I believe that everyone has the right to give his or her own opinion on subject matters in our democratic society, but one should give some facts to back their claims or opinions. However, there are times when a person’s opinion or claim on a particular subject fails to hold its own ground, and this is one of them.

CASE: an opinion article from the Oregon Daily Emerald by Elon Glucklich states that Anime is destroying American Society.

How on earth do you figure anime is destroying any society? Let’s start by going to the root of the cause.  If anime in fact causes a society to degrade, then the genre that started as experimental filmmaking in the early 20th Century should have corrupted its own country’s moral fiber even before making it stateside. So why does some of the best consumer electronic equipments and cars that we use come from Japanese companies? Because anime didn’t corrupt their society. If anything, they’ve incorporated their culture, technical abilities, filmmaking, and vivid imagination to the genre.

Now let’s break down the claims:

Don't believe the threat's real? A report from CNN's Tokyo affiliate in December 1997 documented an incident in which "More than 700 people, mainly school children, were rushed to hospitals Tuesday after suffering convulsions, vomiting, irritated eyes and other symptoms." Was it a gas leak at the local school? No. Were the kids breathing glue out of brown paper bags? No. Were they watching Pokemon? You bet your authentic Squirtle trading card they were.

While it is true that this unfortunate incident happened, this is no means to support the editor’s claim of anime corrupting a society. This is a medical condition triggered by advance technology of that time combined with a dark room. Most of the kids affected by this incident were watching Pokemon on Enhanced Definition Television (EDTV), in dark rooms, and in close proximity of the TV, and the flashing lights in a particular scene acted like a strobe in the room that caused the medical condition. This is also the primary reason why most anime now have a disclaimer in the beginning of the show stating to watch it in a brightly lit room and not too close to the television. Here is a hint, watch Kaleido Star and Angelic Layer. The point is that there is a huge difference between a medical situation and corruption of society. They are two wholly different things and this incident in no way points to corruption. Perhaps the writer needs a dictionary.

So what is Pokemon teaching the next generation of kids? The virtues of capturing exotic animals and making them fight for your amusement? I already learned that from Michael Vick.

So when did someone capture an imaginary exotic animal and make them fight for amusement? And when did you hear a case where children are making them fight? It is because it has never happened. If there is anything, the children who watched Pokemon collected cards and have their own little rules of engagement on how to beat another opponent’s card. The kids are simply just having fun, and the majority of them have outgrown their Pokemon card playing days. In addition, one should not make a comparison with Michael Vick and his dogs to imaginary creatures.

The next generations of kids aren't even getting a chance. Unless something is done to reverse this trend, we're going to be looking at millions of high school dropouts who don't see the point in going to college unless it teaches them to capture magic crystals.

Total and utter nonsense. High school students drop out because they think they can do it on their own without an education, are having problems at home or in society, or it is by their choice, but not because of anime. If there is anything, I’ve known students that went to college after high school so they could learn Japanese and its culture thanks to anime. Teens become more aware of another country’s culture. It engages the child in learning. In which case, maybe capturing magic crystals isn’t all that bad.

Now, if anime is destroying society, then why does Japan have a low crime rate? Japanese women can walk at night and not feel threatened. Why do children and teenagers in Japan respect their parents, elders, and teachers more so than compared to here in the United States? Anime is by no means perfect, but if you look beyond the anime conventions, children’s anime, cosplaying, the toys, one could learn something from the Japanese culture and the high values that are included in several anime series.

My point, Opinion Editor should not point his finger to anime as the cause of our society’s degradation. Your knowledge of the genre is very flawed and without credence, hence your entire reasoning in your article is flawed, and having anime as your primary reason of our society’s degradation is an insult to the hard working people of the domestic industry, its fans, and the Japanese people. There are other factors out there that you should write about in terms of our country’s degrading moral fiber; anime is not one of them.

By Rommel Salandanan