Why the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima was Justified.

Roy

Adya Roy

Ms. Manley

English 10 (A period)

1 Jan 2012

The Justified Bombing of the headquarters of the Fifth Division

August 10th 1945 in America, among males, 87% of Republicans, 71% of Independents and 63% of Democrats and 60% of female republicans viewed the bombing of Hiroshima as absolutely justified (Moore). To be exposed to both sides of the coin, Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor with intentions to handicap America militarily and America justly retaliated by targeting the headquarters of the Fifth Division and the Second General Army: Hiroshima, with 40,000 military personnel present on August 6th, 1945 (Chen). Just like majority view, the bombing of Hiroshima saved several lives, was inevitable, and yet, we helped them out after.

Not seen by the naked eye, Japan had a secret atomic bomb project. The weapon was to be perfected by December 6th 1945, used on New York City, home to less than 4,000 military personnel, on a day of joy and laughter: Christmas, 1945 (Mullins). While many say Hiroshima was unjustified due to no military affiliation, not only was it military headquarters, like I’ve mentioned, the Japanese were planning the same. A few days prior to the bombing, American planes had flown over Hiroshima and dropped leaflets; warning citizens to evacuate the city immediately (Veracity). All seriousness was lost upon contact with the local government. Assertively, they assured citizens that the threat no longer existed (Veracity). Our aim was benevolent, had there been no interference. Our message was to the government, not innocent civilians! Similarly proven during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where only 212 Japanese soldiers survived out of the initial 20,000, we realized how far the Japanese would go to defend their country at any expense.(The Battle of Iwo Jima).

83,248 lives were taken by 7,465 kamikaze pilots in various countries such as US, Great Britain, France, and many more (Thomas). The bombing was necessary in order to get the message across that the world had had enough. History professor Robert James Maddox desolately says, “Even after both bombs had fallen… Japanese militants insisted on such lenient peace terms that… there was no sense even transmitting them” (Debate: Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Was the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified?). Hiroshima casualties only accounted for approximately 4.5% of the Japanese deaths during World War II (“World War II Casualties”).

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1.8 billion dollars foreign aid was given to Japan: more than half of which was American money (Peace Newspaper generated by Japanese Teenagers: Peace seeds: Q & A about Hiroshima/ the Atomic-bomb [Did Hiroshima Receive Aid from America in the Aftermath of the Bombing?]). When questioned why America would do so, we best explained that we wanted to be more humane than them. Especially according to Iris Chang, author of The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust Of World War II, Japanese atrocities to several Asians were unbelievable and had the gravity of Nazi inhumanity. We didn’t want to follow their path, but make our own. Due to the funding, American Secretary of War Stimson said that the bombing was a catalyst to the success of Hiroshima (“Was the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified?”).

To reiterate, the bombing saved a ton of lives, ammunition, money, and was the only alternative left after the Japanese proved to be as insistent and stubborn as mules. We also helped rebuild Hiroshima to its former glory or even better! As mentioned in “Hiroshima” by John Hersey, seven years after the bombing, Great Britain, France, China, the Soviet Union and India followed along with nuclear tests (139, 149, 150, 151). United States had definitely set a trend. If the bombing was immoral or unjustified, then why were we treated as role models? As believed by the majority of Americans even today, the bombing of Hiroshima was necessary, and absolutely justified.

Bibliography/ Works Cited

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