Regarding "Okinawa slur draws protest": This is typical non-news and a distraction generated by the media and jumped on by irresponsible politicians. What difference does it make — even if the account of John Maher's lecture to a group of American university students in December is accurate?

Maher, the official in question, does not set U.S. policy and the Japanese politicians know this. At least they should know. And even if the media reports of the compilation of the students' notes is accurate — which I doubt — does it compare to the many hateful things that former Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa and Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara have said about Americans.

Did Americans go crazy over those insults? No.

jay casey