The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: twyacht on August 07, 2010, 08:07:33 AM
-
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/06/participates-hiroshima-memorial-time/
U.S. Participates in Hiroshima Memorial for First Time
Published August 06, 2010
Aug. 6: In this photo provided by the City of Hiroshima, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, center left, greets Hiroshima city's Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba on his arrival at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to attend the 65th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing in Hiroshima. The United States sent its first ever delegation to the ceremony marking the anniversary of the attacks.
A U.S. representative participated for the first time Friday in Japan's annual commemoration of the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima, in a 65th anniversary event that organizers hope will bolster global efforts toward nuclear disarmament.
The site of the world's first A-bomb attack echoed with the choirs of schoolchildren and the solemn ringing of bells Friday as Hiroshima marked its biggest memorial yet. At 8:15 a.m. -- the time the bomb dropped, incinerating most of the city -- a moment of silence was observed.
Hiroshima's mayor welcomed Washington's decision to send U.S. Ambassador John Roos to Friday's commemoration, which began with an offering of water to the 140,000 who died in the first of two nuclear bombings that prompted Japan's surrender in World War II.
Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba is also hoping that President Barack Obama will visit Hiroshima, an idea that Obama has said he would like to consider but that would be highly controversial and unprecedented for a sitting U.S. president.
"We need to communicate to every corner of the globe the intense yearning of the survivors for the abolition of nuclear weapons," Akiba told the 55,000 people at the ceremony.
Akiba called on the Japanese government to take a leadership role in nuclear disarmament toward "turning a new page in human history."
"I offer my prayers to those who died -- we will not make you be patient much longer."
Along with the U.S., Britain and France also made their first official appearance at the memorial, as well as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Altogether, 74 nations were represented.
China, which sent a low-ranking official in 2008, was not participating. Officials said Beijing did not give a reason.
Hiroshima was careful to ensure that the memorial -- while honoring the dead -- emphasized a forward-looking approach, focusing not on whether the bombing was justified, a point which many Japanese dispute, but on averting any future nuclear attacks.
Roos said the memorial was a chance to show resolve toward nuclear disarmament, which Obama has emphasized as one of his administration's top objectives.
"For the sake of future generations, we must continue to work together to realize a world without nuclear weapons," Roos said in a statement.
Ban, who presented flowers at the Eternal Flame in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, said this year's memorial will send a signal to the world that nuclear weapons must be destroyed.
"Life is short, but memory is long," Ban said. "For many of you, that day endures ... as vivid as the white light that seared the sky, as dark as the black rains that followed."
Ban added that the time has come to move from "Ground Zero, to Global Zero" -- a world without any nuclear arms.
Washington's decision to attend the anniversary has been welcomed by Japan's government, but has generated complex feelings among some Japanese who see the bombing as unjustified and want the United States to apologize.
"I'm not sure if I would welcome President Obama here," said Katsuki Fujii, a 20-year-old college student. "I don't think we have the same idea what peace is. He seems to think some wars are good and some are bad -- I think they are all bad."
About 140,000 people were killed or died within months when the American B-29 "Enola Gay" bombed Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. Three days later, about 80,000 people died after the United States also bombed Nagasaki.
Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II.
The United States decided to drop the bombs because Washington believed it would hasten the end of the war and avert the need to wage prolonged and bloody land battles on Japan's main island. That concern was heightened by Japan's desperate efforts to control outlying islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa as the Allies closed in.
Concerns that attending the anniversary ceremony would reopen old wounds had kept the U.S. away until this year.
Former President Jimmy Carter visited Hiroshima's Peace Museum in 1984, years after he was out of office. The highest-ranking American to visit while in office is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who went in 2008. Roos also visited Hiroshima soon after assuming his post last year.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in Washington on Thursday that Obama believed "it would be appropriate to recognize this anniversary" by sending Roos to the annual memorial.
The State Department deemed the time was right to do so, and it was a chance to push Obama's own goal of nuclear disarmament.
At Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, where Friday's ceremony was held, leftist groups in trucks blared anti-U.S. slogans to the crowds.
"The bombing of Hiroshima was totally unnecessary," said one group. "U.S., take your nukes and go home."
Still, Obama remains a popular figure in Japan -- Obama T-shirts are on sale at the Peace Park's museum -- and many would welcome a visit.
