session 8

[Anonymous]

I don't believe Truman truly knew the ramifications of his actions. The thought that was most likely at the forefront of his mind was, retaliation. Japan thinking that it could prevent war by starting one is kind of of assinine to me because there's always miscalculations in war and there's always the possibility of something going wrong which was in fact, the case. And seeing that this was the newest weapon of destruction, Truman acted; showing Japan that they couldn't bomb big bad America without getting worse in return. But the lives lost and the suffering for years to come after just gives me such conflicted emotions. In war, no one really wins.

[Anonymous]

It is very interesting - my grandfather was a Ship Commander in the US Navy and he guarded the the bomb the night before it was taken to be dropped. He never felt any sort of shame for that. He was very proud of what he did and how many lives he saved by helping in the effort. My sister did an interview with him when she was in 8th grade about his role in WWII and it was very interesting.

[Anonymous]

Well, it's good that people have a short memory. I'm sure people still remember it, but it's just easier on the soul if people would forgive and forget, and hopefully move on.

[Anonymous]

I thought session 8 was very informative. I think it is so interesting that a nation as small as Japan was powerful enough to threaten a giant like America. I am still baffled that they were brave enough to attack Pearl Harbor. Weren't they scared? Perhaps, they thought they were able to push Russia around that they could push America around too. I don't think they thought they were going to be defeated; no one goes into a war thinking that they will lose. Einstein mentioned that A-bomb was one of his greatest regret. But, if it wasn't for A-bomb, what would have happened to the world? Germans would have taken over the entire planet and everything would have gone ugly.

[Anonymous]

The perspective that Japan was protecting Asia and taking the role of responsibility was different from any that I have heard. I grew up with parents and family members who had strong disdain for Japan due to lots of suffering from the Japanese occupation of Korea. My parents refused to buy a Japanese car for 30 years, but now they own two Hondas. Times have changed and people slowly forget the past. Globalization and commerce give new opportunities to heal past wounds.

It was kind of strange that after Japan's defeat that the Americans and Japanese would be partying it up like they did.

[Anonymous]

With regards to the Atomic Bomb:
In college one of my teachers told a story about being taught by someone who was on Kennedy's cabinet during the Cuban Missle crisis. This cabinet member was talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis and what decisions were made etc. And during his class (when my teacher wa the college student) one of the classmates commented about how such-and-such should have been done instead. The cabinet member said something along the lines of "we did what we thought was best for America."

This has stayed with me. I'm almost certain that most people would do what they thought was best, no one (or very few people) are purposely making bad decisions. It's very easy for us to look back now and say what they should have done, but it couldn't have been an easy decision to make.

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