What is your opinion on the United States? Opinion articles by Waseda professors
Wed, Nov 9, 2016-
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Here is a collection of opinion articles on the United States of America, written by professors at Waseda University from Waseda Online.
What’s Causing the Trump Phenomenon?
Professor Takashi Yoshino, Faculty of Political Science and Economics
Some are looking for causes of this Trump phenomenon within the Republican Party. The “monster” called Trump came along when grassroots conservatives gained power through the Tea Party movement and political chaos was on the rise. Therefore, the Trump phenomenon is solely a product of the Republican Party.
Essential for Citizens: Propaganda Literacy
Professor Tetsuo Arima, Faculty of Social Sciences
In Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, there is an attraction called the “Duck Tour.” It takes tourists on an amphibious vehicle to tourist spots on both sides of the Potomac River. As the vehicle nears the State Department building, the tour guide gives tourists a quiz. “Over there is the Voice of America, a network which broadcasts around the world. What is the only country that is not covered by this network?” When I participated in this tour, I was the first to raise my hand and answer, “America.” The tour guide made a sour face.
The Occupy Wall Street Movement Demos and rallies sweep across the world
Professor Toru Shinoda, Faculty of Social Sciences
Demonstrations and rallies have been spreading all over the world, from North Africa and the Middle East to Southern Europe, North America and Japan. The aims of the demonstrators vary, however, with some calling for democracy and others opposing austerity measures, worsening labor union laws, wealth disparity, or nuclear power generation. Looking in more detail at the behavior of the various movements, we can catch a glimpse of the movement culture, that is to say, the whole tradition of movements that has grown up over many years, within which it is also interesting to consider the various national characteristics. This is particularly striking in the Occupy Wall Street movement, which began in New York and has spread to all major US cities.
“To proclaim liberty to the captives” — Police Brutality, Riots, and the Twilight of American Democracy
Assistant Professor Manuel Yang, Faculty of Social Science
From the 1980s to 2015, when I lived in the United States for more than thirty years, such police brutality was always in the back of my mind. Living in the suburbs, I couldn’t do anything but its reality, even at a distance, had a sobering effect on the way I looked at the world of race and class, which are indivisible in the U.S.
The Changing Frontline of the Mexican-American Border: A New Community “MexAmerica”
Professor Shinji Yamasaki, Faculty of Political Science and Economics
The United States lies just north of the Mexican border city of Tijuana, where a fence divides the two countries. This fence was not only built on land, but it extends into the ocean, preventing immigrants from swimming across the border. The view from Mexico is reminiscent of Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall. Modern buildings in San Diego stand in the distance, and people there can easily enter Mexico. Due to the fence’s presence, the two cities, Tijuana and San Diego, seem as if they have their backs turned on each other though they both face the Pacific Ocean.
Mark Twain’s “Courage to Accept Weakness” – American Literary Works That Should Be Read Again Today
Professor Tsuyoshi Ishihara, Department of English Language and Literature, School of Education
This may be out of the blue, but allow me to present a ranking of celebrities published in one magazine. Michael Jackson ranks fifth, Bob Dylan fourth, Madonna third, and Elvis Presley second. Given the ranking up to this point, who would you guess is first on the list? “If this is a poll on the most popular musician, the only candidate left is the Beatles,” one would say. Surprisingly, the answer is Mark Twain.
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