Do you take delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.
#97. The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II (authored by Iris
Chang)
The Rape of
Nanking (1997) by Iris Chang is a powerful and thought-provoking book about the
1937 Nanjing Massacre, one of the darkest chapters of World War II. Through
survivor stories, historical records, and personal diaries, Chang gives a voice
to those who suffered and to those who tried to help. The book became an
international bestseller and helped bring global attention to a tragedy that
had long been overlooked. At the same time, it sparked debate over some of its
historical interpretations. Beyond the history itself, the book invites us to reflect
on the importance of remembering the past, honoring the victims, and learning
how truth and compassion can help prevent such tragedies from happening again.
“The
loss of Shanghai came as a blow to Chiang Kai-sheck, the leader of the
Nationalists. Faced with the loss of China’s largest metropolis, Chiang tried
to resolve a difficult dilemma: whether to defend Nanking against the Japanese
or move the entire capital to safer ground. In the end the Generalissimo
decided to do both. But rather than stay and defend Nanking himself, he shifted
the burden to someone else – a subordinate called Tang Sheng-chih.”
ð After
losing Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek faced a difficult decision: defend Nanking or
retreat to preserve his government. Instead of choosing one option, he
attempted a risky compromise. He relocated his government to safety while
leaving General Tang Sheng-chih in charge of defending Nanking. In doing so,
Chiang shifted much of the immediate danger and responsibility to those who
remained in the city. Chiang Kai-shek's decision had devastating consequences.
Nanking soon fell to the Japanese army, followed by the Nanking Massacre (also
known as the Rape of Nanking), in which countless civilians were killed or
abused. Many historians consider his strategy a serious mistake that left both
the city's defenders and its civilians vulnerable.
“The
rape of Nanking forced the reporters – e.g., American journalists - out of
their normal role as neutral observers and into the war drama as full-fledged
participants. Sometimes they starred in their own stories by choosing to
protect Chinese citizens from the Japanese invaders.”
ð As
the crisis in Nanking grew, American journalists found themselves doing more
than reporting the news. Instead of remaining neutral observers, many chose to
help protect Chinese civilians, risking their own lives in the process. In
doing so, they became part of the very history they had come to document. When
Iris Chang writes that reporters "starred in their own stories," she
means that some journalists did more than observe and write. Faced with
extraordinary violence, they sometimes intervened to help civilians, making
moral choices that blurred the traditional boundary between objective reporting
and humanitarian action. While their primary duty remained documenting events,
the circumstances occasionally compelled them to become rescuers as well.
“In 1988
the Shochiku Fuji Distribution Company removed from Bernardo Bertolucci’s film
biography of Pu Yi a thirty-second scene depicting the Rape of Nanking.
Bertolucci was furious, of course, when he found out. Not only did the Japanese
distributor cut the whole sequence of the ‘Rape of Nanking’ without my authorization
and against my will, without even informing me, but they also declared to the
press that myself and the producer, Jeremy Thomas, had made the original proposition
to mutilate the movie,” he announced. This is absolutely false and revolting.”
ð This
passage describes how a reference to the Nanking Massacre was allegedly
censored in Japan. According to the account, a Japanese film distributor
removed a 30-second scene from Bernardo Bertolucci's movie without informing
him. The distributor then claimed that Bertolucci and his producer had approved
the change, a statement Bertolucci strongly denied, calling it false and
unacceptable. The incident is presented as an example of attempts to downplay
or avoid discussion of the Nanking Massacre.
** Jean’s Small Thoughts:
History
matters because, without understanding the past, we have little hope of
building a better future. When history is twisted or distorted by those in
power or by biased storytellers, future generations can be misled by a false
version of the truth. Many nations have painful chapters in their history, yet
only some are willing to teach their young people what truly happened.
The Rape of
Nanking also reminds us how important true leadership is during times of
national crisis. Instead of making a clear military decision, Chiang Kai-shek
chose a political compromise. As a result, Nanking was neither effectively
defended nor fully evacuated. When Japanese forces entered the city in 1937, it
was left largely defenseless.
A similar
lesson can be found in Korean history. Seong-man Rhee's government has been
widely criticized for its harsh suppression of suspected leftists, including
the Jeju 4.3 incident. The Jeju 4.3 Incident is one of the saddest and the most
brutal chapters in Korean history. From 1948 to 1954, Jeju Island experienced
years of violence and suffering. Many islanders opposed the permanent division
of Korea and the separate elections held only in the South. When armed rebels
attacked police stations on April 3, 1948, the government responded with a
severe military crackdown. As a result, countless innocent civilians lost their
lives, and many families were left with deep emotional wounds. Today, the Jeju
4.3 Incident reminds us of the painful cost of political conflict and division.
By remembering this history, we honor those who suffered and strengthen our
hope for peace, understanding, and reconciliation.
Also, during
the North Korean invasion in 1950, president Rhee’s government also ordered the
destruction of the Han River Bridge to slow the enemy's advance. Many civilians
were still crossing the bridge at the time, and earlier government
announcements had led residents to believe it was safe to remain in Seoul. The
result was a tragic loss of life, with many people stranded on the wrong side
of the river. Looking back, I find it very difficult to see President Rhee as a
true leader of my homeland. To me, he seemed to depend heavily on U.S. support
and often appeared to serve American Cold War interests more than the hopes of
the Korean people. That is one reason the Jeju 4.3 tragedy remains such a
painful reminder of how ordinary citizens can suffer when political power takes
precedence over human lives.
Lastly, I
would like to point out that I am always moved whenever I learn about foreign
correspondents who risked their own lives to help local people during wartime.
In South Korea, Jürgen Hinzpeter courageously documented the military crackdown
during the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. He secretly filmed the
violence against civilians and smuggled the footage out of the country,
providing some of the first compelling visual evidence of the atrocities. His
reporting brought international attention to the tragedy and remains a lasting
example of courageous journalism.
These brave
individuals became an unforgettable part of history. They showed that extreme
human suffering can compel even professional observers to become active
participants in saving lives. They never abandoned their duty as journalists,
but they recognized that protecting human life sometimes had to come before
remaining completely detached.
Wars continue
to rage in many parts of the world today, and none of us is entirely untouched
by their consequences. Reading books like The Rape of Nanking leaves me with
one enduring question: Who should ultimately be held responsible for these
needless and devastating wars?
