Comments on: An Encounter with the Police http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/ Japan through a viewfinder. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:11:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Sean W http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-6674 Sean W Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:51:41 +0000 http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-6674 Hey Alex! Your blog and pics look great. Thats too bad that happened. Im glad nothing like that has happened here in Italy. Im looking forward to showing you around and meeting your wife. Ciao, Sean Hey Alex! Your blog and pics look great. Thats too bad that happened. Im glad nothing like that has happened here in Italy. Im looking forward to showing you around and meeting your wife. Ciao, Sean

]]> By: Nick http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4585 Nick Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:14:59 +0000 http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4585 In 7 years I have never once had anything like that! What is wrong with those badges in Sango? In 7 years I have never once had anything like that! What is wrong with those badges in Sango?

]]> By: gary http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4436 gary Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:56:24 +0000 http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4436 Good to feel what it is like to be a minority and experience prejudice. There are alot of ignorant racist people and some are in positions of authority and try to intimidate people. I think it's worth going to the station and inquiring. I got stopped once in 1969 as a passenger on a motorcycle without a helmet in RC. The policeman put me in his car, handcuffed me, and took me to the station where he made me post $500 bail or I had to spend the night in jail. All of the way to the station he ranted about long hair guys, war protesters etc. I never said a word, but I think he wanted to pound on me for the way I looked. Good to feel what it is like to be a minority and experience prejudice. There are alot of ignorant racist people and some are in positions of authority and try to intimidate people. I think it’s worth going to the station and inquiring. I got stopped once in 1969 as a passenger on a motorcycle without a helmet in RC. The policeman put me in his car, handcuffed me, and took me to the station where he made me post $500 bail or I had to spend the night in jail. All of the way to the station he ranted about long hair guys, war protesters etc. I never said a word, but I think he wanted to pound on me for the way I looked.

]]> By: Alexander http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4207 Alexander Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:46:20 +0000 http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4207 Yeah, I thought about that, but I don’t think it’s worth the trouble. I think it would just make things worse and possibly make me targeted even more often than I already am. I would hope that that wouldn’t be the case, but you never know. And yeah, I`m wondering where all these foreigners are coming from, because I sure don`t see them anywhere! The only ones that I know of are Patrick, and the exchange students at Sakura-kan who I rarely see out. In fact, I don`t think I`ve ever seen a foreigner in Sango, besides them. I don’t think we have to worry about genocide here. Things are progessing, though slowly. I bet it was far worse twenty years ago. I’m just going to mark it down as an unfortunate incident with a jerk who only represents a small fraction of the population. Yeah, I thought about that, but I don’t think it’s worth the trouble. I think it would just make things worse and possibly make me targeted even more often than I already am. I would hope that that wouldn’t be the case, but you never know. And yeah, I`m wondering where all these foreigners are coming from, because I sure don`t see them anywhere! The only ones that I know of are Patrick, and the exchange students at Sakura-kan who I rarely see out. In fact, I don`t think I`ve ever seen a foreigner in Sango, besides them.

I don’t think we have to worry about genocide here. Things are progessing, though slowly. I bet it was far worse twenty years ago. I’m just going to mark it down as an unfortunate incident with a jerk who only represents a small fraction of the population.

]]> By: Jacqueline http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4004 Jacqueline Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:37:17 +0000 http://www.arekkusu.com/blog/2007/09/25/an-encounter-with-the-police/#comment-4004 Maybe you could send the link to your blog to the Sango police and also to Debito. You should write this up for Japanzine--maybe go to the police station and talk to them about it. I never saw any foreigners in Sango other than you and me, but as you said, even if Sango was flooded with them, it's no excuse for racial profiling of people. Coming from a country with an unfortunate history of both, I've always wondered how racial violence and genocide get started and perpetuated. The first step would necessarily be getting singled out and identified as a target. I'm not saying that's the way things are moving in Japan, but it is unsettling to be stopped for no reason other than that you are not Japanese. I wonder what would have happened if Nami wasn't with you, or if she was with you and was Chinese or Korean instead of Japanese. Pretty scary incident. Maybe you could send the link to your blog to the Sango police and also to Debito. You should write this up for Japanzine–maybe go to the police station and talk to them about it. I never saw any foreigners in Sango other than you and me, but as you said, even if Sango was flooded with them, it’s no excuse for racial profiling of people. Coming from a country with an unfortunate history of both, I’ve always wondered how racial violence and genocide get started and perpetuated. The first step would necessarily be getting singled out and identified as a target. I’m not saying that’s the way things are moving in Japan, but it is unsettling to be stopped for no reason other than that you are not Japanese. I wonder what would have happened if Nami wasn’t with you, or if she was with you and was Chinese or Korean instead of Japanese. Pretty scary incident.

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