Japan demands apology for Atomic Bombs

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/08/04/atomic-apology-send-delegation-hiroshima-bomb-memorial/?test=latestnews#content
from JoeUser Forums

Be careful with the title of the article for it is misleading.  Its actually the Japanese who are demanding the apology.  The U.S. does not plan on apologizing, which I don't think we should. 

UNLESS, Japan apologizes for Pearl Harbor with the Emperor in Pearl Harbor apologizing for it.  Then also apologize for all the Chinese and the other Islanders that they killed or ran their crazy experiments on.

The other thing that almost always gives me an aneurysm is when I hear people say that it wasn't necessary to drop two bombs onto Japan.  Most of these individuals seem to conveniently forget history.  First, we just got done doing some major island hopping and some pretty intense battles basically on the scale of D-Day for each island.  Second, when we finally got close enough to Japan, we bombed them with all the conventional bombs that we had and made an an ultimatum to the Japanese to surrender on July 27 1945.  IN THIS WARNING we told them that we have a new weapon of tremendous strength and that we will use it if they don't surrender.  When we heard nothing, we decided on August 6th to take action. 

Before that event on August 6th and after that event, lead me to my fourth point.  Fourth, during the month of July and June the U.S saw a major increase in kamikaze planes.  Even during the signing of the surrender, the Emperor of Japan had to issue a decree that there would be no kamikaze plane attacks.  This should show how loyal the Japanese were to their cause.  Nationalism had truly swept over them and they were saturated with it.

After dropping the first bomb on August 6th, some may say that a second one shouldn't have been dropped.  Let's look at that, we waited three days to drop the second and it ONLY TOOK them ONE DAY after the second one to say 'we surrender'.  Yes, we could have given them more time than 3 days, but World War 2 was a long brutal war and the fact that they responded so quickly after the second one was dropped seems to show that they weren't totally prepared to surrender after the first one hit the ground.  One further thing, after we dropped the first one, we did warn Japan that we had another one that was equally as strong or stronger.

Should we apologize for dropping the Atomic bomb on Japan?  If the Japanese apologize for the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and their other actions I think the U.S should think it over.

Is an apology neccessary?

4,449 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

You do a good job of an eagle eye view of what was going on at the time, but miss some very relevant points. 

1. Operation Overlord was expected to commence in November 1945 (more than 2 months after the official surrender) and American casualties were anticipated at over 1 million.  The number of Japanese casualties (civilian and military) was estimated to be more than twice that.  The invasion of the main island was planned for March 1946, fully half a year later.  In addition, Japan still had over 5000 kamikaze planes ready to go to defend the homeland. They also still had a formidable fleet that was being geared up for kamikaze runs on American troop ships.

2. After the first bomb was dropped, the military leaders of Japan noted that the bomb exploded in the air, and started making plans to dig underground, not surrender!  It was Emperor Hirohito that said enough after the second bomb, and at that he at least still was the divine emperor.

So the ones who are crying crocodile tears should realize that the (less than) 200,000 casualties that occurred from the dropping of the bombs saved more than 30 fold lives in comparison.  While we do not often associate atomic weapons with the saving of lives, the undeniable fact is that they did.  And they also made sure that the world was horrified enough that none have been used since.  A threat is an empty threat until one understands the magnitude of the threat.

The leaders who started the war and caused all the death and destruction are long since dead.  There is no need for any more apologies.  It is time to remember the day that global war became unthinkable.  And to give thanks that the bomb was used to end a war - not start a war or win a war of aggression.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

Is an apology neccessary?
End of quote
Absolutely not, but not for the reason that most people would think.

It has nothing to do with whether the Japanese apologize for Pearl Harbor or not.

And yes we dropped *two* atomic bombs on Japan and the only reason that we did so was because they were too stupid to surrender after having only dropped *one* atomic bomb on Japan.

But again none of the above matters. The real reason why the US owes Japan no apology for dropping atomic bomb(s) on them is because compared to the alternative doing so was a *kindness*. Dropping atomic bombs on two minor Jananese cities was like an angioplasty compared to the open heart quadruple bypass surgery that would have resulted had we actually had to invade the main island of Japan and there is no doubt whatsoever that without an atomic bomb or two dropped on their heads that was exactly what would have been required.

So no, the US should not apologize for dropping atomic bombs on Japan. If anything Japan should thank the US for doing so because by doing so literally millions of Japanese lives were spared.

Plus if you need another reason just watch http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/251888.

 

 

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Mumblefratz, reply 2

Is an apology neccessary?Absolutely not, but not for the reason that most people would think.
It has nothing to do with whether the Japanese apologize for Pearl Harbor or not.

And yes we dropped *two* atomic bombs on Japan and the only reason that we did so was because they were too stupid to surrender after having only dropped *one* atomic bomb on Japan.

But again none of the above matters. The real reason why the US owes Japan no apology for dropping atomic bomb(s) on them is because compared to the alternative doing so was a *kindness*. Dropping atomic bombs on two minor Jananese cities was like an angioplasty compared to the open heart quadruple bypass surgery that would have resulted had we actually had to invade the main island of Japan and there is no doubt whatsoever that without an atomic bomb or two dropped on their heads that was exactly what would have been required.

So no, the US should not apologize for dropping atomic bombs on Japan. If anything Japan should thank the US for doing so because by doing so literally millions of Japanese lives were spared.

Plus if you need another reason just watch http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/251888.

 
End of Mumblefratz's quote

Mumblefratz, I actually totally agree with you here.  I am glad that we have finally found something to agree on and we can build off of this :-) WOOT WOOT!!!

Doc, the reason I didn't list the possible casualties is because its just hypothetical.  Though, with all the previous island battles I do feel that fighting on Japan (as Mumblefratz pointed out as well) would be way way more grandiose task/battle than probably in any other battle in WWII. 

I am just elated with Mumblefratz's comments! He made my day! :-D

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

Here's an interesting point... why now? I've noticed a few of these "apology" issues cropping up, on both a small and larger scale. Do the folks involved feel this is their best chance to actually get an apology from the US or a group within the US? Here you mention Japan, you also have the renewed black on white request for atonement, among others. Is this trend now in "fashion"? I realize much of it has already been there, perhaps it is just a perception that it seems to be intensifying.

What is the statute of limitations on all this? I know the Armenians are trying to get the Turks to apologize for atrocities after WWI (and the US Congress to condemn Turkey for it). The slavery issue in the US has now passed 150 years. Should Christians petition Rome for an apology for feeding them to the lions 2000 years ago? Personally, I believe if you can't get your apology within your generation, with at least 51% percent of those directly affected still surviving, let it go. That seems to be the problem, people can't let it rest and move forward. Remember the past to learn from it and not make the same (seems hard I know) mistakes in the future. There probably isn't a group in this world that doesn't have something to be sorry for or about.

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

hould Christians petition Rome for an apology for feeding them to the lions 2000 years ago?
End of quote

I am still looking for the apology from the Lions! ;)

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

I am still looking for the apology from the Lions!
End of quote

:rofl:  

You might get a *burp*, but I believe when dining on humans, lions are pretty secular on the issue.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

I think the title of this is misleading.  The only people in the article linked that are asking for an apology are members of the 'Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Associations'.  The only thing that a spokesman for the Japanese government said that was they were NOT demanding an apology.

 

(edit) also note

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan