The day of Sept. 11th is coming soon again this year. Twenty-three Japancese people were killed at that time. I still clearly remember that I was too stunned to say anything after seeing the TV news. I assume that most people in the world would be more or less like that. However, I have something that astonished me more a few days after the terror attack. You know or remember the scene in which the then U.S. President, Mr. Bush, vowed revenge while raising his fist at ground zero.
By the way, do you remember his message at that time? I don't remember his exact words, but it was roughly a declaration of hostility. The U.S. could liberate the Japanese people, who attacked Pearl Harbour and started the war, from militarism half a century ago. This time the U.S. will use it.
Hearing this message, I deeply realized how stupid he was. At first, he declared that this was not a terror attack, but a war. This idea prevented the U.S. from placing the criminals before U.S. judges. They would be treated as POWs. The U.S. would be regulated by the Geneva Convention.
Next, Japan is completely different from Islamic countries. Japan is never compared to those countries. Besides, I'd like to ask him, "do you remember Vietnam?" Anyway, Bush's comments revealed his shallow knowledge about the history of international affairs. I'm going to write about this issue next.
(Vocabulary)
clearly remember 鮮明に覚えている
declaration of hostility 宣戦布告
militarism 軍国主義
prison/prisoner of war (POW) 戦争捕虜
Geneva Conventions ジュネーヴ諸条約
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