After reading this excerpts, I wonder where on Earth the Devil resides? Could it be in Truman´s office? This incident was jubilantly celebrated in combination with the surrender of Japan and the ending of the war.  The pilots of Enola Gay received  heros´ return from American people. To this day, the US government has not officially apoligized. Many American citizens with whom I brought this matter up stated that they considered this incident as a revenge of the attack on Pearl Harbour.

When we were near in Hatchobori and since I had been holding my son in my arms, the young woman in front of me said, I will be getting off here. Please take this seat.´ We were just changing places when there was a strange smell and sound. It suddenly became dark and before I knew it, I had jumped outside.... I held [my son] firmly and looked down on him. He had been standing by the window and I think fragments of glass had pierced his head. His face was a mess because of the blood flowing from his head. But he looked at my face and smiled. His smile has remained glued in my memory. He did not comprehend what had happened. And so he looked at me and smiled at my face which was all bloody. I had plenty of milk which he drank all throughout that day. I think my child sucked the poison right out of my body. And soon after that he died. Yes, I think that he died for me.

http://www.atomicarchive.com/History/twocities/hiroshima/page14.shtml

Not a fair statement and I am personally offended.  It´s not fair to assume that the general public is "jubilant" about this.  It was a horrible event! 

Just another one of those posts that makes me wonder why the hell I stay on TC!  Between the arguements about Kurds to the religious intolerance it just seems less and less like a place to come and learn about a country I love so much. 

OK I have replaced "the general public" part with more conservative wording. You say you feel offended reading my comments. I shed tears when reading the memories of that woman. It is heart-breaking that no official apoligy has been made to date. Rather than being offended, you should join the ranks of those who demand justice for the victims.

Well, I think sending the American ambassador to the ceremony is a good first step. I think both countries did horrible thigs during the war, and they both didn´t apologize for every single event.

Thanks for apologizing, although, I can sense that it is not sincere.  I was offended by your accusation that most Americans are jubilant about this event in the present.  You have since changed your post to reflect that Americans felt that way in the past (not that it matters).  Of course many Americans were happy that the War was over.  However, I don´t think the average American at the time the bombs were dropped understood atomic power.  Anyway, nothing can justify what the US government did and I am happy that an attempt is being made to rectify a wrong.  Lastly, it´s really not your business whether I join the ranks of people who demand justice....to be honest you have no idea how I feel about this or what organizations I belong to. 

Anyway, PEACE....OUT!!

I apoligized because I think I am a mature person who can apoligize when he realizes he has made a mistake and the mistake might not be a big mistake after all as you have realized yourself. You continue in an agitated tone, God only knows what the motive is, since that would not be my business.

I may or I may have not repaired your broken heart but you must realize that you are not necessarily in the limelight here. I am talking about a barbarous act. I can offer you proofs about how jubilantly the surrender of Japan was received despite obvious barbarism behind the scenes. I think I can also provide materials proving the ethnic hatred directed at Japs as they were derogatively called then. Just type the subject in youtube and facebook and see what thousands of American contributors think about the incident. So, far I am trying to bring the focus back on where it must be, the way this horrendous incident is perceived by the masses in America. If you say there is nothing wrong there, this would be your idea and I wouldn´t care less. I am not attacking you personally, I am not invading you territory, feel safe and try to mind your p´s and q´s when replying to posts.

I never denied what happened or its horrific affect. 

I actually have a formal education and don´t need to learn about the event on youtube...but thanks for the tip (as condesending as it may be).

P´s and Q´s should be watched by everyone...including the person who posts something.  I felt what you posted was out of line and responded in kind.

Truely, I don´t want to argue with you.  Have a good weekend. 

Well, I have a formal education too. I think when you want to draw assumptions about what people think about a particular subject, reading their actual remarks would always serve a good starting point. You don´t mind the quality of the people using youtube because you know you are in search of the opinions of the general public and the internet is an excellent channel to do that. That´s why everyone is there including governments and multibillion dollar companies. For that reason, people with formal educations do take youtube seriously. They know that the platform has some 50 million registered users and many more casual browsers. What else do you need to learn what the people think?

I was commenting on the fact that you where hinting that I needed to learn more about the subject on youtube and not the actual quality of youtube and its merits as a "learning tool." Stop trying to deflect the fact that you offended me and every other American who feels shame and horror at the events of Hiroshima.  

But, in any case, my initial post was an objection to your post (more specifically the way you worded it) and nothing personal against you.  

Well, let´s concentrate on the incident, if we can. Here are excerpts from Truman´s address in the aftermath of Hiroshima bombing.

"The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians. But that attack is only a warning of things to come. If Japan does not surrender, bombs will have to be dropped on her war industries and, unfortunately, thousands of civilian lives will be lost. I urge Japanese civilians to leave industrial cities immediately, and save themselves from destruction."

