These kinds of things shouldn't happen in Okinawa

[Cathleen_38]

But since they have, these are the consequences of those actions. and sadly,
not only do the Americans suffer because of a few bad apples in the bunch so do the okinawans who now have trust issues with the U.S. Soldiers on their soil. It sets a bad example for the U.S. because we are supposed to be ambassadors of peace and goodwill. If we go over in a foriegn land, a land that's not ours to begin with, rape children and women or slay its citizens. What examples are we setting here? Is that how your parents taught to you to act? Was that how you were raised as a child? For most, I would say, NO!
Do Marines back each other up and try to set the right example by saying no, what you're doing is wrong and I will report you if you do this...I don't want you to rat on your fellow Marines but somewhere there has to be a tactful balance. You see something that's way out of line, something needs to be done about it. period. this is international issues. this effects the peace between the United States and Japan. SET THE EXAMPLE, BY DOING WHAT IS RIGHT. You, alone have that power to make the change for the better. :scratchchin: Anyone agree? Regardless, of their culture... we should always do the right thing.

[Maggie]

When you are in a country other than your own, as a tourist or a government employee, you are an ambassador for your country, and should act like one.

If you don't like the countries culture, you can avoid most situations, and shouldn't need to meet it head on.

I would have thought it came under the heading of manners, and it definitely comes under the heading of diplomacy.

Maggie

[Son Kokujin]

I agree w/Cathleen 38 on this one. All previous musings respected-as a former Marine, I simply say be a HERO to ALL you come in contact with. Corps Values (or whatever values that ensure you don't act like a TOOL) are STILL paramount to me...especially after leaving the Corps. Semper Fi to Everyone!

"Do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do!"
-SgtMaj Clinton Carter, USMC

[pandalvr2003]

Like a General once said "I dont understand why they do these things when they could just go down the street and pay for it."

[hankypanky]

Like a General once said "I dont understand why they do these things when they could just go down the street and pay for it."

correcting grasshopper, that was an admiral, and he had to retire because of that statement. 1995, after the gang rape of an okinawan 12 year old.

[Muku]

correcting grasshopper, that was an admiral, and he had to retire because of that statement. 1995, after the gang rape of an okinawan 12 year old.


Actually Hank the Admiral said, ..........close enough though, and you are quite right about being forced to retire as well. :thumbup1:

U.S. Navy Admiral Richard C. Macke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Okinawan_rape_incident) was the commander of United States Pacific Command at the time of the attack. At a press conference in November 1995, Macke said of the men's actions: "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl [prostitute]." These remarks were condemned as insensitive and Macke was removed from his post and forced into early retirement. He was also reduced in rank to rear admiral (two star) from full admiral (four-star), which reduced his pension from US$ 7,384/month to US$ 5,903/month.[1]

[uriel]

i wonder if they realized, about the retirement pay, that when you retire, if you are actually allowed to retire, that even if you are reduced, you are paid retirement pay based on your highest 3 base pay checks that you received. kinda like a master gunnery seargent (E-9) that I know that was reduced to gunnery sergeant (E-7) for something stupid. even though he was reduced, he still retires with E-9 pay.

on topic though, the admiral was an idiot, and while I don't agree with his... who am I kidding. that was the absolute dumbest thing he could've said, period. as an Admiral, he should've known better.

[Trail]

U.S. Navy Admiral Richard C. Macke was the commander of United States Pacific Command at the time of the attack. At a press conference in November 1995, Macke said of the men's actions: "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl [prostitute]." These remarks were condemned as insensitive and Macke was removed from his post and forced into early retirement. He was also reduced in rank to rear admiral (two star) from full admiral (four-star), which reduced his pension from US$ 7,384/month to US$ 5,903/month.[1]

People also forget that the words or phrases inside of brackets are what the newspaper deems fit to put into an original quote.

[thatguy4]

I think his statement was absolutly correct. There are places out there and people who do those types of things. For the most part they are legal in most countries. Of course the girls are of age (which they should be) (I added the brackets)!

The problem with his statement is that he said it where everyone could hear him. Most likely due to the fact that he was tired and or fed up with everything he had to deal with about the situation. He should have kept those comments for a closed forum. However, as i stated before his statement is absolutly correct. Anything legal beats any type of rape.

[Bones]

So, thatguy4, what are are you saying?

I'll use this as an example:

http://japanupdate.com/?id=9061

If these 2 guys were not caught, would it then be legal to do the things that they have done?

What if you went to a bar? You pay your bar fine, and the woman accuses you of rape. You pay your money, even tho the establishment was posted as being off-limits. Yet you've paid for the right to take her home, to the bar owners satisfaction. What if she had no idea about what her job entailed? Is it still legal?

