A long time ago Japan decided to close its borders. Of course it was and is an island country, so foreigners coming to Japan needed to come by boat. However, Japan decided that it had had enough of the outside world and limited contact with foreigners to a small amount of trade on a small island near the city of Nagasaki. Other than that, Japan was for Japanese.
Then, one day the U.S. decided to force Japan to open its ports for trade. The U.S. had goods to sell and was tired of this rogue nation being so isolationist.
It’s funny now that the U.S. is planning to build physical walls to close off from Mexico. Most Americans aren’t allowed to go to Cuba. Passports are starting to be necessary for Canadians crossing the border (previously just a drivers license could do the trick).
Should the rest of the world force the U.S. to open its doors the way the U.S. once did to Japan?
Thanks.
Free trade? The U.S. doesn’t practice that, especially with Canada. The U.S. sets up unfair taxes.
Lost jobs to Mexicans? What ever happened to American abundance? Not only that, but why aren’t you up to the challenge? If someone else can do your job more efficiently, then you improve yourself fair and square. Why are you so afraid?
Most of you guys are just proving my point of how isolationist and xenophobic the U.S. is at this juncture in time.
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jenni m 14th March 2010
Hell no! We have ~22 million illegal aliens here. Also, we do have legal immigration. I’m 100% for LEGAL immigration ,but if it’s illegal, get the hell out.
greenie 14th March 2010
That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
need_4_speed1945 14th March 2010
japan didn’t have people jumping the boder and taking all the jobs for less money.
Systematics 14th March 2010
Ha ha.. The US is the most open country in the world. Get out and travel.
william 14th March 2010
i think you are a little off base.
There are people taking advantage of the US
also for security reasons.
I see your point, but still disagree
At least you made me think about it.
kokopelli 14th March 2010
The Mexico/US border issue is a different matter entirely. The Japanese analogy misses the point entirely. One was about free trade, the other is about an invasion of low-income, unskilled, criminal invaders. Not the same situation at all.
By the way, the US border WAS open and unpatrolled for many decades. The influx of millions of illegals willing to break our laws is responsible for the shutting down of that border. The last thing we need is to keep the border open so the illegal criminals can continue to cross illegal and violate our laws.
Justin H 14th March 2010
The US hasn’t closed it’s borders. People are welcome to visit from other countries at any time. Even immigrating to the US isn’t that difficult if you follow the rules. The idea of the wall/barrier on the Mexico border is to stop the flow of illegal immigrants (I won’t go into whether this is a good or bad idea). And the passport issue is about security – about making sure we know who is actually entering our country. I don’t know about other countries, but in the US, obtaining a passport isn’t very difficult or expensive – it just means planning ahead because it takes a few weeks.
jennifer p 14th March 2010
why? what do we have that they want or need? Freedom? they can have it. Clearly we keep showing folks (or trying to force folks) in other countires how to get it, but they want our freedom. They can have it. Come here, become a citizen, and do "the time" as we all do.
Though we take so much from other countries, we give so much. Granted, we can always do more, and in some instances, do less; but making it easier to let our guard down isn’t the best idea. As far as putting up a wall, we already have one, just not one made out of leggos or concrete. And really? you think that’ll actually happen? Its marketing, that’s all.
dances_with_unicorns1955 14th March 2010
Sure – if the rest of the world wants to do it by threat of military force. That’s how the U.S. did it with Japan, after all. Is this what you think of as a good idea???
If the U.S. wants to allow other people in, or keep them out, that is our decision. If you want to force the issue, and force your way into the country, you will find a LOT of people who are very suddenly ready to take up arms and defend its borders. I don’t support harming people who want to come into the U.S. to work and visit, but to FORCE the U.S. (or any other nation) to accept foreign individuals isn’t going to sit well.
If you want to try it – good luck; you’re going to need lots of it.
upforitupforitupforitupforitru 14th March 2010
The US does need to stop illegal immigration reguardless of the method.These walls you are talking about are not going to be used to stop trade with mexico.The passprt thing with Canada is intended to stop people who would not be allowed here from sneaking in from Canada not to keep our Canadian friends out.When the US wanted Japan to open it’s ports fot trade the US did not ask Japan to let Mexican citizens by the $hit load go there to live did they.
allison o 14th March 2010
personally i think thats really really REALLY retarded. who made that up, BUSH?? i love mexico and canada i think the usa is totally retardes… or is it bush? what did canada and mexico ever do anything to us? they’re awesome and easy to travel to! I think eventally we are going to get bombed from the mexicans and the mexicans will say "iieeuu no bueno!! iieeuu no bueno!!" that means usa is not good. (i’m only in spanish uno!!)
i bet like a million bahillion bucks that canada and mexico will MAKE us pull down the wall literally. If the usa was ran by a mental person they would of done the same thing bush would of done for the last 8 years… lol. he has been in my life for 8 out 13 years!
yes i totally agree with you.
robo_jesus_christ14 14th March 2010
What a pile of dumbassery.
Japan closed its borders because foreigners were interfering with their nation’s political processes and were funding and supporting peasant revolts against the shogunate. Basically they got tired of outsiders stirring up a shïtstorm and finally said "ENOUGH."
USA hardly compares to isolationist Japan. We have the most open market and open borders of any nation on the planet, so your "point" is moot.
I’m guessing you’re basically just pissed that this country is starting to act like old Japan and is gradually beginning to say "ENOUGH" to the illegal aliens who take, and take, and take, and take, and give nothing back but civil unrest.
Danny 14th March 2010
I don’t know where YOU live,but MY local news just ran a story last night about a child that was killed by a drunk driver.It just so happens that the drunk driver was an illegal immigrant.
I’ve heard this same scenario several times before on the national news,but this was the first time it happened here on my door-step.Right here in the Washington DC area! Right here in our nation’s capitol!
I just love how the illegals proclaim "We aren’t criminals!"
If you’re here illegally then you’re already breaking the laws of our nation! What other laws will they ignore? Our drunk driving laws seem to be a non-issue to some of them!
I would urge ALL Americans to realize ONE thing!
The same folks that don’t obey our immigration laws are just as likely to disobey the rest of our laws!
Go ahead and put up the wall! And let’s make sure that the American men and women who guard it are sufficiently armed,and given the benfit of the doubt when they feel the need to use deadly force on those who would trespass!
abdulnonoodle 14th March 2010
Ships from all over the world already come to US ports. What world do you live in ?
As for forcing us to "open up", better bring your best knife to the gunfight…