I can't be right about that, "actually," because that wasn't part of our discussion; furthermore it isn't anything I believe. As to loving guns being a sign of militarism, baloney. Our early pioneers appreciated guns because they got food with them and they used them for protection against the Indians. We love our Second Amendment right because it enables us to defend ourselves. Prior to World War II, despite all our guns we were basically an isolationist country. We had to be talked into supporting the allies in WWI and WWII. We were (despite our guns) extremely unmilitaristic. Only after WWII when it became clear that Europe and the rest of the world was hopelessly messed up did we decide not to withdraw once again behind our two-ocean blanket and pull the covers back up over our heads. Lawrence _____ From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Andy Amago Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 9:22 PM To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Is Huntington right? You're right, actually. We love our guns, big guns, little guns, useful guns or useless guns. We love 'em all. So obviously do the Japanese. It's hard to imagine that people who love guns are not militaristic. It might be why they buddy up to the gaijin Americans. It's unlikely that they would actually start a war since they having an aging society (so few workers they might be either importing Chinese workers or exporting work to China) but America is their Jungian Shadow, their counterpart. We do what they used to do, only not as savagely. We are their stooges, running around the world going boom boom with our real tanks. Birds of a feather ... ----- Original Message ----- From: Lawrence <mailto:lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Helm To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: 4/10/2006 11:46:43 PM Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Is Huntington right? You needed to overlook what I wrote to manage this one. I wrote We did indeed clash with them in 1941-1945, but once their militaristic government was overturned, they have evinced an enormous number of similarities to the U.S. I indicated some of the things I admired about Japan, their poetry, their Samurai tradition, a sensitive writer like Shohei Ooka, and a courageous warrior like Sabaru Sakai, but Omar concluded that I must like them because they are racist and you conclude that I shouldnt forgive them because of the 1937 Rape of Nanking during their militaristic period. Quite imaginative of you two. Lawrence