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I'm a young guy, and all of this happened way before my time... but the ambiguous morality of the bombs' use ("Was there a different way? No, Yes, No, Yes!") do

by mcantor 17y ago

I'm a young guy, and all of this happened way before my time... but the ambiguous morality of the bombs' use ("Was there a different way? No, Yes, No, Yes!") does nothing to diminish the tingle in my spine when I read about this man's uncanny ordeal. I'm amazed at Mr. Yamaguchi's gracious attitude towards the Americans. He asks, "How could they do that?" and the article makes it seem like he is more bewildered or curious than angry. I hope this world--and my country, the United States, in particular--never forget the dire consequences of those brutal weapons.

xenophanes 17y ago
Why would he be bewildered? The reasons for the bombing are public. He has full access to them.
- RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
  Here's a thought. I'm not claiming it's true or correct, but it's how I understand things ... Looking at it from the outside, as a non-participant who has studied (and practised!) game theory and strategic decision making, it seems obvious and clear as to what happened, and the reasons behind it. When you're on the inside, maybe it's different. Maybe it's hard to divorce feelings from reason, emotion from rationality. Maybe the reasons, although logical and reasonable, don't seem to make sense. Surely a different viewpoint changes your perception. Looking at it from the inside, perhaps he can't see what you can see - simply and dispassionately. Looking at it from the outside, maybe you can't understand how he feels.
deleted 17y ago
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- mcantor 17y ago
  I was intentionally trying to avoid the "was it fair, should they have done it" argument, because it's an infinite loop debate. When I quoted Mr. Yamaguchi as saying, "How could they do that?", I was not echoing his question, but commenting on the state of mind he was in when he asked it. I am neither smart nor wise enough to comment confidently on whether the bombs ought to have been dropped or not.
  - smhinsey 17y ago
    I will concede that point, I misread your comment. I deleted my original to hopefully avoid that discussion.
abdulhaq 17y ago
What's the benefit in 'not forgetting'? Even when the first one was fresh in the memory, it didn't stop the US from slaughtering another 100,000 civilians with the second, did it?

by mcantor 17y ago

xenophanes 17y ago

Why would he be bewildered? The reasons for the bombing are public. He has full access to them.

RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
Here's a thought. I'm not claiming it's true or correct, but it's how I understand things ... Looking at it from the outside, as a non-participant who has studied (and practised!) game theory and strategic decision making, it seems obvious and clear as to what happened, and the reasons behind it. When you're on the inside, maybe it's different. Maybe it's hard to divorce feelings from reason, emotion from rationality. Maybe the reasons, although logical and reasonable, don't seem to make sense. Surely a different viewpoint changes your perception. Looking at it from the inside, perhaps he can't see what you can see - simply and dispassionately. Looking at it from the outside, maybe you can't understand how he feels.

deleted 17y ago

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mcantor 17y ago
I was intentionally trying to avoid the "was it fair, should they have done it" argument, because it's an infinite loop debate. When I quoted Mr. Yamaguchi as saying, "How could they do that?", I was not echoing his question, but commenting on the state of mind he was in when he asked it. I am neither smart nor wise enough to comment confidently on whether the bombs ought to have been dropped or not.
- smhinsey 17y ago
  I will concede that point, I misread your comment. I deleted my original to hopefully avoid that discussion.

abdulhaq 17y ago

What's the benefit in 'not forgetting'? Even when the first one was fresh in the memory, it didn't stop the US from slaughtering another 100,000 civilians with the second, did it?