Scene 1: Conference
I am at a tech conference
Probably in Australia
I win some kind of award
Which gets me invited
To a fancy dinner
At the Japanese consulate
However
Possibly before I can eat it
I am whisked away
To an underground studio
For a TV interview
Scene 2: Controversy
I assume this is because of my award
And it is
Sort of
On the way there
My host whispers to me
That they will also ask me
About the tea ceremony comment
At first
I don’t remember
Or think of something trivial
But then
I do remember
Scene 3: Commentator
One of the keynote speakers
Speaking through a translator
Made an offhand comment
About Japanese tea
That was indirectly
But brutally
Disparaging
Of Japanese society
Their social media
Is in an uproar
The speaker
Has not apologized
And given his reputation
Probably will not
They will want
Me to condemn him
Or failing that
Use me
To vent their anger by proxy
Scene 4: Conflicted
I feel
An obligation to my host
Who has been very generous
I don’t have warm feelings
For the TV studio
That will ambush me
I feel sad
For the foolish speaker
Who is known
For leaving trauma in his wake
And therefore must carry
Much trauma in himself
I grieve
For the Japanese people
Who have many shames
And few tools
For processing them
Scene 5: Communicate
The interview begins
The question is asked
I look my interviewer
Straight in the eye
Thank her for the question
And the opportunity to respond
Then I turn to the camera
And begin to speak
Scene 6: Confession
I was in the audience
When [speaker] spoke
I do not speak
His language
So it is possible
He was mistranslated
[The audience gasps. I continue calmly but soberly.]
However
The conference
Has very good translators
And would surely have spoken up
If they made a mistake
And sadly
The speaker has made
Other comments on the record
That are consistent
With this behavior
Therefore
I have reluctantly concluded
That he did in fact offer
A grievous insult
To the Japanese people
[I turn back to the host]
I know
You would like me
To condemn his remarks
Unfortunately
While it is a very reasonable request
And I would dearly love
To repay you
For the hospitality
And honor you have shown me
[Looking at the Japanese consul]
I cannot
[I look back at the camera]
My religion
Does not allow me
To condemn anyone
In my tradition
Shame is a sacred thing
In my tradition
Shame is a sacred thing
It is not meant to be buried
Nor flaunted
Nor transferred
From one human to another
It is something holy
To be offered to our God
As a sacrifice
He consumes it
With fire
Turning it to glory
[I turn back to the host]
I cannot condemn him
Without condemning myself
Because I thought
And sometimes spoke
Similar things
About myself
About others
About you
And for that
I can only
Ask for your forgiveness
I stand up
Take off my shoes
Kneel on the floor
Bow down
And prostrate myself
Before the host
Radically Happy 
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