Reaction to Video Meeting

The video conference that we did with our fellow students in Sweden was very interesting. It allowed us to connect with a completely different culture. Allowing for me personally to get a perspective of how other cultures are set up. Overall it was a great time and cannot wait till the next time. Several things that I learned during the meeting involve the Swedish Culture and how the family system is structured and functions. Talking to Andreas I learned that the Swedish Culture is more in an untraditional structure today then in the past. Due to the same issues that we have in America. The main thing that I learned is that cultures around the world are not so different and that we should keep an open perspective.

Reaction Paper #1

The first day that I stepped into AS150 was a mind opening experience. I had no idea what to expect not knowing anything specific about Japanese Culture. But, as class continued I started to learn the outlines of an extremely interesting culture based on respect and technology. One that was still connected with its past while moving into the future growing into one of the economic power houses in the world.

The topic that I wanted to discuss in this reaction paper is the Ikuji, which are the childrearing practices in Japan. This topic struck me because of the juxtaposition that it has with American childrearing practices. The Japanese believe that childrearing occurs from imitation instead of telling a child to do something. Also, that the parents authority is not as important. The biggest angle in this discussion that struck me was the ability to compromise with children instead of making a child do something. I personally believe that this is a great way of doing something. It teaches the child that compromise is a huge tool within the world. Another angle was the use of empathy. Telling children that everything has a spirit teaches the children to treat everything with respect. This to me shows children they need to have an overall respectful view of the world. Giving their society as a whole a better view on the world.

Questions 

How do you believe Ikuji plays a role in Japanese?

How could Ikuji be used in America?

Show and Tell #2 The shift from nuclear power.

        The Fukushima nuclear crisis is at the forefront of not only the Japanese people, but also the world. This disaster was considered one of the greatest nuclear disasters to occur since Chernobyl. Which devastated a large region of the Ukraine. Being only a year and a half ago the Japanese have been thinking about alternative forms of energy to replace nuclear power. The Japanese Government has vowed to eliminate the use of nuclear power by 2030. The Japanese want to move towards more renewable energy, which they feel will eliminate the danger that comes with the use of nuclear energy. This brings a big opportunity to the country of Japan. This shift could bring a large industry to Japan. An industry based on renewable energy giving Japan safe energy and a large economic boost. This economic boost would also help local companies that have been creating solar panels for an extended period of time. There are groups and individuals that believe that this goal is a bit lofty. Keigo Akimoto is a professor from Tokyo University, "I think we should increase the use of renewable energy, but it is just too risky to place too much hope on it." The Professor believes that renewable energy is a great alternative, but this one disaster should not remove all forms of nuclear energy. Within Japanese culture there is a definite lack of confidence in because of the disaster in Fukushima. This lack of confidence will help drive Japan towards a more forms of renewable energy in the future. The final issue that this article pushed to the forefront was the bills that would come from transferring over to another form of energy. The bill of a Japanese Household will double if switched from nuclear power. These are just a few things that need to be looked at when looking at the effects of the Fukushima disaster, not just the fall out.

How do you feel the Japanese People should have reacted to the Fukushima disaster?

How do you feel the people of Japan should move forward?

 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120916a5.html

An Introduction of Me

Hello my name is Stephen Antoine Barrosse. I am currently a student at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. My personal hobbies are listening to music and running. I am personally interested in the history associated with Japanese Culture. More specifically shoguns and the samurai. Also, I have a deep admiration for the culture because of how based it is in tradition. I hope to learn a new perspective through the participation within this class as well as this blog project.

The Osprey and Okinawa

For my first show and tell project of the year I have chosen the protests that have been occurring in Ginowan, Okinawa. 100,000 plus people gathered together to fight what they believe is a hazard to the men and women of the Okinawa military base. The protests have to do with an military piece of aircraft that has been used widely by the United States and around the world, the Osprey. The Osprey is a multi mission tilt rotor aircraft, meaning that the propellers on the aircraft can tilt in two ways. This allows the Osprey to have both the capabilites of a helicopter as well as a plane. Giving the speed of a fixed wing aircraft with the ability of a helicopter to land in tight areas. This airplane is extremely controversial because of the tilt rotor technology which makes it extremely unstable, because both rotors on the aircraft are driven by one driveshaft, meaning if one engine fails, both fail. This results in immediate lose of control and almost certain death due to no ejection seats. Due to these stability problems there have been many deaths contributed to the aircraft. Making it one of the most controversial American aviation projects to have ever been undertaken in recent history. The danger factor attributed to this aircraft has angered hundreds of thousands in Okinawa to stand against the deployment of this plane to local bases. The local participants adopted a resolution to ban the deployment of the Osprey stating its safety as a major concern. The Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima said, "As head of the city, I cannot allow the deployment of an aircraft whose safety has not been assured, I strongly resent the deployment plan."(Yomiuri) The protesters were also joined by the ruling party as well as leaders from all municipalites of Okinawa. It truely is a polarizing issue within the region with strong formidable support group. The movement is even evolving, "The organizers of the rally are slated to visit Tokyo on Wednesday and Thursday to deliver the resolution to Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto and Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba. They are also considering visiting the United States in October to lodge Okinawa's protest directly to the U.S. government." (Yomiuri) This was extremely interesting to me that this local issue evolved to become a world wide issue. That it immediately took root so strongly in Okinawa that they felt compelled to take it to the source the United States. No matter the United States Government moved ahead and shipped the Ospreys to the bases. They hope to soon begin using 12 within the area. Even as the United States moves ahead with the plan there have been, "concerns over the aircraft's safety have escalated after an Osprey made a precautionary landing in North Carolina on Thursday. The incident followed an Osprey crash in Morocco in April and another in Florida in June." (Yomiuri) These recent events have supported the Japanese in their crusade for the safety of the men and women that have to fly these dangerous aircraft within Okinawa.

How do you believe this topic plays into the culture of Japan?
Who is to blame for this problem Japan or the United States?

Sources

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120910003993.htm

http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/military/v22/