rape of nanking
The main point in chapter one was to give us a history of the Japanese people, and to rationalize why the Japanese army went to such extremes in Nanking. She uses examples of training rituals used by the Japanese army like extreme teaching procedures and terrible school conditions in Japan. I don't think she was trying to make an excuse for the Japanese army but she wanted to site a possible reason for the abuse. She talks about Japanese history and gives us lots of background on the Japanese people before the horrifying occurrence in Nanking.The audience she has tried to communicate to is the intellectual western society who has possibly not heard or knows little about the Nanking massacre. The purpose of the essays is to educate and make aware of the atrocities here in this area of China. To tell, it seemed to me, is an important part of educating people to what the human species is capable of doing in extreme circumstances. Her tone seems to be one of sympathy to what the Japanese people had to go through before the war between China and Japan. This chapter has done a good job on giving the reader history and background of the country and the people in Japan.
Japanese propaganda ran rampant because they didn't want the global outrage to scorn their victory. The safety zone leaders fought back by writing and reporting everything that they had seen. To this day even their writings are still read and analyzed. The only surgeon in Nanking died of exhaustion a few years after the atrocities in Nanking. And Minnie Vautrin died in an emotional breakdown, with attempted suicides that eventually succeeded. The occupation of Nanking lasted for months, people knew that the massacre was over but killing is still done for such little things like accusation of theft, or using the toilet. The Chinese workers were treated less than slaves and working conditions were terrible. Japanese soldiers started fires, stole American flags, blew open bank vaults, and vandalized the embassies. Most of the survivors of Nanking never really recovered from the ordeal that they encountered. Survivors of rape and torture still live in poverty and any help from the Chinese government or Japanese compensation would greatly help these people. Minnie Vautrin was the education department Dean of studies in the college in Nanking. She had many refugees hidden and had to endure extensive interrogation by the Japanese army. Most people have a hard time reading this chapter but I've found it very disturbing how people could do that to other people. She excelled in this chapter to make witnesses of us all.
Some common words found in the essay are:
, Minnie Vautrin, Merchants Chinese, Surprisingly Japan, Academics Japan, Iris Chang, Chapter Five, Chapter Nine, Weeks Horror, Matsui Iwane, rape nanking, japanese army, safety zone, japanese people, people responsible, chinese army, iris chang, rape torture, chapter iris chang, minnie vautrin, people human,
Approximate Word count = 1815
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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