http://www.economist.com/obituary/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15268228
Since we were discussing in class whether justice was served by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this article might change the way some of us felt. Do share your views.
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To begin with something that has no link with the question, what happened to Tsutomu Yamaguchi would be considered as comic if it happened in a cartoon. (sadistic me)
ReplyDeleteGoing on to the main point, I feel that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has definitely done no justice to the Japanese victims. However, from another point of view, it would do the rest of the world no justice if the war was not ended now and then.
I think somehow it still goes down to the question about retribution. The Japanese soldiers have done A LOT of cruel things on their war victims during the war, which is even more than those who died from the atomic bombs (although that doesn't mean those people who died from the atomic bomb deserved it because they are 'paying their lives to other war victims') SO the question is: What is justice to other war victims whom the Japanese have killed/tortured during the war?
When one side felt that they received justice, the other side would definitely feel that they are unjustified, so I don't really feel that there can be an 'absolute justice' where everyone feel that it is justified.
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ReplyDeleteWas justice served by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
ReplyDeleteAlthough Japan collectively is to be blamed for starting the war, it was an injustice to kill the civillians in the two cities as they are innocent. The common people did nothing wrong and yet were made to pay for the crimes of the generals and politicians who supported the war.
It is worth noting that the war would have dragged on without the atomic bombings as nationalistic pride would motivate those military officials and politicians to continue fighting, hence resulting in larger casualties and damages.
Therefore, while the bombings were considered a necessary evil that brought justice to the countries occupied by Japan, they were unjust to the Japanese civillians.
ZX
I think that what happened to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki residents was totally disastrous and horrifying. They were slaughtered in milliseconds after the atomic bombs were dropped by US air forces, which was the only comfort to them because they died a quick death. Although Japan was one of the aggressors that started the arduous and life consuming World War II, the people in these two Japanese cities should not have suffered such a fate due to a major lack of insight in the part of the government.
ReplyDeleteJapan entered the war on Germany's and Italy's side, a major failure, and paid the heavy price of watching helplessly as Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed within a short period of four days. I think that the government should have been duly punished instead of the poor citizens of Japan. They were the ones who carried out their expansionist policy in the first place, not the people. All of the country's men were drafted into their army to aid in their war in the Asia-Pacific region. The soldiers were not to be blamed. They were conscripted into the army and faced capital punishment should they attempt to escape from this duty to the country. They had no choice, and the soldiers of the deceased families in the pair of unfortunate cities that were bombed and obliterated completely had to suffer doubly. Thus, whenever a country declares war on another, its government should pay the hefty price if it loses the war, not its citizens. The governments should spare a thought for people who hate war and are disgusted with the thought of it, not submerge immediately into the deep abyss of war and only thinking about how to get out when it is too late.