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Comfort Women a.k.a. sexual slaves
During World War II the Japanese government was involved in the kidnapping of 200,000 young women (some still girls) who were then used by the Japanese military as sexual slaves. They were called "comfort women" because they were viewed as "things" used to comfort men fighting the war. They were torn from their families, some of whom had no idea at all what happened to them. They were repeatedly raped, beaten and some died in their many years in captivity. Last Friday a few women who are still surviving marched in Washington to protest the president of Japan visiting with President Bush when these women have never received a formal acknowledgment and apology for the atrocities that were forced upon them by the Japanese government. An apology has still not come.
Almost all of these women never recovered at all. Sexual abuse left them traumatized and shamed. Many families did not want them back. Many women were unable to re-acclimate to living in their society. They became fearful, depressed, withdrawn and unable to trust. Many suffered the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. Most were unable to make a living or marry appropriately, and so they have lived lives of poverty. This government robbed them of their lives. Repeated sexual and physical abuse does that.
It is exceedingly difficult to surmount the anxiety, shame and depression left with you, certainly without real treatment. For those remaining women who have spent a lifetime suffering with the consequences of sexual slavery, an apology would go a long way to giving them some sort of recognition and closure. One would not forget, but validation would help in the healing. I hope the Japanese government will have enough psychological insight to see that while they are not responsible for the atrocities of those who came before them, an official apology would be the closest thing these women can get to acknowledging what happened to them and how it has affected them their whole lives. Anyone who has ever experienced any form of sexual or physical abuse will certainly understand how vital acknowledgment and apology is. It does not take back the crime but it helps the victims in processing what happened and moving on with their lives.
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The equivalent of sexual slavery is happening in this country. Girls as young as 9 are being lured into prostitution.
Al Roker produced a special for Court TV on the loss of innocence, exposing that and other disturbing facts. Some pimps hang around school bus stops in order to recruit young girls.
The climate in this country has become quite conducive to children being seen as sexual objects. Increasingly younger kids are dressed in sexually provocative clothing and exposed to sexually explicit material.
The ACLU defends NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association), stating that they have the right to write about men having sex with boys. NAMBLA charters busses for trips to Mexico for the sole purpose of having sex with young boys.
Boundaries which exist to protect children are eroding in the name of "pushing the envelope". The media wants to be seen as "edgy" at all costs. Children pay the price when media makes its money from sexualizing the young and making it seem OK to exploit them.
It really is sick seeing how far boundaries are pushed in the name of sex. Sex should be a mutual thing amongst participants - it's truly horrible how women and children are exploited in the media, wars (especially in poverty-stricken countries), and (as stated above) in underground prostitution, even in our own country.
I think Pres. Bush should acknowledge the protest and issue a formal apology, perhaps the President of Japan will follow suit. These women deserve to be acknowledged and apologized to, it's the least both governments could do.
This is the most devastating form of abuse, to be sexually abused as a child or as an adult. I think that it is acceptable in our society still to have woman sexually abused in the name of marriage, or that if she shows independence that she was somehow asking for it. I have permanent scars that have plagued me my entire life from the abuse I have suffered from childhood and adulthood. I believe that to be victimized leaves you in a position to either be afraid to live or to be revictimized. I think that the world acknowleding these women and apologizing and letting them know that it was not their fault and helping them will make a difference for them. But the world itself needs to make strides in how women and children are still being treated as objects. I cry for all the children and women who are victimized everyday, because I can understand their pain. I cry because every damaged woman has a hard time not to pass this on to her children. And every damaged child can be either a victim or become a perpertrator.
I noticed i was the first male to post something and i don't know why. I mean even guys should say something about this. It's absolutely errible to be a child or an adult who is sexually abused and I think the Japanese and Aamerican governments should apologize.
I noticed i was the first male to post something and i don't know why. I mean even guys should say something about this. It's absolutely errible to be a child or an adult who is sexually abused and I think the Japanese and Aamerican governments should apologize.
There are two issues at stake with "comfort women". One is money, the other is the showing of human compassion(in specific, the recognition for the pain and suffering, both mental and physical, and the loss of respect and dignity for the victims forced into this terrible situation). If the Japanese Gov't apologizes, it infers that this incident was their fault--and it was! In such a case, inevitably, some form of restitution, usually financial, will be forthcoming. Gov'ts don't willingly agree to pay out money, it's bad for business. (Look how long it's taken the Canadian Gov't to compensate it's CITIZENS for the Japanese Internment of WWII, and the Chinese Head Tax!) What is absolutely needed is simply a means to initate some form of closure for the "comfort women" as they near the end of their lives. Perhaps this will bring a much needed sense of peace to a troubled mind, however brief (and minor) it may be. Unfortunately, unless the money issue is resolved first, no apology will be forthcoming from Jap. Gov't.
Some cultures have not yet adopted the legal abolition of slavery, and as bad as that is, this issue is so ingrained in some cultures that it is very obvious when it happens. Some problems occur when there is not intervention or criminal sanctions employed, but as a whole, this problem with social mores is widespread still. I am glad you support doing something about this issue. Good work.
Bruce
I hate, even the word "slave".
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