Yet again, this “comic” is more of a history lesson. I say that with admiration—some editorial cartoonists simply spout partisan arguments and attack opponents. This one actually teaches. The lessons are sometimes sobering, sometimes funny, but always instructive. I had to look up “Kyoto” to learn the story of Secretary of War Stimson and his successful effort to have Kyoto taken off the target list, and as a result learned yet another bit of history. Ambiguous history, to be sure (although Kyoto was a “legitimate military target” it was also a cultural/historical center, so other cities—Hiroshima and Nagasaki among them—which really had no “military significance”, were added to the list, so Japanese civilians were exterminated but Japanese cultural history was preserved) but a good historian (like Mr. Carroll) always pushes us to learn more, to reconsider, to continue the quest of trying to figure out what we are really all about. Excellent work, sir.
When do we learn about the Japanese government’s unwillingness to surrender? Going so far as to train schoolchildren to kill troops on the landing grounds? About the Emperor realizing that even his goose was cooked and breaking protocol by finally speaking up?
The Japanese did not have a nuclear capability. They were working on it, but in a haphazard way. A country that was starved for steel and other resources before the war was not going to be suddenly building lots of centrifuges or gaseous diffusion elements. Some of the bs about this is from US people trying to justify the use of nuclear weapons, and some of it was Japanese face-saving.
Stimson does deserve credit for getting Kyoto off the list. And then getting it off again when somebody put it back on. He knew that the cultural value of Kyoto was more important than having yet another burned city. It was he who pointed out that there wasn’t really much moral difference between the nuclear weapons and the massive fire-bombing of cities like Tokyo.
Cool! Many well informed comments this week. Mr. Carroll, you seem to attract an educated, thoughtful audience minus the partisan drivel usually posted in the comment section of political cartoons.
Of course one has to acknowledge that Mutually Assured Destruction has kept the peace for 73 years. There would probably have been a Third World War with out it.
thebashfulone almost 6 years ago
Yet again, this “comic” is more of a history lesson. I say that with admiration—some editorial cartoonists simply spout partisan arguments and attack opponents. This one actually teaches. The lessons are sometimes sobering, sometimes funny, but always instructive. I had to look up “Kyoto” to learn the story of Secretary of War Stimson and his successful effort to have Kyoto taken off the target list, and as a result learned yet another bit of history. Ambiguous history, to be sure (although Kyoto was a “legitimate military target” it was also a cultural/historical center, so other cities—Hiroshima and Nagasaki among them—which really had no “military significance”, were added to the list, so Japanese civilians were exterminated but Japanese cultural history was preserved) but a good historian (like Mr. Carroll) always pushes us to learn more, to reconsider, to continue the quest of trying to figure out what we are really all about. Excellent work, sir.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
When do we learn about the Japanese government’s unwillingness to surrender? Going so far as to train schoolchildren to kill troops on the landing grounds? About the Emperor realizing that even his goose was cooked and breaking protocol by finally speaking up?
Gary Williams Premium Member almost 6 years ago
What most people do not realize is Japan had nuclear capability but had not solved the problem of size and the ability to deliver the bomb.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member almost 6 years ago
The Japanese did not have a nuclear capability. They were working on it, but in a haphazard way. A country that was starved for steel and other resources before the war was not going to be suddenly building lots of centrifuges or gaseous diffusion elements. Some of the bs about this is from US people trying to justify the use of nuclear weapons, and some of it was Japanese face-saving.
Stimson does deserve credit for getting Kyoto off the list. And then getting it off again when somebody put it back on. He knew that the cultural value of Kyoto was more important than having yet another burned city. It was he who pointed out that there wasn’t really much moral difference between the nuclear weapons and the massive fire-bombing of cities like Tokyo.
Scoutmaster77 almost 6 years ago
Cool! Many well informed comments this week. Mr. Carroll, you seem to attract an educated, thoughtful audience minus the partisan drivel usually posted in the comment section of political cartoons.
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 6 years ago
By the way, today is the 44th anniversary of King Richard the Nix’s abdication…
ChristopherBurns almost 6 years ago
Of course one has to acknowledge that Mutually Assured Destruction has kept the peace for 73 years. There would probably have been a Third World War with out it.