Memorial tribute to WWII 'comfort women'

[Randy W]

.

Memorial a tribute to WWII 'comfort women'

The memorial is in Glendale, Calf. - the article is from the People's Daily

 

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/mediafile/201308/01/F201308010818022013522220.jpg

 

Kim Bok-dong, a victim of the Japanese military during World War II, sits in the empty chair of the "comfort women" memorial during the unveiling ceremony in Glendale, California on Tuesday. The statue is a tribute to Asian comfort women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops. [Liu Yiyi / China Daily]

 

 

[Dennis143]

.

Memorial a tribute to WWII 'comfort women'

The memorial is in Glendale, Calf. - the article is from the People's Daily

 

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/mediafile/201308/01/F201308010818022013522220.jpg

 

Kim Bok-dong, a victim of the Japanese military during World War II, sits in the empty chair of the "comfort women" memorial during the unveiling ceremony in Glendale, California on Tuesday. The statue is a tribute to Asian comfort women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops. [Liu Yiyi / China Daily]

 

 

I read that in the LATIMES yesterday. Glendale has a large Korean population (a city next door to where we live). I wondered why the memorializing of comfort women? Is this statue to honor their sacrifice made during WWII? Does a statue to remember and remind future generations of this atrocity some how help in healing those few women still alive today?

[tsap seui]

I think it is highly important that these women be memorialized. And that every atrocity committed by the Japanese NEVER be forgotten. I do feel that the number of women surviving means absolutely nothing in rather there should be a memorial for them. Yes, the memorial will help in it's way for the survivors. They are recognized, it is a vindication of what they suffered at the hands of animals. When you go through traumatic experiences, sometimes vindication is the only thing you have, that, and your memories..

 

Good on the people who came up with this idea, and followed it through to the dedication of this memorial. There are good people in the world.

 

tsap seui

[Randy W]

From the folks in Glendale - and the Glendale News-Press

 

Glendale officials resolute as they dedicate controversial 'comfort women' memorial

 

 

“The Glendale City Council took a bold step. It took strong leadership to bring about justice, to bring about awareness of the human rights issue,” said Chang Lee, a city planning commissioner and member of Korea Sister City Assn.

The statue had been strongly opposed by Japanese nationalists who, despite the historical record, insist comfort women were acting on their own accord as prostitutes. A group of opponents, based mostly in Japan, sent thousands of form letter emails protesting the monument, but to no avail.

“We stand on the side of history. We stand on the side of truth,” Councilwoman Laura Friedman said to the pre-reception crowd in the adjacent Central Library. “[The monument] stands to honor and recognize the innocent victims of all wars.”

 

[dnoblett]

Kind of reminds me of the movie "Lust Caution" where a young lady Wang Jiazhi is a "comfort woman" enlisted in an ambitious plan to assassinate a top Japanese collaborator.

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uNh46ERrL.jpg

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808357/

[Fu Lai]

"Lust, Caution" is a good movie by Lee Ang but the fact is "comfort women" are prisoners of war... this movie is about something very different.

 

Great yet sad memorial to women who are still to this day being used as war conquests.

Edited August 2, 2013 by Fu Lai (see edit history)