her that the US, UK and Australian militaries train together with the JSDF who use that very same flag, and they have no problem.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I thought it was obvious. They were victors and unfortunately got to write the rules. It's why war criminal proceedings were restricted to Japan and Germany. How's this not obvious?

And yet, exactly as expected, you still completely fail to address that the iron cross is still used today by the German military and no one bats an eye. I’m pretty sure Germany lost WWII.

But the rising sun flag appears in a history classroom and you all lose your mind as if Hirohito himself has risen from the grave to resume invading the rest of Asia.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Good job kid !

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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