They would later say, Truman did not know at the time of speaking that Hiroshima was a city, he thought it was a military base... Oh yes, after years of organized effort that involved all sorts of classified activities and as the person who relied on the development of such a weapon to gain an edge at the war, he didn´t know that his boys had bombed a city.

Take a look at this:

A Gallup poll about presidential greatness, taken February 9–11, 2007, asked 1006 adults in the US, "Who do you regard as the greatest United States president?"^[15]

1. Abraham Lincoln (18%)
2. Ronald Reagan (16%)
3. John F. Kennedy (14%)
4. Bill Clinton (13%)
5. Franklin Roosevelt (9%)
6. Other/None/No opinion (8%)
7. George Washington (7%)
8. Harry Truman (3%)
9. George W. Bush (2%)
10. Theodore Roosevelt (2%)
11. Dwight Eisenhower (2%)
12. Thomas Jefferson (2%)
13. Jimmy Carter (2%)
14. Gerald Ford (1%)
15. George H.W. Bush (1%)
16. Richard Nixon (0%)

Source Wikipedia.

I don´t know how many ashamed Americans there are out there but Harry Truman the proud perpetrator of the ugliest ever warcrime in recorded history ranks 8th, immediately after George Washington. If this is not an endorsement of his decisions as a president, what is it?

I hang my head and am one American who is deeply ashamed of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and I have to admit, your observations are are right. I have met a number of WWII vets who do condone the bombings.

It happened to be the USA who got the bomb first, it could have been others. What is wrong with humanity? War is horrible, and as we (humans) seem to be just inventing more hideous methods to main and kill. I´m afraid we will kill our hopes to survive at all as we pollute and kill the very structure we depend on for our survival.

Now in retrospect, those not involved at the time have the luxury to condem the actions. The problem is, we are still doing it. There has to be a better way!

 Elisabeth, I don´t think vineyards was referring to you, or even the majority of contemporary Americans, but at the time the bombs were dropped, that WAS the reality. Most peoplein the US were jubilant...that´s a fact! I don´t think most of them had any idea what happened though.  They were just happy the war was over.

I know, I have met many of those who were alive at the time, and I spoke with them within a closer timeframe than you. I am older than you and discussed the matter with them when they were much younger. Talk with them today and people have changed their minds...but what are we doing today that we will be ashamed of tomorrow?

Ofcourse people were jubilant during that time! We have to understand, it was not the time of internet connections with youtube movies. All people heard was "a bomb was dropped, and the war is over!" Nobody fully understood what the implications of these bombs ment, about radiation sickness and what not. All they heard was, the war was over, and their sons, fathers, and brothers would be coming home soon. Their sons, father´s and brothers would not have to fight with guns, and fear bombs being dropped on their own heads anymore. The surrender of Japan, and thus the end of the war in the Pacific, was a direct effect of those bombs. If the bombs were not dropped, Japan would not have surrendered at that time. THAT is why people then were happy about it, and I fully understand that. You can not blame the American civilians at that time for not having the information about those bombs that we have now.

We know now how horrible the effects of nuclear bombs are. We can´t blame simple Americans of the past for not having that knowledge. All we can do know, is look at the present, and work together to rid the entire world of nuclear weapons TODAY.

I generally don´t want to criticize bygone periods relying on today´s standards. These people spent decades watching movies depicting the heroism of their soldiers with no mention of the cruelties and crimes that happened in between. A few directors shot a few alternative films illustrating the dark side of the past wars the American army got involved in.

Not just America, even our TV kept broadcasting an endless string of war movies. The themes and the settings were numerous but there was one thing that never changed, the Americans played the good guys. They were the good guys against the Indians, Vietnamese, Koreans and Germans.

Now it is not difficult the understand why these people felt jubilant at the time. Unlike you I think they would still be jubilant if the incident happened today. It goes without saying there are many Americans with common sense. For your information, the crew of Enola Gay repeatedly stated they had no remorse of the incident:

"No, I had no problem with it," he told The Guardian in 2002. "I knew we did the right thing."

When he was given the assignment he said he thought, "Yes, we´re going to kill a lot of people, but by God we´re going to save a lot of lives. We won´t have to invade (Japan)."

Other crew members made similar statements. I think one such statement was made a very short while ago. These people feel no remorse, the government feels everything was done by the book, judges see nothing wrong.

Well, they fear other countries may develop nuclear arms. Even if the US has the largest stock of nuclear weapons in their arsenal, they don´t want countries like Iran to develop one (this point was repeatedly denied by Iran.) If Iran does not stop, the US will have to invade Iran. As you see, the US is one country behind every power game in the world. I understand they are a super power but I have a right to criticize. Thank God, I still have that right. Hope my children can say the same thing some 40 years later.

