"Was the United States justified in dropping the atomic bomb during World War II?" "Of course we were," replied my aunt. A remarkably outspoken woman who lived through the war and remembered the era vividly. "I thank God that President Truman had the courage to do what was necessary so that no more young americans would die." My aunt was no warmonger. In fact she was very much against the Vietnam War. She lived through the depression and considered Roosevelt the greatest man who ever lived. On one occasion she told me that I should not talk about things I knew nothing about when I suggested that Roosevelt sold half of the world to Stalin and condemned millions to horrible deaths. But I often though, myself what the people who designed the most horrible device ever built were thinking. Where is J Robert Oppenheimer now? What will he say to God when he is judged? Albert Einstein was among the many scientists who worked on the developement of this weapon. But why? What could prompt a confirmmed pacifist like Einstein to join in the creation of such a weapon? Was Einstein a traitor to his beliefs? In a sense. But perhaps he saw a bigger picture here. I cannot say whether or not if I were in his shoes, I would do something else. Often people will say that the great scientific minds who gathered in Chicago and later in Los Alamos NM to work on the Manhattan project were merely scientists. The real architects of the bomb were political leaders. It is true that the fight against world Fascism was probibly a good cause. Even I, liberal pacifist that I am, would probibly say that the US entry in the war was the lesser of two evils and maybe if the US sat the war out, millions more people would be dead. I do question how the war was fought. For instance, the repatriotion of hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens to Stalinist Russia was something that should not have happened. And the US leadership was totally crazy for trusting the USSR. But the real legacy we have from this terrible war (I will never call it a "good" war because unlike Studds Turkel I do not see war as being "good" though some may be necessary), is the existance of the worst weapon of terro ever conceived. This is a weapon so horrible that it was only used twice, and incidently on the same enemy. Was the Empire of Japan really such an evil entity that it was necessry to unleash this weapon? That is a difficult question and one which can be debated for years. To be sure, this was a country ruled by Military leaders with a puppet Emporer. These leaders led their nation into China where they raped and murdered thousands, perhaps millions. They occupied most of the Pacific rim, murdered prisoners of war, including thousands of US soldiers. In short the Japanese were a menace who needed to be stopped. But what was the outcome of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Obviously the war was over. But what next? The post war brought out a new boogie-man. Stalin and world communism. Stalin was a man who though nothing of killing 27 million of his own people. Could you really trust such a man with a nuclear bomb? And what about Chairman Mao? Fear and panic gripped the US. Cold wars became hot wars in Korea and later in Vietnam. But somewhere along the way people had cold feet. In the 60s people began questioning whether this high stakes game needs to be played. Is it really better to be dead than red? Maybe we can settle for just being alive? Carter, Reagan and then Bush the elder all grappled with this problem. 1989 saw the fall of the Berlin Wall. In Berlin, Prague, Warsaw and ultimately in Moscow people took to the streets and in mostly peaceful actions the walls were brought down. The world breathed a sigh of releif. We were safe. No need to fear. It reminded me of a statement made by George Orwell at the end of Homage to Catalonia where he describes comming home to his England, where "There is no need to fear. Every morning the milkman will be at the door," and life will go on today as it did yesterday. We were safe.... ...or were we? We now see new threats everywhere. Yesterday it was world Communism. But even the Communists, as evil as we thought they were could be dealth with. What we now face is a new enemy. An enemy not defined by national boundries or allegiances. It is now believed that religous zealots and fanatics pose the greatist threat to world's peace. There is a desire to see enemies everywhere. It makes sense that anyone who would have the will to hijack aircrafts and crash them into public buildings in a major US City can be capible of doing anything. Every major religious tradition holds that the life of mankind, just like man itself is not permanent. We hear about end times or the end of a beginning. What will the future hold for mankind? What is the answer? Will we win the "war on terror" by becoming terrorists ourselves? When the Israeli's invaded Gaza with their tanks and guns, did it occur to any of their leaders that maybe if they would have built hospitals and fed the starving people of that region instead of placing an embargo on the people, than maybe Hamas would not have fired their rockets into Israel, thus prompting the conflict in the first place. We stand on the brink of a new era. The new Millenia is now into its ninth year. What will we offer to the next generation? A life of hope or one of terror. We have the choice.
