No doubt readers can relate to hearing news or reading in a paper a story that disheartens them.

That is what I felt when I heard the United States Senate voted to confirm Rahm Emanuel as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan this past weekend. While it is good that the critical position is being filled after a two-year, five-month vacancy, the choice of Emanuel was frankly disappointing to some.

I have been reading everything I can about him since his name first surfaced this spring as a possible candidate for the U.S. ambassador to Japan or the People’s Republic of China. There are many articles and books about him, books that he has authored, as well as one on his family history that was written by his older brother, a well-known medical doctor.