The Atomic Bomb

Mom's basement has been kind hasnt it? Its a mighty nice free world we live in. Its tough to remember a time when acceptance and embracing open conflict, killing, and the military lifestyle were popular and wide-spread. Its a different world we live in today and THATS the perspective shift you need to think about.

In Japan in 1945 the people were starving. 60% of the male population including 90% of the fighting age male population were abroad. Japan's paper cities had been ruined by a steady year of unrelenting bombing. More people died in one night of firebombing over Tokyo than died in the atomic blast at Nagasaki. In spite of all this Japan fought with the resolve of a nation whose heritage was one of an island who never throughout history had been invaded by foreign forces. The people followed the Emperor like a god. In spite of whatever behind the scenes political-military bickering there ocurred the official public policy was still to fight to the death. Civilians on Tinian elected suicide over surrender by jumping off cliffs in full view of approaching US Marines. Civilians on Okinawa had joined the Japanese forces in open insurgency contributing to the wholesale attrition of US forces. Every incident therein pointed towards a militarily radicalized population.

The advantage the Atom bomb gave the Americans was that above all else it fundamentally shook the belief system of the Japanese population and military- now nearly synonomous entities. Americans were 'inferior' and defeatable so long as they could be seen, touched, and shot at. Now after months of surviving a furious bombing campaign which, they hoped, would inevitabely precede an American invasion, the dropping of the Atomic bomb signalled to the Japanese people that their nation could be destroyed without an ounce of Allied blood being spilled. Suddenly there was no enemy to fight. The only promise was sure and swift destruction so long as they continued to resist.

In reality America only had three functioning atomic weapons. One was tested at Los Alamos and the two others were deployed as we all know in combat. There were none left and it would have taken months to produce yet another. It was the biggest US military gamble since Normandy. The end result was however to completely deflate a nation bent on ultimate sacrifice for the defence of the Empire. This was the real situation on the ground. There is no wool pulled over anyones eyes. The United States of America was no blood thirsty savage bent on using a new weapon for the hell of it. These decisions were made simply because grandiose political decisions in a time of world war neccesarily involved the caluclated gamble of human lives in the millions. No such political environment exists anymore. Indeed it is impossible to conceptualize it. Hence why mom;s basement must seem like a cozy place to pass judegment on an era which you cannot even begin  to imagine.

"Believe something different = Must live in moms basement. Great logic. Personal attacks really add some juice to your argument. "

"So we meet again. Obi Wan was wise to help you disappear from the intranets."

Oh was that a personal attack I saw there? I guess hypocrisy joins ignorance as a weapon in your arsenal of stupidity. I wouldnt usually attack someone personally for the sake of an argument. In your case though you make it too easy.

"Also everybody makes a huge deal out of pearl harbor. That might be the most over hyped in the history of hyped events. I mean it obviously sucked that Americans died, I'm not saying I'm happy about that. From a logistical standpoint it makes perfect sense to attack a nations military bases when there's shit goin down. We bomb military bases all the time, nbd. It's like yup, we got another one, YEA AMERICA. Then somebody blows up one American naval base and it's like it's the worst thing that could have ever possibly happened to America. It just get's way to much hype."

From a logistical standpoint it does make sense to attack bases... In 1941 it was usually preceded by a declaration of war though. That is why it was such an outrage, because it was unprovoked. America was neutral and a non-party to the war. Japan exclusively attacked for imperialistic purposes (Before you respond don't even try to make modern comparisons where there has been no declaration on the part of the USA. This was how thigns were done back then it is not now.)

Its OK to disagree boss, these guys fought for your right to do so. Just bring some solid reasoning along before you stir shit up around a sensitive topic. There are objective minded people here who are disagreeing with you, not because we don't like you. Its just because you are wrong.

Dude... fuck. Their most optomistic "game plan" still envisaged hundreds of thousands dead on both side. Those numbers were conservative. "Just let them stay home and do their own shit there" OK if The USA had backed off that might've been fine. Too bad Japan would have been joining the Russkies on the other side of the Iron Curtain in time for the 1950's. Hell of a party that would have been!

You're an idiot.

You guys are all missing the real question here.

Giggles, you are making the Canadian educational system look retarded. I learned about this stuff in the 9th grade. Maybe you are just a dumbass.