Israel is the victim and its clear Hamas cannot be talked to if they have to go house to house on the warpath to eliminate them then fine. As for the atomic bomb Japan showed no signed of unconditional surrender in fact with the intelligence were ready to extend the war for two or three more years, with suicidal defense. So yes we likely saved lives on both sides byusing them. What I don't understand is we dropped one and then the idiots were still talking about fighting to the death, even after the second bomb dropped some did. What were we supposed to do they started the war and we intended to finish them But we are an odd victor after crushing the Axis we turned and aided them in rebuilding, how evil of us. As for the terrorists your right this is a war we cannot win unless we go to their level. If I was president I would order the immediate targeting by overt and covert resources on everyone aiding terrorists the money men, those arming them, religious leaders, their adult family members and the terrorists. Really, take Tora Bora we knew Al Queda took credit, we knew they had this base why not launch an ICBM into that lair of rats the first few hours. That would have done what was needed which is scare the world and show that we are now in a total war scenario and we will destroy the threat. And no weapon we have is now off the table. What is our problem no one FEARS us and we have to have people do that to get the security we need. If these animals want a total war and terror we should show them why attacking us is not a wise move. Unleash our fury and overreact was exactly what was needed but in a way that they would never have expected.
"What will the future hold for mankind? What is the answer?" Enlightening post. It is possible that there is no answer, but possibilities. "We stand on the brink of a new era. The new Millenia is now into its ninth year. What will we offer to the next generation? A life of hope or one of terror. We have the choice" Does humankind have the will to unite and carry out the choice?
Thank you, The purpose of the post is not to state that there is an answer. If there is one, than I'll be damned if I know. But hopefully it will provoke others to think. Incidently, I know a man who survived the attack on Hiroshima. He is as sweet and gentile a man as they come. He was a child when that happened. It is very sad that children will suffer so often for the crimes of adults.
" If there is one, than I'll be damned if I know. But hopefully it will provoke others to think." We may not agree on certain aspects of society or philosophies, but your posts are thought provoking ( that would be boring if we always did agree ). Damned not if you did not know
Whatever justification Japan had going to war, they had no justification for the way that they prosecuted it. It is interesting that the Japanese still do not have access to the truth about Japanese artrocities like the German do about the Nazis. Many Japanese war criminals were spared. The issue between Japan and China over Shanghai is still not resolved. The Japanese war criminals who tested chemical weapons on human beings went on to successful business careers. It may be unfortunate for them that money cannot buy a new conscience on your deathbed. It is true that there is no honour in war, just dreadful misery, but Japan took the misery to a whole different level at that time. The people of Japan, like the Germans, have moved on and it is a peaceful nation. How did a nation that honoured war become a peaceful nation? What intervention occurred? Perhaps it might be the postwar occupation and rebuilding process? Maybe it was the new freedoms and democracy that they were given? Sure the US developed the atomic bomb, but the Germans had a program as well. The Russians had not let the dream go as well. It was fortunate that that the US got there first. I might also add that British scientists were also supporting the development of the bomb with the US. The US was not alone. The Japanese were not interested, they were trying to develop a death ray. Fortunately, that failed too. Roosevelt was a very ill man when he met with Stalin and did not get the postwar German map right. He trusted Stalin, a mistake for sure. Overall, Roosevelt got far more right than wrong and was an extraordinary leader for the US and the world. I am not a US citizen, but I wonder where my parents and grandparents would have been without him? We fought hard, but we are a small nation. I am not always a fan of US policy. There have been some great blunders over the years, but, if not for the US, freedom may be a goal, not a reality for many. There remains a constant threat as there will always be bullies. Freedom undefended disappears. Peace can only be assured if the bullies are contained by force. It would be wonderful if they could be converted to a different path, but there is little precedent for this occurring in the history of man. Now, if we can only stop whaling in the Southern Ocean!!
Exactly. As for the a-bomb, my father and uncles would probably have been among the soldiers who had to invade mainland Japan, so I think it's obvious how I feel.
I do not believe Einstein ever worked on atomic weapons (or if he did it must have been very minimal). He did however sign a letter to Roosevelt supporting devolopment of atomic weapons.
1. Thank you Robert Oppenheimer & Crew 2. Thank You Jimmy Byrnes 3. Thank you Paul Tibbets and Crew 4. If the U.S. had not developed the bomb, there would still be a bomb today. Should the U.S. apologize for doing so? Not one damn bit. 5. Go find some vivid photographs of how Singapore civilians were used for bayonet practice. 6. Look at the time tables for the invasion of Japan. 7. In before people begin to say the U.S. should not have ever done so.
