Japan

Like father, like son.

                During the 20^th century Japan was changing in many ways. Emperor Hirohito became a “constitutional monarch” instead of “imperial sovereign”, which now meant that he was not a descendant from a god. Roskin explains that the “emperor now has no ‘powers related to government’” and what he does is merely ritual and ceremonial. Hirohito became a symbol of the poor by spending time with his subjects and making sure they were doing well under the U.S. occupation.

                In the present day, Hirohito’s son is in power and at his now old age is still looking out for the well-being of his people. He and his wife will be going to visit the place where a typhoon struck last October. Izu Oshima, the place they will visit, has been undergoing repairs that will be checked on by the emperor when he arrives on February 28.

                The governmental role of the emperor of Japan is much like the queen of England. Both of them have ceremonial roles in their country instead of having actual power and running things however they want.http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/emperor-empress-to-visit-izu-oshima 

Germany

The German government has gone to great lengths to stop the post-World War II Nazi extremists from getting out of hand. Even if these laws are practiced, it still makes it difficult for the German officers to put a stop to neo-Nazi’s known to be part of the extreme National Democratic Part because of their right to free speech.

While some try to block out what happened in the past by throwing themselves into work, others want to revive it. Many others in secret organizations still cause havoc in Germany. “Police allegedly connected a string of bank robberies and murders to a terrorist cell that called itself the National Socialist Underground (NSU).” They were supposedly involved in a series of murders throughout the years which put an unease to the country.

Although there is no direct proof that this was because the Neo-Nazi’s were involved in any way this still leaves the sense of uncertainty for what the future holds, if Germany cannot control this extreme party.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/germany/140128/germany-neo-nazis-npd

Chapter 3: France

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/02/us-france-protests-idUSBREA110AG20140202
http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/french-government-puts-family-bill-on-ice-following-protests_315950.html
     This was something weird I stumbled upon, France's government is supporting gay rights and legalizing a gay marriage while the  people are against it.
     At first glance I got the impression that everyone was against it but further investigation made it clear that it was just the conservative party that was.
     This anti-gay rights movement reminded me of the ones we had in the US. There were hundreds of protests for the legalization of gay marriage and from those who opposed it. There still are rallies today, and each state decides whether it will be allowed or not. There are now 17 states that allow same sex marriage in the States. http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857
      Roskin talks about racial problems France has against  Muslims who are now 9 percent of France's population but in view of gay rights Muslims and  Conservative Catholics are on the same side and do not want gay marriage legalized or for the government to make it easier for homosexual couples to have children.
     Although people are changing there will still be people that do not agree because if their beliefs. in the future, hopefully France will come to an agreement so everyone is content with their county. But people don't work that way.