Re: [tlug] (OT) The enigma of Japan

[Doug McLean <dmclean635@example.com>]

On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 5:49 PM, Stephen J. Turnbull<stephen@example.com> wrote:
> JC Helary writes:
>
>  > My bias is that I don't consider Japan to be any more special than any
>  > other nation state.
>
> You don't think Article 9 of the Constitution is even a little bit
> unusual for a so-called "nation state"?  Or how about the nearly
> 60-year nearly unbroken rule by a single party?

Try living in the Republic of Ireland.  :)

(I love Ireland, but I just find the last comment eerily
familiar...look up Fianna Fail in Wikipedia)

Alternatively, you *could* go visit a place like the People's Republic
of China, or other such countries, and see unbroken single-party rule,
and constitutional oddities like eternal president Kim Il-Sung (North
Korea).  Extreme examples, I know, but it's all a matter of
perspective.  ;)

-- 
Doug McLean

Blog: http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/