63 years ago today, at 9:15 a.m. local time, the United States of America dropped a uranium-based atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. A radio broadcast out of Japan said of the attack, “Practically all living things, human and animal, were literally seared to death.” Three days later, on August 9, the U.S. dropped a plutonium-based atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The bombings killed roughly 140,000 people immediately, and another 160,000 would ultimately die from the effects of radiation.
They were the first, and mercifully, only atomic weapons ever used in war. Though the United States and Soviet Union would ultimately engage in nuclear brinksmanship during the latter half of the twentieth century, no country since has fired a nuclear weapon in anger.
The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was horiffic, and though it was not necessarily more horiffic than an invasion of Japan might have been, it was most certainly one of the low points in humanity’s history — several of which were hit during World War II. Do not forget the 300,000 who died in the attacks, and never forget that even the just wars have moments where horrible evil is done in the name of good.
it was most certainly one of the low points in humanity’s history
I say it was one of the high points of human intelligence – to look past emotions and do what was necessary for the good of mankind in the long run.
Also, it was not fired out of anger. It was created to preempt Germany from creating it first, then dropped on Japan because America was tired of a long drawn-out war.
Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) said the dropping of the nuclear bombs caused him to surrender. Thus ended WW2.
I am extremely conflicted about the dropping of the atomic bombs, but I believe that when evaluating their morality, they need to be considered not just in the context of a potential invasion of Japan, but also in the context of the Allies’ ongoing strategy in the war. In paticular, the firebombings of Berlin, Dresden, Tokyo, and many other cities. What I mean is, that from a moral standpoint, there was nothing “special” about the A-bombs. They were simply a MUCH more efficient way to do what we were already doing. Now, was this ongoing strategy moral? I don’t know, but that is where the question needs to asked.
I am also certain that the bombings were a low point in humanity’s history. Even if they were justified, the fact that humanity had reached a point where such an action was necessasy has to be considered a low point.
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