Response to Mike's blog entry regarding the Roho incident and complaining about Japan

Let me just say that I agree essentially with what Mike wrote, that Roho is an idiot (and in no need of being photographed AT ALL, especially when exiting the head!), and that not being able to keep your cool and play by the rules of the sport no one twisted your arm to join proves it. Just look at my take on Zidane in my Day 8 report.

I also agree that one living here must strive to accentuate the positive, see the good in things, recall on a regular basis just how fortunate one is to live in such a stable, decent, honest country and count your lucky stars, particularly if you come from a shithole country in the first place.

I further agree about foreigners who come here and are clearly gollums, with no hope of getting laid or making good coin in their home country, suddenly become Charisma Man and start acting as if they are, say, me.

But our beloved leader goes a wee bit far by saying that if a foreigner has a single complaint about Japan, to "get the hell out."

Due to the ebb and flow of history, some people from China and Korea ended up on these islands long ago and now call themselves Japanese. So what? Am I supposed to honor them as if this land is their land by some god given right? This planet is all that humanity has, everyone "owns" it, and therefore, as a full fledged Earthan, I have every right to call a spade a spade wherever the hell I am residing when I see it. I may be disliked for doing it, rejected for doing it, criticized for doing it, even deported for doing it, but I have every right to do it.

If I think Japan being the kiddie porn capital of the world is shameful, I'll say so. If I think Japan Tobacco is staffed by a bunch of ignorant, selfish, fact ignoring asshole men who want nothing more than to get disgustingly rich while their countrymen get sick, I'll say so. If I think blindly following every little thing one was ever taught as a youth without re-examination in light of becoming an adult is pathetic, I'll say so. If I think a justice system that has a 97% conviction rate on defendants in criminal cases is a cruel joke, I'll say so.

I'll also say that the rice here is the best in the world, that goes for the baths, toilets, trains, and highways as well. I'll say that a well prepared Japanese meal is unequaled in it's class and subtlety. I'll say that this place is safer and more tolerant than most places I have ever been.

But still, parking backward is just plain idiotic.