[lbo-talk] Re: Redeeming features of Japanese culture

[Tahir Wood]

From: Brad Mayer <Bradley.Mayer at Sun.COM>
Subject: [lbo-talk] Re: Redeeming features of Japanese culture
Well, actually Yoshie has already refuted in detail this sort of
standard stereotypical mystification that one would expect from an
imperialist avatar of "Western Civ" such as the NYT.  One would not
expect, though, that anyone on a leftist listserv would key off such
stereotypes, as did a couple of ignoramuses here.

Personally I regard national chauvinism of any kind as incompatible with the leftist project, and therefore I think it is ridiculous to have to defend the national culture of any country, even Australia, although after one visit there I have found this principle kind of hard to uphold consistently myself I must admit. I would point out that for someone in Australia, with that country's large influx of Asian immigrants, to say something like that is downright sinister. Perhaps it was 'only a joke', Australian 'humour' of some kind. I told BB on this very list about a year ago that he was a national chauvinist - he obviously hasn't improved yet. Bill I suggest you get out a bit more.
Tahir