Katsuko Nishibe, a 61-year-old peace activist, said she welcomed the decision to send Roos, but added that she thought it was dangerous to think that the bombing of Hiroshima was justified.
"We have a very different interpretation of history. But we can disagree about history and still agree that peace is what is important. That is the real lesson of Hiroshima."
***
I don't know what to say,..... my Grandfather, WWII Navy Veteran, is giving a finger from the grave on this one.
Bataan, Pearl Harbor, the war crimes against Koreans, Chinese, the atrocities committed by the Jap military? And THEY want US to APOLOGIZE???
Who posted we should hit em' again,...just for old times sake? >:(
Time to sell my Nissan.
-
After the 9/11 attack, I asked a couple I knew how their son reacted to us going to war in Afgan. I was worried the Viet Nam era anti-war movement might revive.
When I told them of my concerns, they laughed and said their son came home from school on 9/11 VERY angry and said we should nuke Afghanistan and then Nuke Japan again, just to show the world we don't forget.
On a similar note to this topic, I remember reading that the Smithsonian was making a display to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Japan. This was in 1995.
If I recall correctly, they had a description of the Japanese involvement in WWII as "A country fighting to preserve it's unique culture and heritage"
This was removed from the display after massive protests and actions by Veteran's groups and others.
-
President BHO's speech: "I sincerely apologize that we were forced to drop not one but two atomic bombs on your country to bring to an end a fight you started with an unprovoked attack of the United States Navy while resting in port, killing thousands of our people, on our Christian Sabbath."
:-[ Ooooops :-[ Color me red ... :-[ That would have been President Regan ... Sorry for getting your hopes up :-[
I picture Pres. BHO on his knees in Tokyo offering the blade and asking if they want to do him or he should just do it himself >:(
-
Hey, with the baffoon we have in office now, I think anything short of Japanesse repirations is a good thing. I would bet that Obama would have like to be there, but it is an election year... and he was probably just testing the waters by sending a rep.... Dont be surprised if he shows up next year and gives a speech.
-
Why apologize for sparing the lives of the other 860,000 civilians who were not killed in an all out invasion ?
Invasion plans (Operation Sunrise IIRC ) projected 1 million civilian casualties , 2 A bombs together killed aprox. 140,000, sounds like we let them off easy.
-
Why apologize for sparing the lives of the other 860,000 civilians who were not killed in an all out invasion ?
Invasion plans (Operation Sunrise IIRC ) projected 1 million civilian casualties , 2 A bombs together killed aprox. 140,000, sounds like we let them off easy.
+1!
-
President BHO's speech: "I sincerely apologize that we were forced to drop not one but two atomic bombs on your country to bring to an end a fight you started with an unprovoked attack of the United States Navy while resting in port, killing thousands of our people, on our Christian Sabbath."
:-[ Ooooops :-[ Color me red ... :-[ That would have been President Regan ... Sorry for getting your hopes up :-[
I picture Pres. BHO on his knees in Tokyo offering the blade and asking if they want to do him or he should just do it himself >:(
Is that really a quote from Reagan? Do you have a link?
-
Is that really a quote from Reagan? Do you have a link?
No - I was just going for style and attitude points. However, it does sound like him. Remember the "open mic accident" and depleting our nuclear inventory?
-
Is that really a quote from Reagan? Do you have a link?
No - I was just going for style and attitude points. However, it does sound like him. Remember the "open mic accident" and depleting our nuclear inventory?
I think it was a Dale Peterson quote:
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=12613.0
;D
-
I think it was a Dale Peterson quote:
http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=12613.0
;D
Walk loud, talk loud, and carry a loud stick!
Now there is a political campaign I could get behind!
-
How's this for a campaign slogan? "I don't give a rat's ass if the rest of the world loves us, I want the bastards to FEAR us!"
-
Japan foolishly started it...........we ended it.......No apologies necessary.
9-11, they started it.....if our gubmint had any cajones, retaliation would have been swift, and made Israel very proud.....and no apologies necessary.
-
Remember the lesson learned by Pres. Bush I that he told to Pres. Bush II?
If you go for it, don't stop until it is finished!
