Why No Looters in Japan?

Because when people are desperate and hungry they do what's needed to survive, looting isn't always a crime.

We're not talking about food, water and clothing. We're talking about materialistic items of value; jewelry, plasma tv's, silver, gold etc...things not essential to survival.

Our culture is broken. Just look at Detroit, one of the most violent cities in the world. Go north several miles into Canada and a city of equal size has maybe one or two murders a year in comparison to Detroits hundreds. This disparity between us and the rest of the world (third world countries excluded) seems to be growing, not getting better.

Nope nope nope.

Crime in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These days, we're more about the self.....self-important, self-serving, self-centered, selfish....

If being "American" was a game of Poker, it'd be Screw Your Neighber.

From our visits to Japan, it is clear that Japanese culture is very different from ours. In general they are very polite and respectful of others. For example, they wear masks to avoid passing on germs to others, especially in close spaces such as trains. The taxis have white lace slipcovers so that the taxi drivers (who wear white gloves) know when their seats are dirty and the slipcovers need changing. From my experiences with the large Asian community at MIT, they are very hard workers who take their education very seriously. From my visits to Japan, seeing Japanese workers get on the trains at 10 PM after work is the norm, not the exception, because they are also such hard workers

We're not talking about food, water and clothing. We're talking about materialistic items of value; jewelry, plasma tv's, silver, gold etc...things not essential to survival.

That was not your question, you should have been more specific.

It probably has to do with the fact that so many in our society are so status conscious. I think a big influence for this attitude has got to be the media. We are constantly fed sounds and images of what we're supposed to have and what we're supposed to be, or at least give the appearance of being. I don't blame the media so much as the people who buy into it. I would guess that in Japan, people are more satisfied with their lot in life. I wonder what sort of media images they are bombarded with.

Not necessarily just their religion. The Asian culture in general. You should know. You served in that corner of the world.

AndrewG;727902]I would agree except for the fact they also very strongly disagree with taking things from others. If you want something you have to earn it

There are thousands of Chinese and Filipinos still alive who will strongly disagree.

And he knows this how?

Do you listen to the news reports Poppy? No breaking glass store windows and carrying out TVs or blenders in grocery carts here!

The community is more important than the individual. I think that's it in a nutshell.

And your opinion of this? You agree, disagree, what?

That was not your question, you should have been more specific.

I'm talking about looting and you somehow think I'm referring to bottled water & loaves of bread being stolen at a grocery store? Is there any rational thinking going on up there anymore?

You always need more specifics...:roll:.

The looters during Katrina are the scumb of the earth. They have no morals or values. They can not be compared to the people of Japan!

I can't speak for others, but in both situations I'd be doing whatever I had to in order to survive and help my neighbors - but that's just how I was raised.

Japanese culture is based on honor. They have strict immigration laws and so you have less subgroups of different cultures that somehow feel they are more or less entitled. U.S. culture is based on entitlements and handouts.

Yeah sometimes they just need clothing...or 25 football jerseys and some nikes.



Or maybe they were just thirsty.

Can you honestly say you have never needed 200 pairs of shoes, 25 football jerseys, 10 TV's, a new car with a trunk full of beer, and a loaf of bread all at the same time without paying for it? Hey! is the guy in blue shirt looking at his sales reciept?