The Battle of Okinawa: Don't Let Japan Rewrite History
Target:
Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan
Sponsored by:
The Japanese Ministry of Education is planning to rewrite the history taught in Japan's schools. They will remove all references to the role Japanese soldiers played in coercing Okinawan civilians into committing suicide during the Battle of Okinawa (WWII) from school history textbooks.
The revisions are deeply offensive to the people of Okinawa. On September 29th, more than 110,000 of them gathered at a rally to protest the changes.
These "whitewashed" textbooks are scheduled to go to the publishers in November. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is in a position to do what is right and stop this rewriting of history.
Add your voice of protest. Let Prime Minister Fukuda know that you stand with the people of Okinawa in opposing these changes.
The revisions are deeply offensive to the people of Okinawa. On September 29th, more than 110,000 of them gathered at a rally to protest the changes.
These "whitewashed" textbooks are scheduled to go to the publishers in November. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is in a position to do what is right and stop this rewriting of history.
Add your voice of protest. Let Prime Minister Fukuda know that you stand with the people of Okinawa in opposing these changes.
The Japanese Ministry of Education is planning to rewrite the history taught in Japan's schools. They will remove all references to the role Japanese soldiers played in coercing Okinawan civilians into committing suicide during the Battle of Okinawa (WWII) from school history textbooks.
The revisions are deeply offensive to the people of Okinawa. On September 29th, more than 110,000 of them gathered at a rally to protest the changes.
These "whitewashed" textbooks are scheduled to go to the publishers in November. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is in a position to do what is right and stop this rewriting of history.
Add your voice of protest. Let Prime Minister Fukuda know that you stand with the people of Okinawa in opposing these changes.
The revisions are deeply offensive to the people of Okinawa. On September 29th, more than 110,000 of them gathered at a rally to protest the changes.
These "whitewashed" textbooks are scheduled to go to the publishers in November. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is in a position to do what is right and stop this rewriting of history.
Add your voice of protest. Let Prime Minister Fukuda know that you stand with the people of Okinawa in opposing these changes.
We the undersigned endorse the following petition.
The removal of all references to the role Japanese soldiers played in coercing Okinawan civilians into committing mass suicide during the Battle of Okinawa from school history textbooks is deeply misguided.
We are adding our voices in support of the people of Okinawa and ask that you not allow these revisions. You are in a position to do what is right and stop this denial of history.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and petition.
The removal of all references to the role Japanese soldiers played in coercing Okinawan civilians into committing mass suicide during the Battle of Okinawa from school history textbooks is deeply misguided.
We are adding our voices in support of the people of Okinawa and ask that you not allow these revisions. You are in a position to do what is right and stop this denial of history.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and petition.
We signed the "The Battle of Okinawa: Don't Let Japan Rewrite History" petition!
# 1,231:
6:50 pm PST, Dec 25,
Name not displayed, Peru
# 1,230:
2:56 am PST, Dec 25,
Amal Dadi, Maryland
The people of Japan desetve a right to know what happened. All that has happened in ANY country, good or bad, should be easily accessible information to ALL. You cannot rewrite history and pretend this never happened. The fact is, it did happen, and, judging by the protests, the people of Japan know it too.
The people of Japan desetve a right to know what happened. All that has happened in ANY country, good or bad, should be easily accessible information to ALL. You cannot rewrite history and pretend this never happened. The fact is, it did happen, and, judging by the protests, the people of Japan know it too.
# 1,229:
12:02 pm PST, Dec 24,
Charles Kaneshiro, Hawaii
My father served as an interpreter during the Battle for Okinawa and personally witnessed the civilian suicides. He stayed 6 months after the battle to help in the rebuilding and can attest to the human misery.
My father served as an interpreter during the Battle for Okinawa and personally witnessed the civilian suicides. He stayed 6 months after the battle to help in the rebuilding and can attest to the human misery.
# 1,228:
5:16 am PST, Dec 23,
Emily MacDonald, Pennsylvania
# 1,227:
8:28 pm PST, Dec 11,
Becky Whitney, Washington
My mom also #1223. Do not change the history of what happened. Everyone should know the truth of what the Japanese did to the Okinawan people.
My mom also #1223. Do not change the history of what happened. Everyone should know the truth of what the Japanese did to the Okinawan people.
# 1,226:
4:36 pm PST, Dec 11,
Sachi Kaulukukui, Hawaii
# 1,225:
3:08 pm PST, Dec 11,
Connie Raymond, Washington
My mom is from Okinawa (#1223) and I lived there for 4 1/2 years. I loved the history just the way it is. Please do not change anything aout the history. Everyone needs the real truth of the events that have happened there.
My mom is from Okinawa (#1223) and I lived there for 4 1/2 years. I loved the history just the way it is. Please do not change anything aout the history. Everyone needs the real truth of the events that have happened there.
# 1,224:
2:07 pm PST, Dec 11,
Celeste Miyashiro, Virginia
Please teach the truth about Okinawan history to the students of Japan. If we forget our history, we are bound to make similar mistakes again.
Please teach the truth about Okinawan history to the students of Japan. If we forget our history, we are bound to make similar mistakes again.
# 1,223:
1:47 pm PST, Dec 11,
Toshiko Bartley, Washington
I was born during the war on Okinawa. During this time, my father hid us in a cave. He went out one day to get food for the family. My mother and 4 sisters and I, a new born baby. On his way back to us, the Japanese wanted the food he was bringing to us. He refused to give it to them, so they shot him. I was told this when I got older and was able to understand. I understand food was short during these times, but there was no reason for the Japanese to do these barbaric acts on the Okinawan People, whom they treated as servants. They may be are embarrassed by these acts, it's no reason for this information to be removed from our history. They had taken so much from the Okinawan people as it is, this would be another slap in the face. With this being removed, they could again lie to the future children of Okinawan, that someone might do something like this but never them.
