NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/soc/culture/japan/14024

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-22 | 4.0 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!munnari.oz.au!uniwa!keis
From: [e-mail] (Keis Ohtsuka)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: re: rick asano
Date: 22 Jan 1993 04:57:31 GMT
Organization: The University of Western Australia
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Rikiya Asano <[e-mail]> writes:

>>How un-Japanese of you to say that money doesn't matter! I am speechless.
>>Lust for money is what defines Japanese culturally distinct from other
>>groups..

>It is not wise for you to say this Sir. There are many people who can
>control their lust for material desire. I have eliminated my lust for
>greed and to be unsatisfied. Yes! This is true. The Japanese or anyone
>else can be content!

I don't think you can equate the lust for money with the inability
to control oneself money matters. I am delighted that you
personally attained nirvana but my observation of Japanese politicians
at Nagatacho convinces me that my statement is more or less correct.
Besides, if Japanese were not serious about the accumulation of wealth,
the modern Japan would not have existed.

>Your education is not being used at this point. They didn't file at this time.
>And, religious exemption? Ha! This is funny! Aren't you the individual
>who wrote before about the kid on the bus saying, Piss off Jap, Piss
>off!"

No, I am not the person who posted a paranoiac message. Kids around
here love me.

[Greetings directed to someone else deleted.]

[Rikiya's second paragraph clarifying my misunderstanding of
the scripture also deleted. I read it with interest though.]

>This is borderline insulting to me! There is no Gospel according to
>Rikiya. And,
>if you only got this out of what I said  then the University of Western
>Austrailia is a "Ship of Fools!" I know that they can do a better job
>than this.
>And, I really don't appreciate this "JC" thing. But, that's between He and you!

Of course, there isn't but no insult intended here. Joseph Campbell, American
mythologist, said that the religeous text should be read for connotations
rather than denotations. What you said has an interesting metaphorical ring
to it if you look at it in today's context.

My personal opinions do not represent a view of the employer. You're
on your own now that you attacked the entire university community. :)
Let's learn how to argue without degenerating into the exchange of
personal insults, shall we?  Part of the reasons why you're flamed so
frequently is that you do not seem to learn the effective way to
argue the issues without insulting others (besides some of your
outrageous racist ideas but I respect your rights of freedom of
speech here.). See the whole purpose of argument is to persuade
others rather than to alienate them. You will definitely more effective
if you could argue with reason and logic not relying on the volume
of your voice of the colourfulness of your language.
By now, many regular readers of s.c.j. learned that you have an
excellent command of street language, which I must say I am slightly
impressed, and an interesting experience and an idiosyncratic view
on humanity in general, which serves as a catalyst for many blissful
hours of entertainment and heated discussion. This is no small
accomplishment and I am confident you could do better.

Being an agnostic with Buddhist background, I can't possibly call
Jesus Christ "God", can I? While I won't dispute the existence of
a prophet by the name of Jesus Christ in the scriptures of two major
relegions, I do not subscribe to the concept of trinity. (not yet)
No offence intended with "JC" thing. I call a Vice-Chancellor, VC,
and the Head of Department, "BM" which is a respectful yet friendly
way to call someone important. Of course, alternative is "INRI" but
which may imply that I am a Catholic, which I am not.