Japanese open fire on Sea Shepherd crew

[Geoff_H]

So...the Discovery Channel used computer-generated images of the Japanese ship bearing the Japanese flag and computer-generated crewmembers cutting off fins and kicking the sharks' bodies back into the sea still alive?

I've seen videos of policeman beating the crap of a black man in America, I've seen pictures of American troops torturing Iraqi's and I've seen videos of the Klu Klux Klan marching in the Deep South.

Should I form my opinion on America solely based on these or should I seek out a wider picture to further my understanding?

 

[Tigerman]

I've seen videos of policeman beating the crap of a black man in America, I've seen pictures of American troops torturing Iraqi's and I've seen videos of the Klu Klux Klan marching in the Deep South.

Should I form my opinion on America solely based on these or should I seek out a wider picture to further my understanding?

Yes.. All american cops beat up black men, all american soldiers torture iraqis (and whoever might be cooperating with them), all in the southern states are ku klux klan and all japanese ships (which might actually be a chinese ship registered in japan) is shark finning...

 

[Aquatic Eagle]

I've seen videos of policeman beating the crap of a black man in America, I've seen pictures of American troops torturing Iraqi's and I've seen videos of the Klu Klux Klan marching in the Deep South.

Should I form my opinion on America solely based on these or should I seek out a wider picture to further my understanding?

No you shouldn't and I am not forming an opinion about Japan as a country. I am simply showing that Japan is involved in shark-finning when I was told earlier that I was wrong and that Japan, in fact, isn't involved. I never said that everyone in Japan takes part in this.

 

[Rainer]

No you shouldn't and I am not forming an opinion about Japan as a country. I am simply showing that Japan is involved in shark-finning when I was told earlier that I was wrong and that Japan, in fact, isn't involved. I never said that everyone in Japan takes part in this.

Right, based on what you've "shown" a single boat in Japan takes part in this. Seriously, this is why you don't use a single example to argue about what a nation does or doesn't "do". How about some actual numbers?

 

[deeper thoughts]

The only countries which have enacted bans on shark finning are Australia,Brazil,USA and Costa Rica. There is plenty of room available.

 

[cdreamer]

I'm going to hazard a guess that your mother wouldn't be proud see what you just wrote. So long as nobody gets hurt, anything goes? Lying? Bullying? Cheating? Most of us learned better than this back in kindergarten, I hope you'll reconsider your position. I wish Paul Watson would, too.

As to ramming vessels, the Sea Shepherd folks got their start with that back in 1979 when they intentionally rammed a Portuguese vessel and have taken credit for at least six more rammings since then. The Marley Fowat, another vessel in the Sea Shepherd fleet and captained by Paul Watson, even has a sharpened steel I-beam welded to it's superstructure (Watson calls it "the can opener") that is used to scrape and puncture the hull of whaling vessels. The Fowat also involved in "Operation *******", so named because of the intention to use it to ram another vessel in the stern. Though Watson was one of the founders of Greenpeace, even they have officially withdrawn support for the Sea Shepherd and condemned the group because of their policy of violence and the danger they create at sea. Whether the Sea Shepherd was the rammer or the rammed last year is an open question, however it is undisputed that they were intentionally and willfully in violation of a whole bunch of safety at sea rules and were the proximate cause of the collision. That people haven't been hurt has had more to do with the restraint and generosity of the whalers than it does the Sea Shepherd folks.

If provocation is never an excuse for violence, it sure can be a mitigating factor.

Reefraff,
My mother is very proud of me - thank you for bringing her into it.
Until now I have only been a SS supporter, but have reconsidered my position
and have decided to become a member. Again, mom is proud, and so am I.
:mooner::mooner::mooner::mooner::mooner

 

[Geoff_H]

No you shouldn't and I am not forming an opinion about Japan as a country. I am simply showing that Japan is involved in shark-finning when I was told earlier that I was wrong and that Japan, in fact, isn't involved. I never said that everyone in Japan takes part in this.

So America is involved in black man beating & policy brutality then? Same logic?

 

[Mr.X]

So America is involved in black man beating & policy brutality then? Same logic?

I don't think anyone in this discussion is involving the general citizenry of any country. However, it does behoove citizens to be aware of government policies and their personal rights. Children eating whale meat in a cafeteria setting is just bad policy, and officials involved in such an affair need a spanking. Same as the officials feeding "downer" cow beef in US cafeterias! Unconscionable acts like this, need to be addressed and the direct source (fishing industry) terminated.

What most of us take issue with are the industries and governments which support industries which harvest under the guise of scientific research, while knowing full well there is no market for product, and that end consumption goes to children, the old, or the poor. Reminds me of "cheez" the US government handed out years ago.

 

[Geoff_H]

What most of us take issue with are the industries and governments which support industries which harvest under the guise of scientific research, while knowing full well there is no market for product, and that end consumption goes to children, the old, or the poor. Reminds me of "cheez" the US government handed out years ago.

I don't disagree with this at all.

My point was that the Japanese are not involved with shark finning, as Nature Diver seems to think they are.

 

[Oddsnends]

Well put Mr. X. Reminds me of a quote I heard in high school civics. Thanks to The Google, I tracked it down:

“Patriotism is pride of a country's virtues and eagerness to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest," but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.” -Sidney Jay Harris

All countries have their shames. It is the true patriot who seeks to correct them.