Well, I can also understand that the people of that time, who stood behind it then, stand behind it now. I wouldn´t expect any less. I just think there is a difference with people who grow up in the current day and age. But it is true that the war stopped, after the second bomb was dropped. obody knows how many people would have died, if the war continues in the Pacific. But in the end, it becomes a question of ethics. It´s just like the question of torture. Is it okay to torture somebody, if that torture can save the lives of 1 million people... how about 1000 people... and 100... 10? It is difficult to draw lines here.

The first populair movies that had critique on the army and wars came about in the late 1960s, early 1970s. People have a slightly more nuanced view now, but the American army is actively involved in Hollywood. No, this is not a conspiracy theory, but officially acknowledged. The American army has a movie-bureau. People who make a movie about the army can ask this bureau for help. The Army will only help if the movie is positive. It has happened in the past that directors have changed scripts, just to please the army officials. With the help the army gives, a director will save a LOT of money, since they can use tanks, trucks, guns, planes, clothes, explosions, etc.

The biggest paradox here is:

America is an affluent country

Boasts of setting an example for democracy for other countries

She is the most advanced country technologically

A super power whose reach has extended to the outer space

Yet, we are talking about the same old fashioned machoism, nationalism etc.

If some third world country did this, I would understand,thinking: "The guys need some time to improve themselves. " Instead, what we have in America is explained concisely in a speech made by the Italian prime minister, "There is a big difference between the perceptions of democracy in the US and in Europe."

The Italian government is not the best government to quote about democracy And in any case, the time that America was in the forefront of anything is behind us. I do not know a lot of people who still see America as the land of freedom and opportunity.

You are most probably correct, but I shudder to think of the next super power....will it be China? Hardly a paragon of great human rights.

What ever America has done to show it´s power, is not unique to the USA. Who is in power does what they will to keep the power...it´s the old case of "might makes right"

I keep the hope humanity will realize our interconnectivity and work together for a more humane world. After all, we are all on the same spaceship earth.

So far, people have been voting for charismatic and good looking leaders. I think people secretly dislike high IQ leaders. They prefer politicians who talk the way they can understand. Intelligent people tend to be aloof and they put a distance between themselves and society. I would like to see a US leader who can win the hearts of the people all over the world with his excellent human qualities. That is a proven way that leads to stardom for a political leader. Remember Ghandi.

In the US a large part of the people tend to vote for the person with the best campaign team. As a foreigner, I remembered George W. Bush as the junky-son of the former president. But somehow the campaign team made the American public forget that the guy stuffed his nose with white powder! And he became the president... twice! Even after he messed up the first time already. Well... not really twice... I remember something about Al Gore actually getting more votes

Actually, there are many who feel both elections were suspicious....In 2004 there were a lot of "oddities" in Ohio....in particular there were many issues....anyway...The US election process is IMHO a disgrace. First of all, I think every candidate should get exactly the same amount of campaign time and resources. As it is now, it´s more about who can hire the best campaign managers. Candidates are allowed to lie about their competitors. I´m really shocked at the brazen lies. You may have read here a few of us mention Dennis Kucinich, I actually think he would have been the best choice for president, but he´s not pretty enough and he doesn´t have the corporate sponsors...so he has not had much of a chance. 

Interestingly, the right wing French politician Le Pen considers Harry Truman and his government as a bunch of war criminals just like I did before. He says: "If we talk about war criminals, aren´t those who bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki also war criminals?" he asked, referring to the US nuclear attacks on the two cities on August 6 and 9.

Here is the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100814/wl_asia_afp/japanfrancebritainpoliticsfarright

Lol, you have a gift for quoting questionable people First the Italian prime minister on democracy, and now Le Pen on war criminals. I´m sure Le Pen was happy to point out any Jewish people to the Nazi´s during the war. I guess he was just too young at the time, or he would have been a hot-shot in the Nazi party of France.

I understand that you don´t like the persons I quote from. After all, one of them is a proven womanizer with a decadent life style and the other is a right wing extremist. Nevertheless, they have a point with the things they said. Furthemore, this subject is a bit like a taboo for the venerable world leaders who can´t risk offending the big brother.

Anyway, would you explain your own idea about Truman´s role in the bombings and whether he committed a war crime by targeting all the people (civilians) in two cities? Do you think nuking large cities in order to debilitate the enemy can be considered an ethical option.

I am crystal clear about this. If I was in his shoes, I would NEVER EVER take an inhuman decision like that and I firmly believe the perpetrators of this despicable historical act deserve to be damned forever.

There has been more debate about this matter this year than previous ones. Of course it was a despicable act.....I am constantly amazed at the depravity and cruelty displayed in some humans. It is very depressing...very. That depravity is not limited to any particular nation. It exists in all nations, given the opportunity.

I am also inspired at the bravery of firemen who run into burning buildings to rescue people & animals, the doctors in Medicins San Frontieres. Altruism is also part of human nature, it´s just unfortunate we don´t see it more.