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:: Saturday, November 7th, 2009Toward Democracy
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Hiroshima and Empire
08/06/06 · 12:41 pm :: posted by Zep
"'As the bomb fell over Hiroshima and exploded, we saw an entire city disappear. I wrote in my log the words: 'My God, what have we done?'" Capt Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay
Today, August 6, is the 61st anniversary of the United States' bombing of Hiroshima, destroying the city, killing at least 140,000 of its people, and damaging countless others, including future generations.Last month Dennis Kucinich, (D, Cleveland), introduced HR 950, stating "That the House of Representatives calls upon the President to initiate multilateral negotiations for the aboliton of nuclear weapons." Kucinich pointed out that there are currently 30,000 nuclear weapons in the world, and the only way to prevent nuclear destruction is to get rid of them.
Jonathan Schell, author of The Fate of the Earth, the 1982 best seller that inspired the Nuclear Freeze movement, has a cover story in the August 14/21 of The Nation, titled "Too Late for Empire."
Schell includes the following quote, referring to World War II: "At war's end we were physically the strongest nation on earth and, at least potentially the most powerful intellectually and morally. Ours could have been the honor of being a beacon in the desert of destruction, a shining living proof that civilization was not ready to destroy itself. Unfortunately, we have failed misarably and tragically to arise to the opportunity."
A disillusioned U.S. citizen today? No, the speaker was Senator Joseph McCarthy, in Wheeling, West Virginia, announcing in February 1950 his list of Communists in the State Department. In a later speech he referred to "men high in this Government [who] are concerting to deliver us to disaster."
Discredited though McCarthy has been, perhaps he simply had a vision of the future and fingered the wrong men at the wrong time.
Photo above: Ground Zero in Hiroshima remains today as a silent testimony to the bomb's destructive power.
EDITOR's NOTE: The Yarmouth Friends (Quaker) Meeting has traditionally observed August 6th, Hiroshima Day, as a day to remember the tragic human cost of war and to re-commit ourselves to the cause of peace. They are holding a Landlelight Vigil this evening at 8pm, see the story here.
9 comments
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Walter Brooks [Member] writes:
"What has kept the world safe from the bomb since 1945 has not been deterrence, in the sense of fear of specific weapons, so much as it's been memory. The memory of what happened at Hiroshima." John Hersey
Monponsett [Member] writes:
I'm proud of Truman. The Japs had it coming, and they've been as cooperative as serfs ever since.
If you grab a tiger by the tail, you forfeit all Bitching Privileges when it turns around and rips your fool head off.
People less insane than I will tell you that we'd have killed a lot more Japanese with an invasion than we did by knocking down a couple of their coastal industrial cities.
Hell, I'd have dropped a few more on 'em, just to make sure the Chinese understood the lesson. They'd have done the same thing to us, so eff 'em.
If you grab a tiger by the tail, you forfeit all Bitching Privileges when it turns around and rips your fool head off.
People less insane than I will tell you that we'd have killed a lot more Japanese with an invasion than we did by knocking down a couple of their coastal industrial cities.
Hell, I'd have dropped a few more on 'em, just to make sure the Chinese understood the lesson. They'd have done the same thing to us, so eff 'em.
capecodtalk.com [Member] writes:
McCarthy was a true American hero.
Maybe you should have included his whole quote, Zep:
"The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our only powerful, potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this nation."
You seemed to have left that part off.
How odd.
Maybe you should have included his whole quote, Zep:
"The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our only powerful, potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this nation."
You seemed to have left that part off.
How odd.
The Yarmouth Taxpayer [Member] writes:
The lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki kept the Super Powers in line during the Cold War. I only hope the same holds true in the present war, WWW III. This war against Islamic Fascism. The dropping of the” BOMB “ saved millions of lives just as it destroyed millions of lives. Only continued pressure on terrorism will defeat the Islamic Fascists in their quest to rule the world. Thank you to those who have fought in past wars and God Bless our young men and woman who are fighting this war.
Monponsett [Member] writes:
Nah... I'd use the bomb in a second, and I have a whole brood.
Monponsett [Member] writes:
That's why we should use the bomb more. Why waste the time/lives of a perfectly good generation of American kids?
Balboa [Member] writes:
The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; much like the firebombing of Dresden are horrific reminders of what war is. Unfortunately, war is sometimes necessary. Japan and Germany could not under any circumstances be allowed to win WWII, simple as that. You have to look at things in historical perspective.
Capri, I appreciate what you say! Unfortunately, it's a shame that the mother's of our foes (Islamists) think nothing of sending their children off with explosives strapped to their bodies.
Capri, I appreciate what you say! Unfortunately, it's a shame that the mother's of our foes (Islamists) think nothing of sending their children off with explosives strapped to their bodies.
Monponsett [Member] writes:
"Warfare is cruelty... there's no sense in trying to reform it. The more cruel it is, the quicker it will be over."
- General Sherman
- General Sherman
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Yet America made that one happen. Is Iraq very different today than "Ground Zero" in Hiroshima.