Float a candle for peace in memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Friday 6 August

by George Sat Feb 14, 2009 11:35

Japan was ready to surrender before the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yes, there was dissention within the government but the Emporer was all but convinced that the war needed to end. Several enquiries were made through neutral countries but the powers that be in the US government decided not to pursue this because it did not call for the unconditional surrender of Japan. Generals MacArthur and Eisenhower were against the dropping of the bombs due to the inevitability of massive civilian casualties and the fact that most large Japanese cities had been bombed into submission. Hiroshima was to be the first city using the pretense that a large garrison of Japanese troops was stationed there. In reality, the bomb was dropped there because Hiroshima, unlike other cities, was deliberately spared the large scale B29 bombings precisely so the US could witness the devastating effects on the people and infrastructure of that city. Four other cities were also spared from conventional bombing including Kokura, Nagasaki, Niigata and Kyoto. As fate would have it, on the morning of August 9, Kokura was obscured by cloud cover and the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki instead. The bombings were also a warning to the Soviet Union to halt their expansion in the Far East. In the end, the decision to drop the bomb was clouded in half truths so as to make it palatable to the American public and the world at large. I ask that those of you who rationalize the atomic bombings in any way take a trip to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park and witness firsthand the events of August 6, 1945. Realize that in the world today there are nuclear weapons a thousand-fold more powerful than these two atomic bombs. Then I hope you will understand the peril introduced to the world 63 years ago.

by concerned Fri Aug 06, 2004 15:51

They better be non-toxic biodegradable candles. Seriously, though.

by Lone Gunman Fri Aug 06, 2004 13:43

Have you forgotten your pals in the former Sov union ,who still have plenty of nukes and are busily flogging them off most proably to islamic and criminal loons around the world?? At least the US are under control,the russians still have enough to destroy this planet three times over

Ever hear of the mitshubishi[sic] plant in Hiroshma?Busily building planes with forced labour for the Imperial army? Nagasaki ASFAIK is a stategic naval port. Your museum tour was obvisouly of the very selective kind.

When was this Japanese surrender offer ever brought forward?And by whom and where?
Again this sounds like total crap as the Japanese code of Shinto in which the emperor is a absolute God orderd the defence of the homeland to the last man woman and child. read the Last Mission,it describes a coup de etat that was instigated by the imperial army officer corps,because they belived the emporor had been drugged by the US secret services and was not in his right mind.The coup lasted appx 48 hours,after which the emperor was restored to power and orderd the total defence of the homeland.

The need to conquer Japan arguement is false.As Russia only declard war on Japan in mid August,[when everyone else was finished]so they could reclaim the terrority on the pacific coast lost in 1904 to Japan.

Also the only reason the emperor was left in power was that Mac Arthur realised that Japan would need a figurehead to rally around to rebuild. Truman even forbade admrial "Bull" Halsey from riding the emperors white horse around the streets of Tokio.As this would have been a total humilation of the Japense people.

Cold facts prove you wrong again Tim.But never let facts get in the way of your anti American bigotry. Best of luck with your next nautical adventure in Limerick. since the Shannon boat trip to welcome Bush was a great laugh for us all.

by Hmmmmm Fri Aug 06, 2004 13:18

The American high command warned the Japanese that if they did not surrender they would drop an atomic bomb on their 8 biggest cities. Of course the Americans only had two bombs but they believed that would be enough to bring about unconditional surrender. So they dropped the first bomb on the eight biggest city, Hiroshima, and asked for surrender the answer was no. They then dropped a bomb on the seventh biggest city, Nagasaki, and asked for surrender. The Japanese had reason to believe the bombing would continue until it finally reached the biggest city Tokyo. The Japanese surrendered unconditionally after the second bomb.

by Marina Fri Aug 06, 2004 11:17

Japan was most definately not willing to surrender before the Bomb was dropped. Many in the leadership were unconvinced after the event also, incidentally.

by Tim Thu Aug 05, 2004 20:14 087-9777703

I visited Hiroshima in 1996, and I visited the museum (which is very depressing and also very educational)

For years the dropping of the atomic bombs was justified on racist grounds but also on
the 'excuse' that dropping the bomb saved lives because the US would have lost so many troops in an invasion.

Little mention of the fact that Japan had already offered to surrender before Aug 6th 1945. Japan was rapidly crumbling and the Japanese asked for a surrender that would leave the emperor in place as a figure head.
This was rejected as unacceptable
simply so the bomb could be dropped - even though, after two atomic bombs, the emperor was allowed to stay as figure head.
They just wanted to drop the bombs.

In Washington, the generals wanted the bombs to be dropped on military targets first, and that warnings should be given to allow innocent civilians to be evacuated.
The scientist and political advisers disagreed and argued that a surprise attack would maximise the effect and the terror.

Neither Hiroshima nor Nagasaki were strategically important. The real reason they were targeted was simple.
Unlike Tokyo which had been devastated by repeated firebombing, Hiroshima and Nagasaki offered a clean slate on which to show the full effect of the bomb.

What mention will there be that the 'need' to drop the bomb stemmed from getting the Japanese to surrender to the US before Russia got in on the victors spoils... or the desire to show off the bombs as a message to other well armed countries.?

The folk who brought you Hiroshima and Nagasaki now have nukes all over the world, on ships, submarines and land bases.

The UK has a fleet of nuclear armed subs, based in Faslane 30 miles downriver from Glasgow.

If anyone wants to help float some candles down the Shannon in Limerick, send me a text on 087-9777703

by Liz Wed Aug 04, 2004 23:03 e-liz at masebo dot wanadoo dot co dot uk

have just been informed of a further event in Cork:


Pax Christi

World Culture of Peace Day

Monday 9th August

You are invited to a

PRAYFUL
REMEMBRANCE
GATHERING
for the victims of all wars.

Time: 7:00pm

Venue: Hiroshima – Nagasaki Memorial,

Peace Park, South Mall (Grand Parade end).


Followed by Mass on the feast of St. Edith Stein

Holy Trinity church,

Fr. Matthew’s Quay.

Time: 7:30pm

Preacher: Fr. Paul Tapley OFM Cap.

by Liz Masebo Tue Aug 03, 2004 00:53 e-liz at masebo dot wanadoo dot co dot uk

Error - it's the 59th aniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki