Elephants in Academia: What a difference 50 years can make

The blogger "AcademicElephant" looks at the current relations between Japan and the United States, looks back half a century, and finds food for thought. Regarding a recent press conference featuring Japanese officials with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, AcademicElephant says:

...several interesting things were said, such as this, from Rice: "...we have had a very broad discussion that is only befitting two of the closest allies in the world, an alliance that is clearly based on common values, that is clearly based on a desire to see freedom and liberty spread. And that understands that when democracy is on the march then we are all safer, and when democracy is in retreat we are more vulnerable."

Such a statement...would have been unimaginable 50 years ago. But with Japan for an example, we might not want to be overly pessimistic about the potential of democracy to reduce the warlike tendencies of previously-aggressive states, and to turn former deadly enemies in to our closest and most helpful friends in distant but vital regions.

Full Elephants in Academia post