The Hiroshima Shootings : Causes Of The Hiroshima Bombings

Have you ever questioned why and how the US government decided to drop those two nuclear bombs in Japan in the World War II? It is still a universal concern while many disapproval have made toward its humanity. In a book that I’ve read recently, from the point of view of an eyewitness, Yamaoka Michiko, the author of story “Eight hundred meters from the Hypocenter”, shows how humanity was exchanged with the ambition of a nation by reviving a heartbroken experience when she witnessed her hometown was destroyed by such a terrific violence in the war.

Shigetoshi Iwamatsu provides a firsthand account of Nagasaki’s suffering in August of 1945. He now teaches at Nagasaki University, explaining the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atrocities in the context of Japanese war crimes. Iwamatsu claims that since the Japanese did not possess a defending force, the attack was

Intense moral justification was needed in order to make the decision to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki however, President Truman was ultimately the man who made the final decision to launch ‘Little Boy’ and destroy Hiroshima, Nagasaki and their civilians, thus forcing an end to the war. Although there were many alternatives presented to President Truman, it is unknown as to whether they would have actually succeeded in ending the war or producing less casualties. Truman made the decision to drop these bombs in the heat of war but his justification of having a military target appeared extremely unrealistic, as both cities were full of innocent civilians. The morality of the bombs have been debated over the years, however the publication of the actual damage to civilian life caused a strong voice opposed to the usage in the 60 years following the action.

Before John Hersey’s novel, Hiroshima, Americans viewed Japanese as cruel and heartless people. This warped perspective caused the majority of American citizens to feel complacent about the use of the atomic bomb against civilians. Americans, in many ways, were blinded by their own ignorance to notice the severity of the destruction suffered by not only the city of Hiroshima but, more importantly, the people who lived there. The six testimonies in Hiroshima illustrate the strength and optimistic attitude of the Japanese people. In this essay, I will discuss the feelings towards the ethics surrounding the use of the atomic bomb, next I will look at two testimonies and how their lives

The relevance that the event still has on today’s society can be seen when Japan’s senior vice-minister for Economy Tadahiro Matsushita stated “Japan had caused tremendous damage and suffering to people of many countries, which was a cause of deep remorse and a heartfelt apology”.

The belief, subtly reinforced by racist stereotypes, that the behaviour of Japanese forces, from attacks on Chinese cities in 1937 through Pearl Harbour to the Bataan death march...nullified any humanitarian consideration for the Japanese people (Kyoko + Mark Selden, 1989, book)

Hiroshima and Nagasaki altered the course of world events by starting the Cold War, ushering advancements in technology, and by influencing cultures worldwide. Occurring on August 6 and August 9 in 1945, the bombing of the cities set of a series of events that would forever change history. The United States and the Soviet Union emerged from the war as superpowers with seemingly limitless power. Their ideologies, however, contrasted greatly, and the once allied nations would turn against each other, setting the entire world into a period of uncertainty. The atomic bomb, alone, would influence countless decisions, technologies, and policies in the following years and strike fear and awe into many around the world.

On August 8th 1945 the first atomic weapon, a fission bomb, was dropped on the city of Hiroshima in an attempt to force the Japanese to surrender in World War II (Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 2009). This event exposed the danger of nuclear energy. This massive explosion demolished 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people. This was only the beginning though, tens of thousands of innocent people died due to the aftermath of radiation exposure for another generation (Rosenberg, n.d). This day marks one of the most controversial in history. While some argue that Truman’s decision to drop the bomb was in America’s best interest, others question the ethics of dropping the most destructive weapon in the history of war on a city filled with innocent civilians (Pavlik 1995).

The events that contributed to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki all built up to the drastic effects the bombing had on Japan. Pearl harbour was a catalyst to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the way that it built up the feud between America and Japan. These events shaped the course of Japan for many years to come. The bombings having a destructive effect that will forever leave a permanent scar on Japanese history. The events that led to this destruction include the invasion of Manchuria, Japans reliance on foreign trade as well as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.

