Koizumi's latest war apology

[Kaminari]

In sum, when the decision to use little boy and fat boy, the atomic bombs, was made
* Japan had already acknowledged her defeat
* There was no necessity for any invasion, blockades had starved Japan of the supplies that were necessary to continue to prosecute a war
* Japan was given no opportunity to avert the bombing of Nagasaki

Whatever might be said in support of dropping Little Boy over Hiroshima, there is no way possible to justify dropping Fat Boy over Nagasaki.

Japan was guilty of atrocities - in a war, who hasn't been? The Mai Lai massacre during the Vietnam war was perpetrated by America. The Incas and Mayans of South America were plundered and butchered by Spain. The North American Indians suffered similarly under the British and French. The natives of Tasmania exterminated by ... (at least, it cannot be claimed Australia, but only because Australia as such did not exist at the time.) Nor should the slave trade and its fallout be forgotten.

All this though does not excuse atrocities, and far more emphatically, it does not excuse glossing over and attempting to pretend that such things were not done. This, far more than a failure to apologise, is something that should be opposed. And it does dishonour those who attempt it.

Rant concluded.

 

[bluubear]

I agree with most of what you have said, Kaminari. However there are few points I disagree with still, especially with the "Japan had already acknowledged her defeat" point. I believe that some people in the government may have believed so, but Japan as a country was unable to deliver its decision due to internal division. There even appeared to be military leaders preparing to impose martial law on the country to continue the war. Though there are probably more to that - I will read more and come back to it later, prolly after exams.

I rest my case for now =p