Across the world, people sometimes criticize their own country, culture, or group.
This isn’t about any specific nation or religion—
it’s a psychological pattern that emerges when we want to be morally good.
1. The Psychology Behind Self-Criticism
• Seeking moral superiority
By saying “I stand with the victims, not the perpetrators,”
we try to prove our moral integrity.
• Simplifying history into good vs. evil
Complex events become easier to grasp when reduced to a binary:
good vs. bad.
• Processing guilt by proxy
Even if we weren’t directly involved,
some feel “morally cleansed” by saying,
“It was our fault.”
2. But Blaming Doesn’t Lead to Solutions
Historians and sociologists agree:
“Villain-hunting” doesn’t help us solve future problems.
• It causes stagnation
– Oversimplifies the past
– Judges history by today’s ethics
– Halts forward-looking dialogue
Eventually, blaming becomes the goal itself—
not understanding, not healing.
3. History Is About Facts and Context, Not Heroes and Villains
The core of historical study is:
“What happened, and why?”
Not “Who was good or bad?”
Groups like the Ainu, Kumaso, Wajin, Ryukyu, Emishi, and Hayato
have all shifted roles over time—
sometimes dominant, sometimes marginalized.
History is complex and interconnected.
4. Drawing Moral Lines Is Storytelling, Not History
Labeling groups as
• A = victim
• B = perpetrator
• C = irrelevant
based on modern values
is not history—it’s narrative.
In reality, every group’s position changes with time.
History resists simple labels.
5. My Perspective:
Let’s See History as Reality, Not a Morality Tale
• History cannot be simplified
• Judging by good vs. evil halts understanding
• Blaming people today for the past doesn’t solve anything
• We need future-oriented dialogue
6. In Summary
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about
“simplifying history to keep blaming someone,”
this is why.
Understanding history means embracing complexity—
and choosing dialogue over judgment.