Tuesday, June 11, 2013

[525] ‘MTSU On the Record’ examines ongoing ‘comfort women’ controversy




MURFREESBORO — Japan’s continuing struggle to come to grips with its past is the subject of the next “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. David Schmidt, vice provost for international affairs, will air from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 10, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, June 16, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).

Schmidt, who was born in Japan, served for six years on a war reparations board that heard testimony from the so-called “comfort women” of World War II. These women, possibly as many as 200,000 of them, were taken from Korea, China, the Philippines and other countries under false pretenses and forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers.

The ill will among these nations flared up again May 13, when the mayor of Osaka, Japan, said the use of “comfort women” was necessary to maintain military discipline.

“It really fuels the fire between Japan and its neighbors, and they do not need that at this point,” Schmidt said. “It basically gives the South Koreans, the Chinese and other countries that card they can play at certain times.”

To listen to previous programs, go to the “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

No comments: