Grant Mahood is entirely right in his Nov. 18 letter, "Magic feeling of being exempt," to want "no more exemptions, no more discrimination, no more unequal application of the law -- just (the) repeal" (of the Justice Ministry's biometric data collection program for foreign arrivals at Japanese ports of entry).
But he appears to be unaware of my stance against the law. And while he feels "It's hard to blame those among the exempted for being afraid to rock the boat," how does he intend to "rock the boat"? A number of aliens, some now among the exempted, rocked the boat very hard in the 1980s, when they and other aliens were fingerprinted at municipal halls as then required by the Alien Registration Law. Among refusers reported to the Immigration Bureau, some were denied re-entry permits. Some found their status of residence in jeopardy or downgraded. A few were arrested and jailed. Several braved litigation that dragged on into the 1990s.
I was a fingerprint refuser, and my refusal was publicized, but I was never arrested. This time, though, I stand with Susan Menadue-Chun ("SPRs have suffered enough," Nov. 15 letter). I will reluctantly submit my biometrics. Civil disobedience at a port of entry would be totally self-destructive.
In the meantime, I will condemn the law as one that Henry David Thoreau would have called a paragon of governmental "inexpedience." The Ministry of Justice will reap what it has sown. But I will also criticize objections to the law that are not based on legal and historical fact.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.