The Pros And Cons Of Atomic Bombing

Question

The United States education system often presents a narrative through textbooks, curriculum and teaching methods that emphasizes American military power and the need to end the war. This narrative simultaneously neglects the perspectives and experiences of Japanese civilians, downplays the ethical implications of the bombings, and overlooks the historical context in which the decision to use nuclear weapons was made. According to historian Michael D. Gordin, "In many cases, the narrative of the bombings has been reduced to the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, without any attention to the human experience of those who were affected by the bombings" (Gordin, 2017). This neglects the suffering of Japanese civilians, many of whom

On August 9, 1945, the United States detonated the world’s second deployed nuclear bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. Casualties totaled an estimated 120,000 people and radiation poisoning would result in the deaths of thousands more in years to come. This resulted in the Japanese Emperor Hirohito announcing Japan’s surrender in WWII, describing the weapons as “a new and most cruel bomb” (Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Debates have circulated regarding the decision of the United States to utilize this brute force against Japan. The decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki was drastic and morally flawed. Still, the possibility that the Japanese would not have surrendered to the Allied powers without this action allows the possibility of justification. Moreover, it has been argued that another reason was to “put the Russians on notice with regard to post-war adventurism and to end the war before the Russians could get a firm foothold in the Pacific theater” (Goldberg 118). This decision was made with consideration of international affairs, ending the war, and the personal benefit of the United States, arguably disregarding the cost of human

The bombings of the two cities by the United States during World War II had a profound impact on the country and the world, and continue to shape the discourse surrounding war and the use of nuclear weapons. In the immediate aftermath of the bombings, the United States government and media largely presented the bombings as necessary and justifiable measures to bring a swift end to the war and save American lives. However, over time, many Americans have come to view the bombings as a tragedy that caused immense suffering and loss of life, particularly among innocent civilians. Many Americans today view the bombings as a stark reminder of the terrible cost of war, and a cautionary tale of the dangers of nuclear weapons. Scholars have also noted the importance of Russian involvement in this decision. The bombings are also seen as a pivotal moment in the history of the United States, as they marked the beginning of the country's role as a superpower and its emergence as a dominant force in international affairs. However, it is stated that there is a possibility that “‘the tens of thousands of Japanese who were roasted at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were sacrificed not to end the war or save American and Japanese lives but to strengthen American diplomacy vis a vis Russia’” (Mohan 159). The specific nuances of the bombings