We're talking about a long-time head of state whose entire chest cavity was blown to pieces. Eviscerated.
By an assassin, no less, and with a homemade shotgun in one of the worlds strictest countries w.r.t. to guns.
Is this not worth mourning?
I ask my fellow Americans in near disbelief: have you become so desensitized that this news does not move you?
RIP Shinzo Abe
I learned it the hard way that politics is getting to be a taboo topic slowly. (And criticizing politicians too). Why engage in sharing something which leads to heartburn? Discussing here is venting. It doesn't change anyone's viewpoint really.
Some may argue that "in the spirit" of HN's scope of curiosity & knowledge sharing, this is OT - but at the same time there are political issues being posted everyday. Its a hit or miss that the post/comment gets downvoted or flagged. I would generally want to post objectively without using any personal opinions.
As a Japanese resident, its a dark day for all of us. As someone aware of Abe's gray side, I am very opposed to several of his political positions - but assassination doesn't improve anything. Its a despicable violent act. Plus, it suddenly brings the whole question of security angle in Japanese society. Guns are rare & violent crimes more so. Things evolve very quickly as kneejerk reaction in Japan. In US people are more sensitized to shootings - but several countries don't experience it, and do not know how to react to it. That's Japan's dilemma in the coming days. I expect lot of insensible security measures slowly getting in place because of this event.
Japanese are risk-aware, gentle people today. The shock is palpable everywhere. Condolences are due where they should be. So yeah, its a dark day in general for the country & thank you for empathizing with them who feel the loss.
Who, in your opinion, would it be more correct to mourn at this time?
Though I think Taiwan would like him as he's one of the best in the area at resisting China's invasion threats.
The Taiwanese, like most of Asia, are also not fond of Japanese war criminals or their supporters.
Btw I don’t appreciate personal insults, especially when you pair them with weak arguments.
And Abe was very supportive of Asian alliances and economic partnerships, unlike many other LDP politicians.
Taiwan is not "like the rest of Asia"; it's only China and Korea that are mad about Japan. And in his second premiership Abe stopped Yasukuni Shrine visits, apologized to Korea, started a fund for descendants of comfort women and quietly suppressed anti-Korean hate groups at home.
https://www.pacificwar.org.au/JapWarCrimes/Cross-section_Jap...
His government denies they ever happened
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-07-me-54705-...
However, he didn't do enough for median incomes (for a rich country the people are all generally kind of poor) or for women, who are more employed now but still underemployed and don't have nearly enough access to childcare.
Abe was very pro-japanese, straight and honest politician. And very uncomfortable for the West.
> I ask my fellow Americans in near disbelief: have you become so desensitized that this news does not move you?
Not desensitized, but infantilised beyond belief, including here on HN.
The encouragement to run away, and shelter from "scary world" and outrage produced people who cannot hold a serious adult conversation about war, death, and personal duty for longer than a few minutes.
You either get completely emotionally deaf types like the top poster, or, on the opposite, types who outright descend into hysteria.
RIP Abe.