(Captain Tokyo Never Makes Friendly Fires...)POOR MEN AND WOMEN EVERYWHERE
Last night, the History Channel presented the underground fortification built and operated by the Imperial Army and Navy of Japan in the Okinawa Island during WWII.
The cable TV channel also showed a huge natural cave where some hundred or more civilians died as they had been taught by the authority that they would have been killed by American soldiers if they had left the deep cave.
I have never seen before the room where Imperial Navy Commander of Okinawa Admiral Ota committed suicide, at the last stage of the great battles on Okinawa, some 100 feet below the ground.
It is marvellous that American staff of the History Channel presented those precious sites without losing respect to the Okinawa people and the Imperial soldiers.
SECTION I: TWO ASYMMETRY ACCIDENTS FOR TWO HEROINES
Recently two mysterious fire accidents happened, each in South Korea and Japan, highly drawing public attentions in Japan.
One in Pusan killed several Japanese men in their 30's who visited this second largest city of South Korea for sightseeing and shooting at a small range in a building on a congested commercial area.
Another in Hamamatsu City, one of industrial zones of Japan with Yamaha and Suzuki, killed four or so Japanese men enjoying games in a mah-jongg parlor, though it is suspected to be arson.
These two fire accidents are however not somebody else's tragedies for two prominent female politicians in Japan, respectively.
The victims of the first accident are residents in the district for Ms. Eriko Fukuda, a Lower House member of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.
(http://blog.livedoor.jp/ennriko555/)
The second accident was in the district for Mrs. Satsuki Katayama, an ex-Lower House member of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party.
(http://skatayama.hamazo.tv/)
As these two female politicians are the ones who have been the most focused on by the media among female politicians in Japan, these two fire accidents are somehow symbolic.
It is so since Ms. Eriko Fukuda, a now rising star with help from the controversial DPJ boss Mr. Ichiro Ozawa, was just a year ago a helpless young victim of hepatitis caused by error or omission by the Government.
It is also so since Mrs. Satsuki Katayam, an ex-elite bureaucrat of the Finance Ministry, was just a year ago facing an intra-party conflict between the pro-reform camp led by Former Prime Minister Mr. Junichiro Koizumi and the anti-reform camp led by then Prime Minister Mr. Taro Aso within the LDP.
The 2009-30-8 election resulted in DPJ Ms. Fukuda's winning and LDP Mrs. Katayama's loss, though in different districts.
You might simply conclude that shooting practices are more dangerous than mah-jongg games.
However, the two political heroines in Japan might be thinking different, since they each have the big backing, DPJ Party Secretary General Mr. Ichiro Ozawa and LDP Ex-P.M. Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, respectively.
(Ms. Eriko Fukuda is said to be a good practitioner of karate; Mrs. Katayama is said to be good at mental calculation.)
SECTION II: JESUS CHRIST AND MONEY
Let's check respectfully how the "money" is used in the Gospels of the King James Version:
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Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Matthew 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Matthew 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
Matthew 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Matthew 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Matthew 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Mark 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Mark 14:11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
Luke 19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Luke 19:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
Luke 22:5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
John 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;----------
To our surprise, the money economy prevailed in Palestine 2000 years ago, though it might be reasonable as an unignorable part of the Roman Empire.
It is also a surprise that Jesus Christ used the terms "gained" and "usury" in his probables.
However, it is just for returning the original principal and accumulated profits to the Lord. Even money is not for a man but for the Lord when it is handled.
Jesus Christ indeed did not say, "Money does not make you happy," since it does materially. Yet, it is the very happiness realized by money that is an enemy for the Kingdom of God. Hence, only the Lord can be the master of money. Money cannot contaminate the Lord.
Anyway, it is why the Gospels are always up to date; the world of the Gospels belongs to the same Age of ours: the Age under the power of money.
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Confucious said that it is not difficult for a rich man not to act haughtily before a poor man; but it is not easy for a poor man not to envy a rich man.
According to the teaching of Jesus Christ, whatever makes a poor man envy itself is sinful.
Big money is sinful; higher status is sinful; and commercially attractive personality and outlook are sinful. Even a worldly higher level of knowledge and wisdom is sinful.
Indeed, you have to be like a little child to be admitted to the Kingdom of God.
Mar 11:19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
Mar 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Mar 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.