This advice came in admission that he blew it when he stopped chasing Sadam, and gave him the chance to not only survive but to build back up and retaliate. Lots of political crap can be thrown in here, but the lesson goes all the way back to the school yard where most of us learned not to start what we weren't committed to finishing.
-
THey did a whole lot worse during WW2.
-
I have been to Hiroshima. I found the last remaining building skeleton to be a powerful reminder (similar to the Alamo) that has been cheapened by the "Peace and Love" park surrounding it.
-
Japan foolishly started it...........we ended it.......No apologies necessary.
9-11, they started it.....if our gubmint had any cajones, retaliation would have been swift, and made Israel very proud.....and no apologies necessary.
++ on Hiroshima.
And yes, we should have retaliated very hard on some ME targets. Oil fields (their source of income) of any or several countries would have been good targets.
-
Why apologize for sparing the lives of the other 860,000 civilians who were not killed in an all out invasion ?
Invasion plans (Operation Sunrise IIRC ) projected 1 million civilian casualties , 2 A bombs together killed aprox. 140,000, sounds like we let them off easy.
Don't forget Stalin was aching to get in for his cut of Japan also. The Russians were on the way and if I remember right they were already working their way towards Japan before Truman pulled the trigger.
-
Speaking of Stalin [slight thread drift]
An article in today's Atlanta Journal and constipation about the remaining apartments owned by the Atlanta Housing Authority. The jewel in this is that a lot of the remaining residents are Jewish Russian immigrants from the cold war era. Catch the lead paragraph.
Nearly 60 years ago, Alexander Vitebsky was a young Soviet officer stationed in Siberia, part of a massive force assembled to try to fulfill Joseph Stalin’s dream of invading Alaska.
Wasn't aware of this little plot.....need more input.
Full article (more about housing but with a few references to this plot:
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlantas-public-housing-is-587310.html (http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlantas-public-housing-is-587310.html)
-
Speaking of Stalin [slight thread drift]
An article in today's Atlanta Journal and constipation about the remaining apartments owned by the Atlanta Housing Authority. The jewel in this is that a lot of the remaining residents are Jewish Russian immigrants from the cold war era. Catch the lead paragraph.
Wasn't aware of this little plot.....need more input.
Full article (more about housing but with a few references to this plot:
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlantas-public-housing-is-587310.html (http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlantas-public-housing-is-587310.html)
Wasn't aware of this either. That would have put it between the end of WWI and the Korean War..very near the end of his reign and life.
Interesting...had he made the attempt, think we would have kicked their butts?
-
I'm nuts about "Cold war " skulduggery, and I've never heard of it either.
The ground troops in Siberia were mostly either Camp guards at the labor camps or they were keeping an eye on China.
-
I'm nuts about "Cold war " skulduggery, and I've never heard of it either.
The ground troops in Siberia were mostly either Camp guards at the labor camps or they were keeping an eye on China.
I am sure they were preparing to invade Alaska just like our troops were training to invade Siberia, whether the grunts knew it or not.
-
I am sure they were preparing to invade Alaska just like our troops were training to invade Siberia, whether the grunts knew it or not.
Good point...lots of us are training on how to do a sweep of our house even though we don't plan on doing it ... just making sure we know what it takes if we have to.
-
Don't forget Stalin was aching to get in for his cut of Japan also. The Russians were on the way and if I remember right they were already working their way towards Japan before Truman pulled the trigger.
Actually, Stalin was trying to avenge the 1905 Russian-Japanese war in whihc the glorious and Imperial Russian fleet had its ass handed to it by the upstart Japanese navy. Check out the Battle of the Tsushima straits http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-tsushima-strait (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-tsushima-strait)
In reality, there just ain't that much of Japan to carve up. For Stalin, it was all about the national (and personal) ego.
-
That's why he declared war 2 days before they surrendered.
Fortunately Truman told him to pound sand on that one.
-
The US didnt send a rep to the Nagasaki (sp?) anninversary.
-
Wasn't aware of this either. That would have put it between the end of WWI and the Korean War..very near the end of his reign and life.
Interesting...had he made the attempt, think we would have kicked their butts?
Depends upon whether it was before or after Patton was killed.
-
Depends upon whether it was before or after Patton was killed.
He would have went through them like a case of vodka. I think he would have been in China in a year.
http://www.thelemicknights.org/ootmc/patton/patton.html