The Importance of Being Smart : Japan-bashing is no substitute for thinking

Sometimes, it seems, the American people show more common sense and intelligence than our politicians. Citizens’ understanding of U.S. economic problems appears to be sophisticated and nuanced: Unlike some politicians and some U.S. auto makers, they are unwilling to blame Japan for virtually all of America’s ills, even though they realize the Japanese are very difficult negotiators and the U.S.-Japanese trade imbalance remains too large.

This is the overall sense of the American temper about Japan that one gets from the latest Times Poll. Despite the vocal “buy American” campaigns of late--and 45% of the respondents said they “generally avoid products made in Japan”--the poll suggests that the public’s frustration over the persistent trade imbalance is held in check by a recognition of our own shortcomings and responsibilities. Even though 70% see Japan as a threat, fully 50% said that “Japan is being blamed unfairly for a trade crisis that is really the fault of the United States.” The latter figure is up from 35% in 1985.

That clearheaded, if conflicted, assessment should send a signal to American policy-makers to cut the Japan-bashing rhetoric (Japanese leaders should also do their part to tone down a needless war of words). Such wanton, irresponsible pitches for votes undercut politicians’ credibility in this election year. It didn’t work for Rep. Richard A. Gephardt’s 1988 presidential campaign. It appears to be falling on deaf ears in New Hampshire, and our latest poll suggests that it won’t get many votes this year. “The conventional wisdom is that Americans are up in arms about Japan, but I just don’t see it,” said John Brennan, Times Poll director.

The domestic politics that tries to make a scapegoat of Japan is unleashing some ugly and even racist incidents, causing anxiety among Americans of Japanese ancestry and other Asian-Americans. A vandal harassed a Japanese-American family, throwing eggs and feces at their Claremont home. An unidentified woman left a bomb threat on the answering machine at Los Angeles’ Japanese American Community and Cultural Center.

Such deplorable actions are eerily reminiscent of 50 years ago when anti-Japanese sentiment was institutionalized in the hysteria of World War II. On Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which called for the unjust evacuation of 120,000 Japanese-Americans and their incarceration in internment camps. The United States formally apologized in 1988 and is paying reparations to those interned.

Beginning this weekend, Japanese-American community groups will hold a series of events commemorating this sad chapter of U.S. history. They fear that the furor over the trade imbalance is creating a backlash against Asian-Americans.

Thankfully, the public seems not to be responding to exploitation attempts. Strategies to renew America’s competitiveness start at home. Relations with Tokyo will continue to be difficult, no doubt. But hyperventilation of irrational if not racist emotions won’t do anybody any good.