Yep, America is the only known country to have dropped nuclear bombs onto their enemy. More than likely shortened the war by many months, possibly years. A few years ago, a Japanese soldier was found in the jungles, still fighting the war, he didn’t believe it had been over for decades.
On a personal note, the bomb was too late for one of my uncles that died in the Pacific, but it saved the lives of several other uncles. Thanks Harry. That’s what my Dad said last year with a tears in his eyes as we stood at Harry Truman’s grave site.
This guy has no honesty. Japan started and prosecuted a terrible war and had no intention of letting up until it destroyed either itself or the US. If the artist is trying to portray how some Americans feel, he/she is probably right, but that just shows the uselessness of the cartoon.
Here we go again with the annual “guilt trip” by Japan about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Memories so short with 7 decades after THEY bombed Pearl Harbor! We saved countless MILLIONS of lives and YEARS of prolonged war by those bombs. They started it. WE finished it!!!
The atomic bombs were terrible, but their use meant that my father and my uncles, and ten million other fathers, sons, uncles got to come home. It also meant that fifteen million Japanese got to wake up alive and to live good, lives filled with their families, and love. We did it. And good, bad or indifferent, it was necessary; the Japs were not going to surrender, not even after the second bomb at Nagasaki. As far as apologies are concerned, until the Japanese face their own blame for a war they started in 1937; the hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Koreans who were murdered in that war; the inhumane treatment of POW’s during that war, and the murder of unarmed civilians as well as military prisoners; the cartoon is just that a cartoon, a travesty and a lie.
As an historian with two grandfathers who served in the Pacific during WWII, I have to agree with the general sentiment concerning the use of Atomic weapons. What I find somewhat interesting is that you don’t hear much about the firebombing of Tokyo which killed more people than Hiroshima. If that didn’t comvince the Japanese I certainly understand the decision to use nuclear weapons.
My first “girlfriend” at age six, was born in a concentration camp, IN IDAHO! Her parents, AMERICAN CITIZENS, had been in prison for three years, after all their property had been seized, and sold. Years later, i found out the the local banker had purchased all their property at auction, and when they returned after the war, he sold it all back to them, business, homes, and ranch property, for the grand sum, of ONE DOLLAR! Not ALL Americans, even given the horror of WW II, lost sight of the fact that not all in a “group” are responsible for the actions of others.
Today, around the world, we blame the populace as “responsible” for the actions of their “leaders”. It is true of almost all Muslim nations, Israel, Iran, Pakistan, a large part of Africa, China, and, well you get the picture.
It IS appropriate to look at those “In charge” and yes, place blame for “bad actions”, WITHOUT discrediting a whole nation, or people.
Interesting though that those supporting those"bad actions" can’t see any wrongdoing, and are “offended”. They only widen the “brush”, and that is sad, also.
The important thing about this is to remember we don’t need to do the same thing to Iran, just so a few neo-cons can have the war they so desperately want.
I despise this generation’s belief that history started with them and they’ll believe it bass ackwardly and it’ll be true because they declare it so. And to think these are the children who will rule tomorrow….
Why not educate our kids to the fact that we denied the expanding Japanese empire access to the oil we had in the Philippines, you know that “property” we stole from Spain, with a war based on the loss of another battleship, in an apparent “accident”.
So how did we get from there to having the right wing pond scum stealing from the middle class to give tax breaks to accounts in the Cayman Islands.Bermuda, and Swiss bank accounts.
Estimated U.S. service deaths in the Pacific range from 100K to 160K. They lost their lives in a war the did not start. How many more should have made this sacrifice to avoid dropping nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
BTW Basim, not in ANY WAY excusing the atrocities the Japanese committed, or any culture, “us” or “them”. Have we learned that “extraordinary rendition” is NOT a trip to the ice cream shoppe??
I wonder if folks here realise that Sakai is also American and born to an American born father? Sakai doesn’t have to add to his cartoon caveats mentioning the atrocities the Japanese also committed in order to make his viewpoint valid. Some posters here are so anxious to express their outrage at the apparent criticism and hurt national pride by justifying their nation’s atrocity that they do not see that Sakai is simply expressing the shame America (or at least some Americans) does feel, whether you feel it was justified or not, as regards the bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. I see it as an American expressing a noble sentiment and should be celebrated as such on its anniversary date(s).
cjr53 almost 12 years ago
Yep, America is the only known country to have dropped nuclear bombs onto their enemy. More than likely shortened the war by many months, possibly years. A few years ago, a Japanese soldier was found in the jungles, still fighting the war, he didn’t believe it had been over for decades.
