张律师欢迎您的访问。
三十六计英文-Thirty-Six Stratagems 17. Hold out a brick to attract a gem 三十六计
三十六计英文
18. To catch rebels, bring down their leader first
Douglas MacArthur, a general not known for military brilliance, proved himself
the man for the job in the occupation of post WWII Japan. MacArthur respected
the Asian point of view and had studied it more than his other West Point peers.
Though he had been something of a plodder on the battle fields of the Pacific,
he distinguished himself in humanely and efficiently running an occupation that
began with both conquerors and conquered highly antagonistic towards each other
and misinformed.
Certainly, the Japanese had been portrayed as devils to American service men,
and vice versa. For this problem, MacArthur ordered restraint and food. As GIs
passed out food to a starving people, the Japanese lost their initial distrust
of the American military; and the young American soldiers, seeing children who
had gone hungry and giving them food, made them appreciate the humanity of their
former enemies. And what prejudice could stand at the sight of children hungrily
eating and remembering their manners long enough to say "Thank you" and bow with
respect. The US occupation of Japan is remarkable for how thoroughly the
transformation of attitude took place on both sides as enmity gave way to
profound friendships and new understanding.
But there were nationalistic hold outs, and the threat of violence was never far
away during the early days of the occupation. Japan's military tradition had
been one of "Death or Victory," and there were leftover right-wing elements in
Japan that were ready to riot.
MacArthur could not police an entire nation to that extent. If the old fervent
patriotism took hold of the people again, catastrophe could ensue. So he
arranged to have a public audience with Japan's emperor, a man reputed to be
descended from the gods, and a man who had never been photographed for public
view. When MacArthur met Hirohito, the American general wore his daily army
uniform. He didn't even have a tie on. Hirohito dressed in fine Western clothes.
MacArthur spoke politely but briefly with the emperor and then had their picture
taken together. Japanese advisors urged against having the photograph published,
but MacArthur over rode them. He ordered the picture published on the front page
of the newspapers, and it appeared the very next day.
The Japanese people, who had never even been allowed to look directly at their
divine ruler, saw a photograph of the laconic MacArthur, towering over the short
and wilted looking Hirohito. This was their mighty emperor, a mere man dwarfed
by the American General and unable to forbid the photograph.
Adroitly, MacArthur had provided perfect, unarguable proof that the emperor was
merely a man, and not all that impressive of a man, even when he presented
himself at his finest. The Japanese common man lost that reverential edge, and
the hardcore nationalists found that the outcry to protect a divine emperor had
lost a lot of its majestic ring.
张律师感谢您的访问。