Well, Sony has now bought Columbia Pictures and CBS records. What changes can we expect this turnover to bring the American people? How about Godzilla IV in 3-D, or Rodan Rocks the Metro?

I know, I’m making a feeble attempt at humor about a serious and culture-changing event. Well, who’s at fault. Everybody’s bitching about the Japanese taking over, so let’s hear it, experts, who gave them the reigns to lead this wagon?

It doesn’t take a true expert to figure it out. We let them take control, and anyone with a little knowledge of history knows when it began—the end of World War II. We dropped the bomb on Hiroshima in addition to destroying a large majority of the rest of the remaining country.

We won the war, but felt guilty for causing such extreme havoc. In repentence we helped Japan back on its feet to support those in need (of course we made them needy) and extended a hand of friendship to lift our comrades up.

So, here we are years later, chin deep in foreign cars, stereos, clothing, food items and heaven knows what all else, with the ole‘ red, white and blue proudly waving over what once was a land of American, union made goods. Guess where all these foreign imported goods are coming from. Right, Japan and other countries in the Orient.

Their technology has rebuilt itself bigger and better than before. Their educational system is dynamite, and their graduating students are paving a new, even more promising future than what they have today.

How are we? Well, our unions are struggling to keep their heads above water, fighting for work that should be theirs, but is instead going to non-union workers and foreign tradesmen.

Our education? Illiteracy has plagued the country and, basically we’re selling many of our top notch companies and prime real estate (Sears Tower ring any bells) to our Japanese competitors just to break even.

Oddly enough, what is happening is not my point. My point has to do with the American reaction to this which has been a growing adversity to the Japanese business world, as well as the people themselves. We are blaming them for the pitiful state of our economy.

This is understandable as a first response, but I certainly hope that we are not so shallow as to leave the argument there. It’s easy to blame someone else for our own problems. Especially when that someone else is a nation of people that most of us know nothing about.

Think about it people! Who do you think helped them pursue their quest for technology? We did. And what did we do while they worked hard to advance themselves? We rested on our laurels and expected that we would remain king of the hill forever. Think again. This is a free enterprise society, and the Japanese are merely capitalizing on what we created to ensure truth, justice and the American way.

If we don’t get our act together and start rebuilding ourselves, the American way might just be changing. We have to support American goods and workers, and improve our educational state, but don’t blame the Japanese for succeeding like we should be. Put the blame where it belongs, learn the lesson being taught and get up and make a difference. If not, then get used to wearing kimonos.