
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992                   TAG: 9203040217
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: COLUMBIA, S.C.                                LENGTH: Medium

SENATOR SAYS JOKE NOT `JAPAN-BASHING'

Sen. Ernest Hollings says he was just responding to Japanese criticism when he told workers they "should draw a mushroom cloud and put underneath it: `Made in America by lazy and illiterate Americans and tested in Japan.' "

Hollings said he used the World War II image of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan, which killed thousands and hastened the end of the war, because he wanted to show that he was tired of Japanese criticism.

The 70-year-old Democrat, who is up for re-election in November, was touring South Carolina's Roller Bearing Co. of America plant Monday when he made the statement to about 90 workers. The comments drew applause from the workers at a plant in Hartsville.

"I'm not Japan-bashing. I'm defending against America-bashing. When you defend America, they want you to apologize," Hollings said in a statement Tuesday.

"I made a joke to make a point; the Japanese speaker was wrong when he said that American workers are lazy and stupid."

He referred to comments by Japanese Parliament Speaker Yoshio Sakurauchi's in January about the American work ethic.

Sakurauchi said U.S. workers were lazy, unproductive and illiterate. Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa fueled the controversy two weeks later when he suggested that Americans lack a work ethic.

Christine Rose of the Japan America Society in Seattle thinks Hollings is sending a dangerous message.

"I think he ought to read a few more history books," she said.

Hollings' comment "promotes a racist kind of emotional response instead of intelligent facts that we need to deal with right now," she said.

Mary Earle, executive director of the Japan America Society of Georgia, said, "To me that's an irresponsible and unfortunate comment as are the comments the Japanese have made about American workers."

by CNB