Just curious.:rolleyes:

Bones

[thatguy4]

No I am not saying if they had not been caught it would have been okay. What I am saying is What the Admiral said was correct. If they had gone out and paid for sex instead of tried to force it on someone it probably would not have been an incident. I am saying that there are places you can go (both on Okinawa and in the States) and pay for sex. I hope that clears up what I was trying to say. I am not sure how you could pull something else out of it.

And what kind of job allows you to pay to take someone home? And if you work in a place that allows this what do you think you are going to be doing at this persons house? I mean if you are not elderly and the person is not a certified nurse what could you possibly be doing without an escort?

[EEWNASTY]

these things should not happen anywhere at any time... there is no excuse for this kind of behavior. people that do such heinous things should be put on a small island that is used for a missile range. or at the very least torn limb from limb

[kitti]

i know kevin. he is/was my husbands best friend! he is mentally ill. We miss and love him very much and wish we could help.

[kitti]

how are u gunna call it a rape when she was a sex worker? just cuz he didnt have money? Now, noone should be hit that was wrong..but 5 yrs behing flippin bars for that? for a prostitute? a whore? Its rape cuz he didnt have money? ha ha thats cute. Yeah. NICE.

we (my husband and I) can confirm that Mr Kevin Parks is indeed menatlly ill. We knew him since he was 17 when he lived here in AZ. He has spoken much of "hearing" things, and "feeling" wierd. He was not able to work, he had agoraphobia, he refused meds, has a history of mental problems and drug and alcohol abuse (self-medicating)...that "psychiatrtist" that said Kevin was Ok is WRONG! hes not OK. Hes FAR from OK. Hes messed up and needs help! He needs drug/alcohol rehabiltiation and mental help not Japanese Prison! He is an American, I dont think he should have to go to prison at all for this! I wish he woulda just stayed here in AZ.

[hankypanky]

i know kevin. he is/was my husbands best friend! he is mentally ill. We miss and love him very much and wish we could help.

I'm all ******* confused! read through past posts, all i can figure is the admirals name is kevin?!:-|

[OkiBound]

Kitti,

It was rape because the woman said no, prostitute or not. Forcing someone, even a prostitute, to have sex when she is not consenting, is rape. Period.

[tiffanycaldwell]

I know I'm pretty late in the conversation....I'm not approving what happened AT ALL but please tell me why is it ok for other cultures to come in the U.S and do it to us and get off with nothing but being sent back to their country but we Americans here are ALL now labeled as bad people.

[Jrocka83]

I know I'm pretty late in the conversation....I'm not approving what happened AT ALL but please tell me why is it ok for other cultures to come in the U.S and do it to us and get off with nothing but being sent back to their country but we Americans here are ALL now labeled as bad people.

The last time I checked, America is made of all cultures. so there is no one cultural to blame except for the over all culture which is the American Culture the consumer culture. Drugs, Sex and Rock n' Roll baby. We do way worst shit to ourselves on daily basis, then any foreigner has ever done to us. When you look at are history we all are foreigners unless you are Native American(not my great great grandmother was a cherokee http://www.scarletbox.co.za/images/emoticon_crying.gif., o right your drunk colonial great great grandpaps nocked up a cherokee so that makes you Native American:w00t:)

Are country was founded on rape, greed, blood, and trade(money).

[P_chan]

I know I'm pretty late in the conversation....I'm not approving what happened AT ALL but please tell me why is it ok for other cultures to come in the U.S and do it to us and get off with nothing but being sent back to their country but we Americans here are ALL now labeled as bad people.

First off, not ALL Americans are labeled as bad people. If one were to get out away from the base and not read the anti American BS that the papers and news spews out then you would see that there is a large portion of the island who really don't give two shits about the military. Second, what do you mean by "other cultures"? Are you trying to say that we should protest when a minority or someone who doesn't fit into a specific culture or ethnicity that you're thinking of commits a crime we should protest? Seems pretty ridiculous to me:thumbdown:

As far as other culture doing it to Americans, where is there a foreign military base in the states? Keep in mind that there are no foreign military bases in the States and that they're not protesting against "Americans" but the American Military/Government. If country X had a military base in the States and if the very small percentage of it's members were going around acting fools then there would be protests in the States as well. We're looked upon as representatives of our government so when one Air Force, Marine, Navy, or Army member acts like a fool then it makes the rest look bad, it's an unfortunate fact. I'll bet that the average person on Okinawa knows that not all Americans are like the few morons you read about in the paper.

[Ayzil]

I think if you are here (or any other overseas base) as an American Military and you do something stupid (rape, robbery, vandalism, human trafficing, DUI...) you should be banned from being based anywhere else but American soil...along with any other legal punishment that goes with your crime.

[Richard Burns]

What the admiral said makes PERFECT sense.