Japanese hostages returning from Iraq were humiliated(NY Times free registration required. Link will be inaccessible after a month) by their countrymen on their return for causing trouble to their government.

“You got what you deserve!” one Japanese held up a hand-written sign at the airport where they landed. “You are Japan’s shame,” another wrote on the Web site of one of the hostages. They had “caused trouble” for everybody. The government, not to be outdone, announced it would bill them $6,000 for airfare.

I don’t know what to think of this. On the one hand I sympathise with the sentiment that if you disregard your government’s advice and go to a dangerous place, then you shouldn’t expect the government to bail you out. On the other hand, I dislike the spirit of conformism that expects an entire country to do just what the government says.