The horrific atom bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on August 6th and 9th of 1945 brought about several reactions in the United States. Starting with the controversial events leading up to the atomic with the Potsdam Proclamation, many Americans began to wonder whether the total destruction of these two cities were necessary. However, immediate American responses and reactions to the bombs were contrary to what they became later on. Americans slowly stopped being ignorant of what had happened in Japan and began to question the actions of their government; although, this questioning of such events was popular at first, they slowly accelerated to stronger beliefs today. Finally, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 has had major effects on America from the day of the bombing to present day United States

“Ethnic and cultural distinctions [resulted] in the formation of ‘in-group’ and ‘out-group’ thinking” during the Asian War time, creating increased tension and indifference between China and Japan in a time of war (Burgess). The Japanese Soldiers became the overpowering force in the war between the two societies, and when they were able to overtake Nanking, they thought the elimination of this ethnic group would protect their in-group. The “[p]erpetrators of genocide [felt] completely justified in their actions, and [drew] on local cultural or political values to curry favor” (Burgess). With tensions already at a high, the “Japanese Military condoned the murder of hundreds of thousands of Chinese Civilians” (Nanjing). The Japanese cultural values taught soldiers the notion that the only people in their Universe of Obligation were themselves and their government body, and that questioning either would lead to physical

The atomic bomb was initially created during the time period directly preceding, and including, World War II. Although the United States was the first nation to actually utilize this devastating weapon in a combat situation, it is significant to note that several other nations, including Russia and Germany, were also rapidly attempting to manifest the technology that could produce this devastating weapon. The U.S. utilized this weapon against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki within two days of each other to conclude the war with the triumph of the Allied powers. Japan was largely chosen as a target since it represented the last of the efforts of the Axis powers which included Germany and Italy to win World War II. The widespread destruction sown in both of the aforementioned cities, however, quickly led to Japan's surrender and the end of the war.

The conflict between the Allies and the Axis was a horrific and deadly one, which consisted of genocide and mass bombings. Innocent citizens were killed with the estimated sixty million casualties, which lead to the question as to the morality of the different actors—Germany, Japan, England and America— in WWII. In order to truly assess their guilt, meaning their moral innocence, each country will be measured upon the morality of their intent and execution of the different controversial mass killings that Germany (the Holocaust), Japan (Nanking), and the Allied forces (Dresden and Hiroshima) took part in. This hierarchy of evil can be judged upon how Japan’s tyranny and the Allies’ area bombing compare to the genocide performed by Germany. Similarly, these countries will be judged on the whether these different acts were premeditated versus in response to another act, as well as the proportionality to which these acts were carried out. This measurement of evil places each party on an overall scale, which depicts the total guilt that each country or countries deserve. WWII exemplifies that while war is an unavoidable aspect of human nature, there is no such thing as a just war. Similarly, while there is a definite hierarchy of morality between the different actors of WWII, each of the countries at play are immoral in their intent and execution of the attacks on opposing countries.

Would you kill a thousand to save millions? Well the drastic actions taken by the United States did save millions. There were two actions that had to occur to save the millions and end the war, the dropping of the two atomic bombs being the first of their kind were to be the most powerful bomb ever invented using atomic and nuclear forces so create it and packed over 20,000 tons of TNT and was about ten feet long. The bomber that transported and dropped them was called the 'Enola Gay’. The two Japanese cities’ that were struck by such creations were Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In this essay I will be discussing on how the actions taken by the United States of America were completely justified in dropping the two bombs as is established a future power image, saved millions, ended the war and ended the axis of evil.

Though Hiroshima 's bombing was a terrible disaster, it undoubtedly brought the Japanese community together. The terror was undeniable, yet through the destruction people sacrificed themselves to save others. In the novel Hiroshima, written by John Hersey, even though many of the main characters are injured, they still stop to help others. The acknowledgement of others pain and suffering and developing empathy and sympathy for them, having the strength to give up your desires for a moment, having respect for yourself and others are qualities of humans that compel them to help others even if there is nothing to gain. It is only when we put faith in ourselves and others that we truly help others.