Michael Peterson Premium Member almost 12 years ago
Don’t forget Nanking … oh, wait, no, that was YOU
Larhof52 almost 12 years ago
On a personal note, the bomb was too late for one of my uncles that died in the Pacific, but it saved the lives of several other uncles. Thanks Harry. That’s what my Dad said last year with a tears in his eyes as we stood at Harry Truman’s grave site.
leaman100 almost 12 years ago
Sorry Japan, but American who knows their history is not sorry.
aerilim almost 12 years ago
If the artist have any decency. he should apologize by drawing Japan pulling Pearl Harbor"s coward attack by a big chain.
mcdeng Premium Member almost 12 years ago
This guy has no honesty. Japan started and prosecuted a terrible war and had no intention of letting up until it destroyed either itself or the US. If the artist is trying to portray how some Americans feel, he/she is probably right, but that just shows the uselessness of the cartoon.
Don Winchester Premium Member almost 12 years ago
Here we go again with the annual “guilt trip” by Japan about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Memories so short with 7 decades after THEY bombed Pearl Harbor! We saved countless MILLIONS of lives and YEARS of prolonged war by those bombs. They started it. WE finished it!!!
44lefty almost 12 years ago
The atomic bombs were terrible, but their use meant that my father and my uncles, and ten million other fathers, sons, uncles got to come home. It also meant that fifteen million Japanese got to wake up alive and to live good, lives filled with their families, and love. We did it. And good, bad or indifferent, it was necessary; the Japs were not going to surrender, not even after the second bomb at Nagasaki. As far as apologies are concerned, until the Japanese face their own blame for a war they started in 1937; the hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Koreans who were murdered in that war; the inhumane treatment of POW’s during that war, and the murder of unarmed civilians as well as military prisoners; the cartoon is just that a cartoon, a travesty and a lie.
Gladius almost 12 years ago
As an historian with two grandfathers who served in the Pacific during WWII, I have to agree with the general sentiment concerning the use of Atomic weapons. What I find somewhat interesting is that you don’t hear much about the firebombing of Tokyo which killed more people than Hiroshima. If that didn’t comvince the Japanese I certainly understand the decision to use nuclear weapons.
Dtroutma almost 12 years ago
My first “girlfriend” at age six, was born in a concentration camp, IN IDAHO! Her parents, AMERICAN CITIZENS, had been in prison for three years, after all their property had been seized, and sold. Years later, i found out the the local banker had purchased all their property at auction, and when they returned after the war, he sold it all back to them, business, homes, and ranch property, for the grand sum, of ONE DOLLAR! Not ALL Americans, even given the horror of WW II, lost sight of the fact that not all in a “group” are responsible for the actions of others.
Today, around the world, we blame the populace as “responsible” for the actions of their “leaders”. It is true of almost all Muslim nations, Israel, Iran, Pakistan, a large part of Africa, China, and, well you get the picture.
It IS appropriate to look at those “In charge” and yes, place blame for “bad actions”, WITHOUT discrediting a whole nation, or people.
Interesting though that those supporting those"bad actions" can’t see any wrongdoing, and are “offended”. They only widen the “brush”, and that is sad, also.
rowena28 Premium Member almost 12 years ago
Wow, talk about selective memory. Seriously, Japan? No recollection of Pearl Harbor?
SaltWaterCroc almost 12 years ago
The important thing about this is to remember we don’t need to do the same thing to Iran, just so a few neo-cons can have the war they so desperately want.
eadn almost 12 years ago
I despise this generation’s belief that history started with them and they’ll believe it bass ackwardly and it’ll be true because they declare it so. And to think these are the children who will rule tomorrow….
Dtroutma almost 12 years ago
Why not educate our kids to the fact that we denied the expanding Japanese empire access to the oil we had in the Philippines, you know that “property” we stole from Spain, with a war based on the loss of another battleship, in an apparent “accident”.
rockngolfer almost 12 years ago
So how did we get from there to having the right wing pond scum stealing from the middle class to give tax breaks to accounts in the Cayman Islands.Bermuda, and Swiss bank accounts.
pirate227 over 11 years ago
An object lesson in what happens when you awaken a sleeping giant.
Gladius over 11 years ago
Estimated U.S. service deaths in the Pacific range from 100K to 160K. They lost their lives in a war the did not start. How many more should have made this sacrifice to avoid dropping nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
BTW Basim, not in ANY WAY excusing the atrocities the Japanese committed, or any culture, “us” or “them”. Have we learned that “extraordinary rendition” is NOT a trip to the ice cream shoppe??
OmqR-IV.0 over 11 years ago
I wonder if folks here realise that Sakai is also American and born to an American born father? Sakai doesn’t have to add to his cartoon caveats mentioning the atrocities the Japanese also committed in order to make his viewpoint valid. Some posters here are so anxious to express their outrage at the apparent criticism and hurt national pride by justifying their nation’s atrocity that they do not see that Sakai is simply expressing the shame America (or at least some Americans) does feel, whether you feel it was justified or not, as regards the bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. I see it as an American expressing a noble sentiment and should be celebrated as such on its anniversary date(s).