Liberation

Day 761, 17:58 • Published in Japan Japan • by Reiji Mitsurugi

「自由の旗印の下に戦う」

As we here at the Taishou (that is, me, Reiji Mitsurugi) begin to write this article, there is one hour remaining in the battle for Liaoning. As I look at that battle, it looks like it goes poorly for the side of the liberators. At this point, it seems clear that the Iranians will retain their hold on their part of Manchuria.

[Update]
The battle is won. Liaoning is now in American hands. Let us hope it is quickly turned over to the Chinese.



But our meaning is not to discuss this specific event, rather, we want to talk about the idea of liberation itself.

We hear this term bandied about quite a bit, especially lately. “Liberation.” And it seems to go hand-in-hand with “imperialism.” If liberation is somewhere, it's usually liberating from imperialism. All sides like to use these terms. We here at the Taishou (that is, me, Reiji Mitsurugi) are most familiar with the Asian theater, so we'll be using examples from that.

In this present battle for Liaoning, the Iranians and their Phoenix allies claim to be opposing the imperialism of the United States. The Americans say that Phoenix is imperialist and claim to be liberating the Chinese from that.

So both sides are pointing fingers, both sides are claiming to be righteous, but which one speaks truly? It is, in fact, possible and likely that both are disingenuous.



Liberation does not necessarily demand imperialism. Nor does it demand military action. I am a firm believer that we here in Japan have been liberated from certain forces that oppressed us in the past. We have been liberated from oligarchy, from monopoly, from foreign influences on our government. There was no military action. There was no military force against us. It was the actions of the people and the electorate that forced our own liberation.

Liberation is more than a buzzword to be thrown about in justification for a military campaign. It is a righteous necessity of an oppressed people. The question of liberation is not answered by the liberators themselves, but by the great masses of the people. Of course, in the best of situations, the two are indeed one and the same.



Here in Japan, the great masses of the people were indeed their own liberators. It is why we are today a strong and proud nation.

Unfortunately, not every nation has the same advantages we have. Some people are oppressed by forces far greater than themselves. Some people must cry out for the help of a foreign liberator.

In such a situation, it is again those people, the great masses of the people, who determine the question of liberation. It is not the place of a foreigner to exact his will on the sovereign without their consent. And the sovereign of every nation (indeed, even in Japan, where His Majesty the Emperor draws his power from the people, according to the Constitution) is the great masses of the people.

Our Navy says that it fights today for the liberation of China. It is not their right to say, but only the right of the great masses of the people of China. Fortunately, as ambassador to those proud people, I can safely report to the people of Japan that we have their blessing.

「ついに彼らは血の犠牲に よって自由を獲得した」