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| Kazuo Goto, a veteran Peace Boat guest |
Guest speaker Mr. Kazuo Goto introduced the subject of patriotism through a 1998 documentary he directed for "The Scoop" (a Japanese current affairs program), which was inspired by the fervour surrounding Japan's entry into the World Cup. The programme reflected how, historically, world leaders have used the word 'Patriotism' to stir up nationalistic feeling over territorial issues. This view, however, was contrasted with the lack of national identity amongst the young and their perception of the Japanese flag merely as a 'cool symbol'. The discussion following the video was first sparked through questions also posed in "The Scoop"concerning what people loved about their country, the biggest threat facing it today and what people would do for their country, including fighting, killing and dying for it. This approach, bringing the audience into direct confrontation with issues they could easily dismiss when viewed on a screen, generated a wide range of reactions and the debate gradually grew more heated as the perceptions of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds were introduced. Many concepts were raised, from the idea of a nation state being replaced by concepts of community, to the issue of identity for second or third generation immigrants, to the problem of militant nationalism and notions of greed and ownership. Mr. Goto finished by drawing to attention the resurgence of the word 'Patriotism' in a post-9-11 America and asked the audience to consider if it can be used not only to incite war but also promote peace. |