Many years ago, I had the honor of meeting General Charles Sweeney, who piloted Bockscar, the B-29 that dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. During his speech, he said he'd answer one of the most frequent questions he's asked; he said he sleeps fine at night, and has no regrets. He said something to the effect of "If what I did played even a small part in saving the lives of Americans, it was worth it". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_W._Sweeney
You meet Charles Sweeny, you both were soldiers in the military, served your country, worked to save lives ( in his case saved more lives than lost ), he was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, you attended UMASS Lowell, he attended Boston University, you work in Boston,Ma. Coincidence? Are you sure you don't want to run for a seat in the house of representatives? Congressman Tait
While I am thinking about it, ask the former Kamikazi pilot about the fact that many Japanese combat pilots thought that they were idiots. There were some significant divisions in the Japanese thinking on this issue. Perhaps he also could be asked about the loading of the Kamikazi pilots with amphetamines. Things were not also as the propaganda would have people believe. It is interesting that the US gets the kick over the loss of lives because of the atomic bomb. There is no mention about the lack of respect for life by the Japanese Government at the time. They were prepared to sacrifice the lives of their countrymen right down to the wire. They refused to surrender and wanted Japanese women and children to die for their egocentric concept of honour. They told the Japanese civilians lies about the US forces on Okinawa and encouraged them to suicide. The firebombing of Japan created more losses than the A- bomb, but that was OK as long as they did not surrender. They had no respect for the lives of their countrymen and women, or for anybody else. A friend of mine, a former Australian Air Force Officer, visited a war museum in Japan recently and came back furious. There was a display about the Burma Railway, where countless Australians were worked to death or murdered by the guards. There was no mention of this in the museum. The Burma Railway was held up as a marvellous bit of Japanese engineering during the war. He almost attacked the exhibit. It was grossly offensive. The truth is still not being told. I admit that I am biased on the military virtues of Japan in WW 2. My father had three campaigns against the Japanese forces which left him physically sick for the rest of his life. I also had two cousins as Japanese Prisoners of War. One came back blind as a result. They tried to work and starve my cousins to death in a Japanese coal mine, but the Japanese miners used to feed them when they could. The miners and the prisoners would have been executed if they were found out. Obviously, they did not see the Japanese Military as the victims of the US or the allies. The end of the war freed these people from a ruthless and soul deprived government. I also wish to add that life moves on. My nephew has a Japanese wife and she is a great asset to our family. I just wish that the Japanese were told some of the truth, instead of the propaganda about a wronged Japan.
"While I am thinking about it, ask the former Kamikazi pilot about the fact that many Japanese combat pilots thought that they were idiots. Perhaps he also could be asked about the loading of the Kamikazi pilots with amphetamines. Things were not also as the propaganda would have people believe." - I wish I could, he passed away years ago. Amphetamines were widely distributed among the soldiers of Japan. However, there was more to it than taking a drug. "It is interesting that the US gets the kick over the loss of lives because of the atomic bomb." Atrocities were being committed by the Japanese, It was a horrible war and human life was lost across the board. There is no excuse for what the Japanese did at the time and I think the A bombs were probably necessary. I believe that an even greater amount of human life would have been lost and more American soldiers would have died if not for the Atomic bombs. However, I hope that one day the world can settle their differences without the use of nuclear weapons or human lives. "There is no mention about the lack of respect for life by the Japanese Government at the time." - There were many Japanese who were forced by their government to commit suicide. Children were being trained to fight. "They were prepared to sacrifice the lives of their countrymen right down to the wire. They refused to surrender and wanted Japanese women and children to die for their egocentric concept of honour." One thing about the A-bomb, is that it killed countless women and children. However, if not for the bomb, the Japanese government would turn Japanese civilians against the allied forces. Thus the loss of countless lives. "They told the Japanese civilians lies about the US forces on Okinawa and encouraged them to suicide. The firebombing of Japan created more losses than the A- bomb, but that was OK as long as they did not surrender. They had no respect for the lives of their countrymen and women, or for anybody else." - Yes that is exactly what happened in part. A lot of women and children also died of illness taking shelter and being forced to live deep below the caves in Okinawa. A friend of mine, a former Australian Air Force Officer, visited a war museum in Japan recently and came back furious. There was a display about the Burma Railway, where countless Australians were worked to death or murdered by the guards. There was no mention of this in the museum. The Burma Railway was held up as a marvellous bit of Japanese engineering during the war. He almost attacked the exhibit. It was grossly offensive. The truth is still not being told. I admit that I am biased on the military virtues of Japan in WW 2. "My father had three campaigns against the Japanese forces which left him physically sick for the rest of his life. I also had two cousins as Japanese Prisoners of War. One came back blind as a result. " - One of the reasons why I voted for John Mccain and donate to the republican party ( not just mccain but my uncle who fought in the Vietnam war ) My uncle worked with Ronald Reagan during the 80's on certain policy issues . I honor their service as soldiers, republicans, and public servants. "The end of the war freed these people from a ruthless and soul deprived government." - Unfortunately, many Japanese civilians after the war were forced by the Japanese military to commit suicide. I also wish to add that life moves on. My nephew has a Japanese wife and she is a great asset to our family. "I just wish that the Japanese were told some of the truth, instead of the propaganda about a wronged Japan" - The propaganda goes on today in the schools. There is a greater effort by the ministry of education to stimulate patriotism and changing school curriculum to improve the image of Japan and suppress negative aspects of Japanese history.
