Criticism of U.S. Workers

As our state and country slides deeper into economic depression, still another Japanese politician berates America and its people. The scathing insults, bigoted remarks and racist xenophobia expressed by Yoshio Sakurauchi as reported in your Jan. 21 article are but further undeniable proof of Japan’s real attitude toward everything America represents. His slurs of American workers being “too lazy, a third cannot read (and) the U.S becoming Japan’s subcontractor” are not the rhetoric of a friend or ally, but aged and simmering hatred for our very way of life. At age 79, he obviously hasn’t forgotten Pearl Harbor, but appears to cherish the memory. The situation has now gotten to the point of an economic war that is as deadly to this country as the shooting war Japan started 50 years ago.

Readers can respond and write, columnists can pen editorials and hypothesize and politicians can continue cheek-turning until hell freezes over--but Japanese mentality will remain unchanged. It’s high time that Americans got off their butts and elect a leader who realizes and has a genuine grasp of our most serious problem. The Japanese shot down George Bush in our last war with them, and they did it again in January, 1992. This round is not going to be won by fancy footwork and turning cheeks. It’s time for America to make a hard fist--and use it.

WILLIAM LAWSON

Costa Mesa