Anti-base protesters say citizens ‘don’t even care’

[JUNewsBot]

JUNewsBot Has Just Posted the Following:

A woman has been sitting in front of the heliport in Higashi Village, keeping an eye on the Naha Self Defense Agency workers preparing for a new U.S.

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[thistle]

The poor lady, if I was an Okinawan I would feel bad, caring more about money than destroying their own natural enviroment.
If I could get the time away, I would go up and join her.

[TheNoNamedOne]

The poor lady, if I was an Okinawan I would feel bad, caring more about money than destroying their own natural enviroment.


It really is pathetic, isn't it, T?

[Asshat]

Ok, another caustic remark...but I used to go fishing where "American Village" now sits. That entire area was reef. I dislike being in the area now, and when I frequent an establishment, I always feel a bit uncomfortable.
It's not an issue though is it? Because it's not a base. We raise hell about the red dirt run-off from Camp Schwab, yet turn a blind eye to the raping of the mountain that used to overlook Motobu that we use to fill in the reefs. (Yaedake?)

With the vast amount of destruction already apparent on Okinawa, I find nothing out of sorts with a village wanting to make some money from this project.

[DoctorP]

Good post. Speaking of Red Soil run off, Schwab is not that bad...just look at many of the construction sites...they are much worse.

[Asshat]

Good post. Speaking of Red Soil run off, Schwab is not that bad...just look at many of the construction sites...they are much worse.

Yeah, that was kind of my point. If a base is involved it's a big deal-that's politics. (Like the protest near Bldg. One because a GI in a military vehicle made a U-turn at an elementary school parking lot)

But in the end, no one gives a shite about the environment.

One day after a tyhoon, or during it, I had a purpose for walking up the Hija-gawa. (The river beneath the Red Bridge) The rain run-off smelled like paint thinner-acetone...something like that. It was so foul that it burned my eyes.

Curious, I went and checked the run-off spillway from KAB. Clean. I even took a ph test of the run-off. Pure H2O

[newvalor]

I find it humerous for someone to protest in this manner. since my time that I arrived to okinawa, I have noticed that okinawans are more liberal in complaining about everything rather than do anything. It makes me laugh when I hear there is going to be a protest at one of the gates, I have no sympathy for these people as they complain and complain until somebody gives them either money of some sort of offering to go away and they take it only to return and complain somemore.

[thistle]

I know I am probably going to be outnumbered by 135 to one on this issue,
but I really don't care. Fair enough the Okinawan' s are apathetic when it comes to protesting base issues - but humorous!

What gives you the right to laugh at an old lady who is standing up for her rights and her homeland.
Futenma was supposed to have been given back to Okinawa 15 years ago!
And now they want to build a heliport, and destroy local sea life and coral,
simply because they have nowhere else to move it. There is no logical reason
for that heliport to be built here in Okinawa, except perhaps economical.
Sorry I know little about politics, but this is just the way I see it, as an outsider, who has lived here long enough to love this place and hope that one day their land will be returned to them, as they rightfully deserve.

[ness4k]

I would be tempted by money myself. I mean if I was Okinawa and in the same place I am now with a wife and baby to support every penny...or in this cause yen would make a big difference. I feel for the people wanting money.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I find it humerous for someone to protest in this manner.

Why is one or a very few people protesting humorous? Just because there aren't many of them, and that all the people are apathetic except them?

I fail to see the humor.

Is it humorous for one lone chinese man with a shopping bag to stand in front of Chinese tanks blocking their progress? I don't think so. I think there is a strong spirit of defiance and want of justice for people who brave your kind of ridicule as they push forward against injustice.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

since my time that I arrived to okinawa, I have noticed that okinawans are more liberal in complaining about everything rather than do anything. It makes me laugh when I hear there is going to be a protest at one of the gates, I have no sympathy for these people as they complain and complain until somebody gives them either money of some sort of offering to go away and they take it only to return and complain somemore.

There is truth in what you have written here. Agreed.

That truth does not bring forth laughter from me, though, it brings forth pity and a sense of frustration for them as a whole being so weak-kneed. Nothing funny about it, though.

