Decision to Drop the Bomb
War is a conflict that involves different countries or different groups of people. War is not necessary, although, at times, it becomes inevitable. Often, war becomes the only solution to some problems; hence it can be justified. However, there is hope that one-day people can live in peace without going to war. This is because most people have understood the severe consequences of war. The US President, Truman, made it a decision to detonate the bomb on Japan’s city. He agreed to do so to conclude the war as early as possible because otherwise, it would have increased the number of causalities in America. Morally, there’s no excuse for what he wanted to do. However, as the country’s president, he took a strategic decision that at the time was better suited. The dropping of the bomb was not necessary. It showed excessive use of power by the United States Forces. Hence, the bomb was nicknamed “Fat Man.” Both bombs made massive devastation in the cities and costed the lives of many people. The atomic bombing on Japan took an estimated 200,000 lives. Before the atomic bombing occurred, the fighting had gone on for more than four years. Many citizens detested using the atomic bombs because it was claimed that the mass execution of civilians was an inhumane act. This essay will analyze how and why the dropping of the bomb was not necessary.
The decision to drop the bomb was made following several activities. First, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (History.com, 2009), in Hawaii, a US Navy base. With the unreadiness of the U.S military, the attack was devastating. This triggered the course of World War II. Japan thought they had succeeded since they hit eight American battleships. Besides, more than 300 aircraft were destroyed, and 2400 people who were at the harbor were killed. The death of President Roosevelt was a big blow to the Americans (History.com, 2009). However, Harry Truman had to continue with all the plans and lead the war. This was done to ensure that all that the former president was fighting for was achieved.
Many believed that Japan would surrender only to something as devastating as the atomic bomb. Similarly, these supporters argue that a conventional military occupation of Japan would have caused more casualties than those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Bomb dropping also restricted any further intervention by other countries contemplating such a military operation as the Soviet Union.
The Japanese were known to be ruthless and heartless. Bushido, according to the Japanese, was a collective word for many codes that dictated how the warriors’ lived. They used the Samurai code, which means the way of the warrior. The samurai code ensured that they lived an honest life. Their culture dictated that they treat their emperor, who was their king and leader, as a god. They respected and honoured him (Pew Research Centre, 2015). According to them, no one was supposed to surrender. Also, the Japanese military was very harsh and brutal. They killed, raped, and even tortured people. They also mixed civilians with military targets. This, therefore, shows that they killed many innocent people
One of the reasons that led to the war was the loss suffered by Japan against Europe. They were told to surrender, and they hesitated. Instead, they gave a condition that they would only surrender if their emperor was handed to them. However, the US military refused hence the bombing. The US also wanted the war to end quickly. They also wanted to intimidate the Soviet Union so that they could gain the upper hand in the Eastern part of Europe. Besides, the US wanted to keep Moscow out of the war.
The US military should have warned the Japanese before the bombing, by warning the Japanese to withdraw or they face a major bombing. This would have given the Japanese more time to decide if they wanted to surrender. They did not do the testing of the bomb since they knew that its content would destroy the Americans. One of the effects is radiation, which is the leading cause of cancer. Also, the fact that they bombed twice shows that they wanted to show the power and intimidate others. Besides, the fact that the Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps shows that there was a lot of racism. Though Japan was not ready to give or rather surrender publicly, insiders had the imminent feeling that the nation was not to move on with the war. Such revelation suggests in studies proving knowledge of Truman on how Japan had veered off the course of victory thus, began preparing to align some national pride regarding the defeat. Considering such knowledge, the US lacked a reason whatsoever for causing the explosion because Japan inevitably could have accepted defeat.
The bombing should never have happened since the effects were too bad. The radiation causes health problems. There was severe destruction of property, which was beyond repair. Many people, including women and children, were killed during the bombing. The war also led to the tension between the USA and the Soviet Union. Up to date, many people fear that nuclear war can erupt at any time hence causing the end of the world. Although many American lives were saved by the dropping of the bomb, most Japanese lost their lives, and the after-effects were so severe.
Birth defects developed after the bombs were dropped. Due to the bombing in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, more than just the young generation suffered a negative effect. There was a rise in birth defects, which also happened in the years following the incident. Anyone with 0.2Gy or greater exposure faced an increased risk of this risk. After the war, the total number of miscarriages, stillbirths, and other issues related to child health were never recorded in Japan, so exact statistics are not known.
Recent arguments later after the use of atomic energy in war, do not align with the United States’ intentions. In fact, Pope Francis does not agree with the action that took regarding the bombing. Hence, he believes that the United States only squandered money by manufacturing the atomic bomb (Torneilli). As a result, the majority of the victims were left in major silence as hope was broken. Of course, the latter could be termed as immoral. Hence, contributing to the negative effects of the bomb in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. It would be right not to support the bombing since it indicates that the material possession and advancement in power has blinded nations. Considering that the war was between countries that are wealthy and powerful, such a gift was a misused gift. The majority of countries have believed that people are brought together through sacrifices and cooperation.
