Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 11, 1993 TAG: 9306110356
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He is way off base in his assessment of the shooting death of a Japanese exchange student last Halloween. There is nothing more tragic in our society than the death of a young person. Life itself is a cornerstone of our manifesto. After all, our country was founded on the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
This death was due to an unfortunate series of circumstances - nothing more, nothing less. Lack of understanding of the language and fear of the Peairs family led to his death. I resent Haraguchi's labeling our society as a "Western-movie society." Because his society does not condone handgun ownership does not mean that Americans are wrong for allowing it.
He further says that byproducts of American success are unemployment and a paranoid society. This is a thoughtless and reckless evaluation of a society that he obviously knows little about. In his six-year stay here, Haraguchi fails to acknowledge the good in America. Our "success" has enabled us to help feed and clothe the world through various volunteer, government and religious institutions. We, the "American Cowboys," have led the world in the fight for human rights.
Finally, Haraguchi insults our society by claiming that we "allowed the slaying of Hattori." This death was unfortunate, but Hattori must share a measure of responsibility for his own fate. A visitor to a foreign land should learn its customs. I am no linguistics expert, but if I were in a country where someone was pointing a gun at me, the last thing I would do is move toward him. Hattori continued moving toward his fate, even after an obviously upset Peairs shouted at him.
Haraguchi has used Hattori's death to vent his irresponsible views of American "Society-cide." Go home and clean your glass house before you throw stones at mine! ROGER D. MALOUF ROANOKE
by CNB