[newvalor]

well the military could be evil instead and not give any of the land back, but instead take all the land we have given so far and take that back instead.

people do more complaining on this island than actually accomplish something. I see more instances of people not protesting but complaining to recieve compensation for things that have happened for decades but all of a sudden it's been causing health issues and they want some odd amount of money for thier suffering. it's called people that mooch off of the government and no matter where you will always have them.

Hands around Kadena was more of a hassle than it seemed to be a protest. I would have thought that if they were planning it so far in advance they would have been able to accomplish the task.

I'm sorry if I sound like a mean person, but people have thier own issues to worry about rather than try to be suckered into feeling sorry for someone who has no care for what they are doing, but only care when the end results in them being paid or given something in return besides "land".

[dk]

I'm sorry if I sound like a mean person, but people have thier own issues to worry about rather than try to be suckered into feeling sorry for someone who has no care for what they are doing, but only care when the end results in them being paid or given something in return besides "land".
I couldn't have said it better.

[thistle]

Yes, sadly there are only a handful of people on this Island who really care about this issue.
We study the books of history, we learn nothing.

[dk]

How does getting the bases off Okinawa have anything to do with History?

[thistle]

How does getting the bases off Okinawa have anything to do with History?

Just sounded like a good thing to say!:)

No, actually I said that because, well, the Okinawans spend a lot of years at school studying Okinawan history, the battle of Okinawa, yet the majority are still apathetic about the bases still being here. Because Okinawan' are such a peaceful race.
Doesn't the bases being here have everything to do with Okinawan history?

[dk]

Yes, I guess I should have reworded my question as to "How are they not learning anything from history?".

And the Okinawans are not a peaceful race. A lot of blood was spilled in the makings of the Ryukyu Kingdom, just as happens everywhere around the world.

I am convinced that there is no such thing as a peaceful race. People become apathetic and submissive, but in their blood, there is no such thing as a peaceful race. Just look at their history.

The bases being here only has to do with 35 years of history. Just a small scrap of time. And like I've said before, Okinawans never learn HOW to protest. They need to take it to the (mainland) politicians rather than holding hands around a base.

[TheNoNamedOne]

well the military could be evil instead and not give any of the land back, but instead take all the land we have given so far and take that back instead.

No. That is not an option. The political realities of the situation is slowly but surely forcing the military to lessen its footprint on Okinawa. That entails downsizing its land usage here.

Hands around Kadena was more of a hassle than it seemed to be a protest.

Besides the symbolism of those participating in it being united in their opposition to the base, I am sure they don't mind that their protest caused the hassle. If they racheted up the hassling a few notches, conducting businesss as normal would be quite hard and severely affect the efficiency of being a forward staging area.

Their weakness (or failure) is that they have not had a charsmatic enough leader to get them to rally against the bases enmass to a level that would cause that level hassel.

I'm sorry if I sound like a mean person, but people have thier own issues to worry about rather than try to be suckered into feeling sorry for someone who has no care for what they are doing, but only care when the end results in them being paid or given something in return besides "land".

Valid point, and I don't think that makes you mean.

[newvalor]

well kadena alone can literally be self sustaining and run on it's own. even if the protestors did actually across the hand around kadena. It may slow down personal traffic but thats really it, everything carries as usual just like everytime they have attempted. I see them as wasting more of thier time than wasting my own time or anyone elses attempting thier protest.

[okitony]

I hear that most of the people that are here for the "Hands around KAB" are from mainland japan and some get paid to be there. I know Okinawans that work on bases and they think it's a waste of time. They want the bases here. If the base wasn't there, where would they be working? Mainland? Okinawans don't want the bases gone, specially land owners that are getting "BANK" from it.

[heather]

Being in the military and having to deal with all of the protesters make me made b/c we are here in a way for them. but in a different sence why not just let them be. this is there island so let them do what the please.

[Crazysix]

Well said heather but its all good until one gets run over by an Y tag thats trying to avoid some local driver thats chatting on their cell phone, then again thats fuel for another protest