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It's kind of strange, when you think about it. Pope John Paul II represents a faith that emerged roughly 2000 years ago and has been an official religion for roughly 1700 years, whereas Hirohito represents a dynasty that was founded some 1800 years ago (taking the mythological mumbo jumbo into consideration, the japanese imperial family is even older).![]()
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Pope John Paul II, when he visited Japan (and met Hirohito) for the first time in February 1981.
Still, Hirohito should have abdicated after WWII.
Abolishing the imperial system entirely would have caused some severe social unrest, yes, but I think it would have been well possible to "suggest" to Hirohito that he might want to "decide of his own free will" to abdicate and let his place as Emperor be taken over by his successor (Akihito was born in 1933, so he would have had to name a regent in the meantime).Part of not forcing that was going out of our way not to humiliate the losers of WW II excessively, because doing so after WW I was at least part of why WW II became inevitable.
Turning enemies into allies is a lot of why the U.S. was the dominant world power after WW II.
To be fair, the last time the Yamato Dynasty had actual direct power rather than clans, shoguns, oligarchs, and/or the military, the Catholic Church under the Pope was flexing its muscles with the Crusades. Hence why apart from the whole divinity thing and his final "blessing" under the advice from those in charge, the Emperor effectively had no power and there was no reason to abdicate or abolish the monarchy. However, many lesser members of Imperial Family branches held government power and were purged from the government after the war.It's kind of strange, when you think about it. Pope John Paul II represents a faith that emerged roughly 2000 years ago and has been an official religion for roughly 1700 years, whereas Hirohito represents a dynasty that was founded some 1800 years ago (taking the mythological mumbo jumbo into consideration, the japanese imperial family is even older).
Still, Hirohito should have abdicated after WWII.
Encroaching communism and fact we were relatively chummy with Japan, including being allies in WWI helped, until they sided with the Axis because of communism.Part of not forcing that was going out of our way not to humiliate the losers of WW II excessively, because doing so after WW I was at least part of why WW II became inevitable.
Turning enemies into allies is a lot of why the U.S. was the dominant world power after WW II.
Don't forget to mention the valiant sacrifice of all those that died of the yellow fever during the Panama Canal's construction.The building of the Panama Canal:
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22 years ago, Emil Matasareanu and Larry Phillips Jr attempted to rob a bank in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California but after being sighted by police exchanged gunfire lasting for almost an hour which would be the longest and bloodiest gunfire exchange with police in American history, leaving 18 people injured and 2 dead. This was Emil Matasareanu last known picture of him being alive before dying of injuries.
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Christine Chubbuck
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She became famous for being the first person to commit suicide live on television during a news broadcast in 1974.
July 15, 1974: After covering several national news stories, she began to report on a shooting at a local restaurant but the film reel had jammed. She didn’t blink and shrugged it off before she continued and spoke her last sentence.
“In keeping with Channel 40’s policy of bringing you the latest in 'blood and guts’, and in living color, you are going to see another first – attempted suicide.” Then Christine drew a revolver and shot herself behind her right ear. Coworkers first believed it to be a joke until she slumped to the floor and realized that it wasn’t a joke. Her suicide note was found with her papers on the desk, including a news report for herself. She referred to herself in the third person and had her condition listed as critical.
Christine Chubbuck died fourteen hours later.
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