Comments on: Laughter and Tears on the Charles http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/ The Japan History Group Blog Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:45:05 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Jonathan Dresner http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/comment-page-1/#comment-16701 Jonathan Dresner Fri, 23 Jun 2006 10:42:08 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/#comment-16701 I would not use the book in a course, nor would I recommend it as a source to a student: that's my view on the book. It's too bad, too, because we still need a solid English language treatment of the subject. As far as your sarcasm, unfortunately, debunkers who use Chang's book very rarely inspire anyone unbiased to go read it... I would not use the book in a course, nor would I recommend it as a source to a student: that’s my view on the book. It’s too bad, too, because we still need a solid English language treatment of the subject.

As far as your sarcasm, unfortunately, debunkers who use Chang’s book very rarely inspire anyone unbiased to go read it…

]]> By: guest http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/comment-page-1/#comment-16345 guest Wed, 21 Jun 2006 13:06:24 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/#comment-16345 Maybe you are right and I am wrong. Iris Chang's book is not a perfect one. But I just want to ask: how wrong is that book? And how right is that book? You said it is unbalanced. Maybe you are right. But could you make clear how unbalance it is? If the book is unbalanced as you said, which side does the book stay on? You said that "Its manifest errors have been manna to Japanese nationalists seeking to deny or minimize the atrocities." Firstly, I just simply worry how the Japanese used this book to deny the atrocities. Secondly, it is that book that the Japanese right wings worry about, and if they really want use this book to deny the atrocities, oh, please do it, please tell everyone there is a book by Iris Chang and then deny what is said in that book. Please do it. Maybe you are right and I am wrong. Iris Chang’s book is not a perfect one. But I just want to ask: how wrong is that book? And how right is that book? You said it is unbalanced. Maybe you are right. But could you make clear how unbalance it is? If the book is unbalanced as you said, which side does the book stay on? You said that “Its manifest errors have been manna to Japanese nationalists seeking to deny or minimize the atrocities.” Firstly, I just simply worry how the Japanese used this book to deny the atrocities. Secondly, it is that book that the Japanese right wings worry about, and if they really want use this book to deny the atrocities, oh, please do it, please tell everyone there is a book by Iris Chang and then deny what is said in that book. Please do it.

]]> By: Jonathan Dresner http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/comment-page-1/#comment-16281 Jonathan Dresner Wed, 21 Jun 2006 05:09:17 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/#comment-16281 Sorry, I should have included links. I'm afraid that the <a href="http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2004/11/iris-changs-death/" rel="nofollow">historical</a> <a href="http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/8527.html" rel="nofollow">consensus</a> is pretty clear on this: Chang's book, though it includes some excellent new sources, is simplistic in historical causation and uncritical in using sources, not to mention highly wrought in tone and uncautious arithmetically. Its manifest errors have been manna to Japanese nationalists seeking to deny or minimize the atrocities. Sorry, I should have included links. I’m afraid that the historical consensus is pretty clear on this: Chang’s book, though it includes some excellent new sources, is simplistic in historical causation and uncritical in using sources, not to mention highly wrought in tone and uncautious arithmetically. Its manifest errors have been manna to Japanese nationalists seeking to deny or minimize the atrocities.

]]> By: anoymouse http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/comment-page-1/#comment-16219 anoymouse Tue, 20 Jun 2006 09:29:56 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2006/06/laughter-and-tears-on-the-charles/#comment-16219 Iris Chang's book is NOT unbalanced. Iris Chang’s book is NOT unbalanced.

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