I was born during the war on Okinawa. During this time, my father hid us in a cave. He went out one day to get food for the family. My mother and 4 sisters and I, a new born baby. On his way back to us, the Japanese wanted the food he was bringing to us. He refused to give it to them, so they shot him. I was told this when I got older and was able to understand. I understand food was short during these times, but there was no reason for the Japanese to do these barbaric acts on the Okinawan People, whom they treated as servants. They may be are embarrassed by these acts, it's no reason for this information to be removed from our history. They had taken so much from the Okinawan people as it is, this would be another slap in the face. With this being removed, they could again lie to the future children of Okinawan, that someone might do something like this but never them.
# 1,222:
10:53 am PST, Dec 11,
Lesley Fukushima, Hawaii
# 1,221:
10:38 am PST, Dec 11,
Name not displayed, Hawaii
# 1,220:
10:50 pm PST, Dec 10,
Kent Yamauchi, Hawaii
History cannot be whitewashed!!!
History cannot be whitewashed!!!
# 1,219:
8:23 pm PST, Dec 10,
Name not displayed, Washington
# 1,218:
7:21 pm PST, Dec 10,
Koki Tamashiro, Hawaii
The truth is what is to be taught in the history classes. No half truths.
The truth is what is to be taught in the history classes. No half truths.
# 1,217:
3:34 pm PST, Dec 10,
Lloyd Miyashiro, Hawaii
# 1,216:
2:14 pm PST, Dec 10,
Joan Kealalio, Hawaii
# 1,215:
12:45 pm PST, Dec 10,
Lynne Murakami, Hawaii
# 1,214:
10:58 pm PST, Dec 9,
Name not displayed, Hawaii
# 1,213:
10:30 pm PST, Dec 9,
Kali Speere, Hawaii
This is important history and must not be forgotten. It's like some Germans saying the Holocaust never occured.
This is important history and must not be forgotten. It's like some Germans saying the Holocaust never occured.
# 1,212:
7:59 pm PST, Dec 9,
Marla Coath, Hawaii
# 1,211:
4:26 am PST, Dec 9,
Julie Higa, Hawaii
Stop the oppression!! The truth about the war should not be rewritten!
Stop the oppression!! The truth about the war should not be rewritten!
# 1,210:
8:07 pm PST, Dec 8,
Name not displayed, Hawaii
Recently, I toured the Peace Museum on Okinawa and 1/3 of the way through I was a hurricane of Emotions. To see what my mother had gone through and the stories I had heard growing up. Made me realize just how strong a person my mother and her surviving family members had dealt with their many loses. And their will to survive.
Recently, I toured the Peace Museum on Okinawa and 1/3 of the way through I was a hurricane of Emotions. To see what my mother had gone through and the stories I had heard growing up. Made me realize just how strong a person my mother and her surviving family members had dealt with their many loses. And their will to survive.
# 1,209:
12:55 pm PST, Dec 8,
Name not displayed, California
i just recently visited okinawa for the first time this year. met a lot of my family i didn't know existed. even saw my grandma enjoying time with her sister and brother and old friends. my grandma, all her family and friends made it through the battle, going through experiences none of us of the younger generations can even think about having to experience. they were tough and fought through a lot. trying to ignore this isn't right. i personally went to one of the memorials when i visited okinawa. it's sad, but must not be forgotten.
i just recently visited okinawa for the first time this year. met a lot of my family i didn't know existed. even saw my grandma enjoying time with her sister and brother and old friends. my grandma, all her family and friends made it through the battle, going through experiences none of us of the younger generations can even think about having to experience. they were tough and fought through a lot. trying to ignore this isn't right. i personally went to one of the memorials when i visited okinawa. it's sad, but must not be forgotten.
# 1,208:
10:39 am PST, Dec 8,
Name not displayed, Argentina
# 1,207:
9:36 am PST, Dec 8,
Name not displayed, Washington
# 1,206:
4:15 am PST, Dec 8,
Name not displayed, Hawaii
# 1,205:
9:59 pm PST, Dec 7,
Name not displayed, Hawaii
# 1,204:
6:06 pm PST, Dec 7,
Brian Waala, South Dakota
War is no game... Don't diminish the horror of it and people need to understand the constant danger of a herd mentality that patriotism and militarism breed
War is no game... Don't diminish the horror of it and people need to understand the constant danger of a herd mentality that patriotism and militarism breed
# 1,203:
3:58 pm PST, Dec 7,
Carolyn Drew, Hawaii
To deny the truth of Okinawa's people is shameful.
To deny the truth of Okinawa's people is shameful.
# 1,202:
10:26 am PST, Dec 7,
Makoto Sakuma, Washington
# 1,201:
7:22 am PST, Dec 6,
A A, United Kingdom
This subject would be painful for the Japanese people, but the future generations need to know these things. Sometimes pain is needed to stop further atrocities from happening. The Japanese army at the time did cruel things but you should look forward to a bright future without taking head of the warnings from th past.
This subject would be painful for the Japanese people, but the future generations need to know these things. Sometimes pain is needed to stop further atrocities from happening. The Japanese army at the time did cruel things but you should look forward to a bright future without taking head of the warnings from th past.
