At 01:23 PM 8/16/98 PDT, The Critic wrote:

My point is that it probably wouldn't; people who go by 
the the few dubbed anime episodes released by Viz and who don't 
understand basic elements of Japanese culture seem to view Ryouga as 
this big bruiser type who is tricked by Bugs Bunny to walk off of a 
plank.

Ryouga sees himself as a warrior, steeped in the code of bushido. Such 
characters, including Ranma and Kunou, amongst others, feel that they 
are above normal people--they feel normal rules of politeness don't 
apply to them. This view of himself is supported by an ego the size of 
Mt. Fuji, so Ryouga would in all likelihood react badly to 
someone--especially a mere girl--trying to 'use' him. He's displayed 
murderous rage at far lesser offences to his dignity.

	Now here is something that I'm surprised to say that I agree with The 
Critic on. The recent letter to the list defining (and putting medical terms 
to) the various mental problems suffered by the cast of Ranma 1/2 (if they 
were to actually exist, that is) forgot to take one thing into account. 
Many, _many_ people in Japan would be considered to have mild mental 
problems IF judged by _Western_ standards.

	This is an important point. Gutting yourself with a large knife because 
you've been dishonored would be considered extremely irrational in North and 
South America and large parts of Europe. With a few exceptions, most of 
Western society feels this way.

	In the Eastern societies, suicide is not only _not_ irrational, but a 
honorable way out of a dishonorable situation. Now.. one society considers 
it madness, the other feels it to be a rational solution to an impossible 
problem. Who's right?

	So, when we try to view the actions of Ranma and the rest of the cast, 
(including everyone's favorite thick-headed Lost Boy, Ryouga) we have to 
take into account the VERY alien worldview oriental societies have 
concerning death, sacrifice, and honor.

	Not an easy thing to do.

	Greg Sandborn points this out clearly in his 'Nabiki:New Horizons" series.. 
Nabs has significant dificulties on occasion dealing with some of the (to 
her viewpoint) rude and dishonorable people inhabiting (infesting? ^_^)
Hawaii. Adapting isn't impossible, or even exceptionally dificult. But it
does tend to trip you up when you least expect it.

	I can speak on this because I've _done_ it. Living for three years in
Barvaria, Germany shook my particular world-view rather rudely, and when I
_finally_ had the courage to go out and try to see things from the
Barvarian viewpoint (rather than simply acting as though the Germans were a
bunch of uncivilized barbarians, as many other GI's did) I received an
eye-opening, mind-expanding experience.

	The same applies to Oriental cultures, and we still tend to trip up and
judge the actions of such essentially Japanese characters by Western
standards. (Well, most of us. There are those who have lived in Japan as I
have in Germany, and have learned the culture the best way possible, via
immersion. Rob Barba springs to mind, as does our resident squid, Jamie
Wilde. Hi, guys!! *waves*)

	So we have to be _very_ careful making value judgements over the actions
of any character in Ranma 1/2. It's admittedly Takahashi-sama's take on her
own culture, and a satiristic take at that, but the actions and attitudes
of it's characters are firmly rooted in the culture of Japan.

	Just my $0.02 worth of philosophy. Take it with a grain or two of salt.

	Ed Becerra



	"Dreamers may die, but the Dream is eternal.."