The words "Japanese devils" have aroused the memory and anger of many people. This title used to be the greatest hatred and disdain for those aggressors who wantonly slaughtered their compatriots and ravaged the motherland. However, some people have now proposed to ban the use of this term, believing that it is offensive to morals and harms Sino-Japanese friendship.
As soon as this proposal was put forward, it sparked a heated debate in society. Proponents argue that times are different and that we should abandon the hostility of the past; Opponents insist that this is a powerful condemnation of past aggression. So, which side of this debate has more point? Let's find out.
The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression brought deep trauma to the Chinese nation, and the Nanjing Massacre was one of the most painful. In those dark years, innocent people lost their lives in vain, and the people of the motherland were mercilessly slaughtered. The term "Japanese devil" has a long history, which fully reflects the people's hatred and disdain for the invaders in those years. It is not only a name, but also a powerful indictment and condemnation of those crimes.
However, times are constantly changing. Today, China and Japan are countries with friendly diplomatic relations, and personnel exchanges and cultural exchanges are very close. Some people believe that we should abandon the hostility of the past and call each other with more civilized and polite addresses, which will be more conducive to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.
Admittedly, there is some truth to this view. After all, Japan is now the same as it was back then, and calling them "devils" seems a bit too blunt. Moreover, friendly coexistence and mutual respect are indeed conducive to the long-term development of Sino-Japanese relations.
But there are also those who believe that the term "Japanese devil" is not entirely a derogatory or insulting statement. It is a painful record of history and a powerful condemnation of the exterminating and atrocities committed by the aggressors. Just like what we call war criminals of Nazi Germany, this is not a gamble, but a deep historical implication.
More importantly, there are concerns that if the term is completely banned because of choking, it will not cause the younger generation to forget that shameful history, so that they will not be able to wake up and cherish the peace of today. After all, it is only by remembering the lessons of history that we can truly move forward in the direction of peace.
My view on this argument is that we don't need to treat "Jap" as a taboo or derogatory term. It carries the memories of the suffering of our ancestors, but it is not a universally insulting word. In contrast, what we should really object to is the misuse of words such as "devil" to demeaning others. In the exchanges between the Chinese and Japanese peoples, mutual respect is the basic principle.
At the same time, we must also remember history and cherish peace. While maintaining the basic etiquette for the Japanese people, we should not completely regard "Japanese devils" as taboo because of choking. It represents the suffering of our nation, a condemnation and indictment of crimes, not a stigmatization of modern Japanese. Only in this way can we always stand on the road of peace with a kind and powerful heart.
The controversy over the "Japanese devils" seems to be just a simple question of title, but it is related to how we can correctly understand history and how we cherish peace. We should neither abuse this title to belittle others, nor should we refrain from saying it, but we should approach it with a more positive and constructive attitude, and let it be our wake-up call and upliftment