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发表于 2011-1-26 19:29:44
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VOX POPULI: Listen! What do we hear in the Lower House?
2011/01/26
Koroku Sato (1874-1949), the father of poet Hachiro Sato (1903-1973) and writer Aiko Sato, held great opinions about farts. He used to say, "Farts symbolize life. Those whose farts are feeble are no good."
"When my older brothers would fart, they were often criticized by father for having weak farts," writes Aiko in her essay.
Setting aside the loudness of one's farts, many factors can imply how spunky a person is from the outside, such as one's facial color, skin tone, voice strength and posture. All these things change depending on how one feels. Physical appearance is honest.
Let me focus on Monday's policy speech by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who appears an honest man. His voice and expressions displayed desperate determination. This ordinary Diet session may be the last chance for Japanese politics to revive itself.
"This year I intend to change course," he said, expressing his resolve to achieve something. But his determined statement was followed by words of frustration: "I ask for your support."
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democratic Party held its annual convention over the weekend. I heard that an indignant LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki said at the convention, his fist pounding the podium, "I will ensure this administration dissolves and drive it to hold a general election."
But what does his strong attitude imply? Does it reveal the LDP's partisan interest in stirring up political upheaval? Or does it show the party's readiness to sit down and thoroughly debate and contemplate issues to seek a solution as a responsible opposition party? I hear that views within the party are divided.
But the LDP must vie with the ruling coalition to show its maturity.
The floor of the British Parliament, home of the parliamentary system, is small, and members sit close to each other. This is because when lawmakers shout at each other, wisdom flies away, I once read in a book by Shigehiko Toyama, a linguist and English literature scholar. Apparently, the chambers are designed to encourage dispassionate discussions that lead to fruitful compromise. In contrast, at the Japanese Diet, already much wisdom has evaporated.
Toyama also warns against talking too fast. "If we venture to speak slowly, we can say a lot more than we think."
When lawmakers think about the many difficulties Japan faces at home and abroad, they may feel like going at it hammer and tongs. But I want to them show wisdom and passion as they develop meaningful debate.
It is not the loudness of farts, I mean the volume of voices, by which the public measures Diet deliberations.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 25 |
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