General Forums

[olorin]

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/08/06/hiroshima-62-years-ago-today/

Curious about your thoughts on this article and his perspective.
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"These and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation." -SCOTUS- Holy Trinity Church v. U.S. 1892

[Rosaria]

I've seen that perspective on the bombings before. It could be argued that it saved millions of lives particularly if you are an American who was also in competition with Russia for resources of conquered lands and decision making re the refashioning of Europe post Hitler.

From a Japanese perspective, once was understandable, two was excessive. For me, it happened, there is nothing to be done about it, the world now knows the horrendous results of dropping a bomb in crowded cities, and no one should ever forget the sounds, scenes, and what lay in wait for the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who actually survived the bombings but not the results.

It's a day of mourning for humanity, and I guess that's the only good thing that came out of it. The will and resolve to drop another one is hopefully cautiously muted forever, regardless of provocation, and regardless of how some might feel justified, or even good, about it in some distant future.

That's my take on it.
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[TaisharTrueblood]

Ros, what is the japanese history taught about WWII? I am just curious if it is taught/believed that a preemptive strike at Pearl Harbor was nessesary for some reason.
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If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare composed poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’
--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Fiat justitia, ruat coelum

[Corbijn]

Apparently the HBO special they aired this week is absolutely amazing and fascinating, albeit very grotesque.

I'm planning to buy it, but my g/f has already refused to watch it with me, and I understand why since she works with children and isn't as descensitized to violence as I.
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Matt
http://www.myspace.com/lifewithoutamicrowave

[Rosaria]

[Ailionora]

Rosaria, you got any good links for that viewpoint? I'm working on an Activity Center on Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Hiroshima/Nagasaki and I would LOVE to have some starting points to send students to on Webassignments! To show the current "other side" - we stress the second bombing as (1) to indicate that we didnt just have one bomb - so Japan wouldnt think the worst was over and the US couldnt do it again, and (2) Japan wouldnt surrender because the original terms did not allow for the royal lines to remain intact. After the second bombing, a provision was included to allow the "titles" to remain, thus making the treaty acceptable.

From here- the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was viewed as a strategic manuever to weaken the US naval position, and to pretty much give Japan a wide open shot at any Pacific position (which establishing control of Pearl Harbor might well have done). We say they thought the US position was weak due to hyperextension in the European theater.

(I know you know US History - just tellin ya what the current textbooks are saying, blah blah).

I find the different perspectives fascinating - even though they seem to change depending on the political clime during which they are <cough> edited.
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[Rosaria]

I sure don't sorry. Most of that I heard while growing up or read it in books or newspapers. Some of those Japanese newspapers have an online English page that are carrying stories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those might be able to point you in the right direction.
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