However, it would be unjustifiable to conclude that war might be required to unite the same people. Of course, war has its consequences, but an atomic bomb must not have been the only solution. Notably, the effects of the bombing on the Japanese would be crucial, but it would not mean that the Americans did not suffer its consequences. Considering the immigrants in Japan from the US, they were also was hit by the bomb. Of course, the latter was not as a target but collateral damage. Ideally, the American government turned its back on its citizens; perhaps, some of whom might have been major patriots to their country. According to Pope Francis, each religion argues its way through peace and love (Torneilli). To believers, the American government had no right to claim the lives of innocent souls. Although dropping the bomb was a difficult decision to make, right or wrong vital variables needed to be contemplated. That is the lives of innocent souls that had to suffer.
Atomic energy use as well as the radiation arising from such a weapon needed to be tested. Nuclear weapons not only are immoral but also lowers the human dignity. In fact, it is evident some of the areas still face the charges released by the bomb. The latter would indicate that not only did the dropping of bomb impact at the moment but also placed the future on common homes in danger. Hence, common wellness was restricted. If the United States had contemplated such ideologies, it would be accurate to suggest that the explosion could not have happened (Leach 381). Besides, only the unarmed peace can be considered to be true peace (Torneilli). If earlier the nations could identify that atomic weapons only put daily lives at risk due to the probability of self-destruction, the United could not have owned the weapon. As a result, it would translate that the dropping could not have happened.
Either way, the causalities happened and can never be undone. However, no amount of logic can justify the act. In fact, President Obama acknowledges the act to be wrong in his speech delivered at Hiroshima in Japan. The New York Times marks the President’s words of referring to death as something that came from the sky (“Text of President Obama’s Speech”). It is a clear indication, that president Obama defends his country legally but can still express the guilt in the American government. Above ten thousand people were lost in the bombing including dozens if prisoners from America. I mean which government would abandon its prisoners of war to the extent of killing them itself? I would say the act is inhuman if patriotic soldiers might have to repay their features through betrayal from their government.
Although America needed to end the war, it could not have been necessarily through bombing. Evidently, the country had the haste to end the war. Considering that America was still equipped and had the manpower, one way or the other US could still have won. Presumably, if the United States did not hurry to finish the war in days, the bombing could not have been necessary. In fact, on August 6, 1945, the Russian soldiers were noted as having wished to attack Japan. The latter indicates that Japan was to be defeated despite their unwillingness to surrender. Therefore, it was just a matter of added days or months for the war to end. Hence, the United States could not have dropped the bomb. Studies suggest that the radiations impacted in Hiroshima are similar to those present in any part of the earth (Shibata 41). Perhaps, atomic bombs require so much evaluation before being launched or placed awaiting their launch. Although the radiation might wear out with time after the bomb explodes, the environmental effects still will exist. Maybe the health of individuals might not be at stake for the moment, but they depend on the ecosystem. Hence, the beauty of nature seizes to exist with radiation effects. Arguably, the majority would want to justify the casualties to be normal as those that occur in any other war. But the latter is not true and these exceed the health effects.
Being considered to be an immoral act, the bomb-dropping places the development of nuclear weapons to an undefendable point. War is meant to be between soldiers since these are experienced in battlefields. Therefore, the latter means that no other party has to be involved in the casualties. It would even be right to prevent civilians from being hurt. In fact, it would be unfair to hurt someone who is not armed in war. Contrary to the latter, bombing in Hiroshima did not only impact the health of people (Reddy). Instead, the implications were even contrary to morality as the rules of war were broken as far as the military is concerned. Sadly, the innocent civilians were harmed through the detonation. That is, both women and children suffered the effects of the bombing. According to Reddy, the latter (children and women) are not entitled to any direct impacts in a military war. Something that the United States Government understands and could not have wished it to happen in their homeland.
Surprisingly, the majority of the people would presume to understand such intent differently concerning the law of morality. However, it feels more of discrimination or abuse of power. The use of mass murder weapons to destroy the non-combatants, specifically children and women cannot even be debatable. Considering that the act has both political and economic effects, the behaviour is a moral question that is only based on wrong and right or rather ethics that are evil or good (Reddy). Besides, the basic right of humans was eliminated through the bombing. Hence, access to human wants was a thing of the past. Despite this, no compensation could easily restore the hopes of the victims. Hence the majority had no way to avoid long life traumas.
Works Cited
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“Text of President Obama’s Speech in Hiroshima, Japan.” New York Times, 27 May 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/world/asia/text-of-president-obamas-speech-in-hiroshima-japan.html
Torneilli, Andrea. “The silence of Hiroshima and the cry of the Pope.” Vatican News, Dicasterium pro-Communicatione, 24 November 2019, www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-11/hiroshima-nuclear-editorial-pope-japan.html
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