Most world leaders know what their two main works are: diplomacy and defense. They recognize that no country can exist only on its own; all countries in the world are interrelated in some way or other today.
So what's necessary to realize a peaceful coexistence?
There are so many different countries, different histories, different religions, different peoples, different races, different neighbors, different ideas and different reactions.
If one can imagine that a leader's words may hurt the feelings of a different country's people, even if unintentionally, is it wise for the leader to just say anything in public he wants?
In Japan, we know the wisdom of the three wise monkeys: namely, Mizaru (monkey seeing no evil), Iwazaru (monkey speaking no evil) and Kikazaru (monkey hearing no evil). I should refrain from likening leaders to wise monkeys, but in situations when leaders have to speak up, is it too much to hope that they will have some kind of self-checks in place?
Am I the only one who feels troubled recently because of leaders' unwise choice of words in particular?
Leaders are expected to be under self-imposed controls, both in word and action, for the sake of the nation's interest. It is obvious that not only our leaders but also the people of Japan must see the undeniable reality of Japan in this world.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
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