Aikokushin

[ireallylikebakedbeans 0]

愛国心

 

Whats the best way to say this in English? Patriotic?

 

There was a program on tv last night where they were discussing this and whether it should be a "law" or something (which seems a little strange).

[bushpig 0]

yeah, patriotic is a reasonable fit.

[bushpig 0]

and yeah, making it law does seem a little strange...

[tsondaboy 0]

Depending on the sentence it may have various meanings. So it could be used for “patriotism”, “nationalism” or even “chauvinism” in some cases.

[HeatherLocklearRocks 1]

Don't know quite how to put this but.... if it was a law (??), what would be "against the law"?

[tsondaboy 0]

Maybe a low regulating which actions driven by “愛国心” are considered as patriotism and which as extreme nationalism.

[2pints-mate 0]

“patriotism”, “nationalism” or even “chauvinism”

 

So...the're going to make it law that you have to be one of them?

[bushpig 0]

I'm interested to know what the show was actually talking about. Tsondaboy's guess seems to be a good one. It could have been about defining in the law what is excessive and therefore punishable.

[bushpig 0]

It was referring to Patriotism.

 

Here\'s the story.

 

"The government plans to submit a bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education in this Diet session, the ruling coalition's two secretaries-general said Sunday.

 

Tsutomu Takebe of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito's Tetsuzo Fuyushiba made their remarks on a TV Asahi program.

 

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he wants the bill passed in this Diet session.

 

The coalition has agreed to define patriotism as "love for our nation and homeland."

 

The issue has generated controversy because of fears of a revival of prewar militarism."

[iiyamadude 6]

Nice.

[daver 0]

it is intended to ammend educational priciples. for an english translation and explanation check these out.

original document:

http://www.u-gakugei.ac.jp/~takeshik/funda.html

proposed budget:

http://www.mext.go.jp/english/org/budget/06b.htm

explanation of intended ammendments:

http://www.mext.go.jp/english/org/reform/07.htm

 

if you scroll through the pages you will see that most of this stuff is old, interesting though. i guess they have been squabbling for a few years now on the exact definition of patriotism so as to not elude to pre-war nationalist ideals.

anyone working in the school system will agree that it is in serious need of reform. let's hope that this actually will carry some weight and possitivly effect all the children who currently suffer to the doldrums of rote learning.

[rach 1]

I might be just daft, but I think "love of your nation" is surely up to personal choice.

[daver 0]

yes i agree. what people in japan, and everywhere for that matter, tend to forget is that one can be both patriotic and critical at the same time.

if the so called 'love for one's country' is fostered through impartial, critical, and accurate portrayals of the culture and history then great. if it is done by entirely white washing and ignoring all potentialy negatively viewed aspects, then there is a problem.

[igloo 3]

The idea of "loving a country" is kinda strange to me. I find people who are particularly vocal and very strong feelings about this kind of thing rather distasteful.

[daver 0]

i don't think that there is a problem with having a little pride in your home. in fact, i don't think that there is any real problem with loving your home. but i agree that in the wrong hands these types of sentiments can be distasteful if not down right dangerous.

[BagOfCrisps 24]

I love my home, but to me that is my family, not my country.

[taguchi 0]

I think it is a very strange idea for making some law about this. I wish they would spend time and money on more important things.