Comments on: Sadness and remorse for the worst acts of human history http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/ Andrew J. Montalenti's Blog Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:13:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: pixelmonkey.org - alter or abolish? » Blog Archive » Fog of War: A Truly Thoughtful Movie http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-23 pixelmonkey.org - alter or abolish? » Blog Archive » Fog of War: A Truly Thoughtful Movie Sat, 12 Nov 2005 03:44:25 +0000 http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-23 [...] You must see this movie; after you do, you’ll also see why I’m not so quick to buy the line about the necessity of Hiroshima/Nagasaki. [...] […] You must see this movie; after you do, you’ll also see why I’m not so quick to buy the line about the necessity of Hiroshima/Nagasaki. […]

]]> By: pixelmonkey.org - alter or abolish? » Blog Archive » Loaded Terms: Pro-Life, Anti-Abortion, or just True Believers? http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-8 pixelmonkey.org - alter or abolish? » Blog Archive » Loaded Terms: Pro-Life, Anti-Abortion, or just True Believers? Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:42:01 +0000 http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-8 [...] There are many “pro-life” people who support the war in Iraq and our general military presence in the world, and there are many “pro-life” people who are very much against this war and all others. But just to point out the general moral inconsistency, I have to say that I find it quite laughable when a person claims he or she is “pro-life” but accepts as a consequence of our war in Iraq “collateral damage,” namely “innocent life lost as a means to an end.” I again am speaking in generalties, but I’m sure you can also find more than a few thousand “pro-life” people who believe we were justified in dropping the atom bombs on Japan (see earlier articles on my blog). The term pro-life only refers to fetuses and euthanasia because ultimately the issue is not at all about practical political or secular philosophical issues for these people. The issues revolve entirely around scripture, the Bible, and moral righteousness, seeing the people who ask for abortions as the same people who also do such evils as having sex for fun, smoking marijuana, and using swear-words. [...] […] There are many “pro-life” people who support the war in Iraq and our general military presence in the world, and there are many “pro-life” people who are very much against this war and all others. But just to point out the general moral inconsistency, I have to say that I find it quite laughable when a person claims he or she is “pro-life” but accepts as a consequence of our war in Iraq “collateral damage,” namely “innocent life lost as a means to an end.” I again am speaking in generalties, but I’m sure you can also find more than a few thousand “pro-life” people who believe we were justified in dropping the atom bombs on Japan (see earlier articles on my blog). The term pro-life only refers to fetuses and euthanasia because ultimately the issue is not at all about practical political or secular philosophical issues for these people. The issues revolve entirely around scripture, the Bible, and moral righteousness, seeing the people who ask for abortions as the same people who also do such evils as having sex for fun, smoking marijuana, and using swear-words. […]

]]> By: pixelmonkey http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-6 pixelmonkey Sun, 21 Aug 2005 23:33:52 +0000 http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-6 I also just want to point out that I received a few responses on Slashdot that essentially said, "You're definition of 'innocence' does matter, because the people at Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren't innocent. They were working in arms plants and factories, etc." In fact, this line of reasoning doesn't work too well. In reality, the number of civilians there in military or working for major industry still was miniscule when compared to the overwhelming number of general civilians. (In other words, many teachers, doctors, and housewives died in those blasts, many more than just Mitsubishi's factory employed). Secondly, if you look at the historical facts, you'll see that the number-one target as decided by the Target Committee in Los Alamos for the atom bomb dropping was actually Kyoto (which is an entirely civilian city, and what's more, contains great historical treasures of Japan's ancient past). It was only because certain members of the US Cabinet, in particular the secretary of war, had been there and thought it was such a beautiful place that they could not destroy it. Furthermore, other historical evidence suggests that major cities were also chosen on the basis of how little they had been bombed prior. In this way, we could assess the actual damage caused by the atomic bomb. But sure, says I, keep convincing yourselves that we were totally justified because there were also munitions plants there. I also just want to point out that I received a few responses on Slashdot that essentially said, “You’re definition of ‘innocence’ does matter, because the people at Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren’t innocent. They were working in arms plants and factories, etc.”

In fact, this line of reasoning doesn’t work too well. In reality, the number of civilians there in military or working for major industry still was miniscule when compared to the overwhelming number of general civilians. (In other words, many teachers, doctors, and housewives died in those blasts, many more than just Mitsubishi’s factory employed).

Secondly, if you look at the historical facts, you’ll see that the number-one target as decided by the Target Committee in Los Alamos for the atom bomb dropping was actually Kyoto (which is an entirely civilian city, and what’s more, contains great historical treasures of Japan’s ancient past). It was only because certain members of the US Cabinet, in particular the secretary of war, had been there and thought it was such a beautiful place that they could not destroy it.

Furthermore, other historical evidence suggests that major cities were also chosen on the basis of how little they had been bombed prior. In this way, we could assess the actual damage caused by the atomic bomb.

But sure, says I, keep convincing yourselves that we were totally justified because there were also munitions plants there.

]]> By: pixelmonkey http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-5 pixelmonkey Sun, 21 Aug 2005 23:14:32 +0000 http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-5 Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to track down the article. Likewise, if you want a rather good read on the morality of war, I may have the article I mentioned above ("Mr. Truman's Degree" by the late philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe) laying around. The question is, when will I see you? I missed you at Josh's house that night; didn't know you'd be there! Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try to track down the article. Likewise, if you want a rather good read on the morality of war, I may have the article I mentioned above (”Mr. Truman’s Degree” by the late philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe) laying around. The question is, when will I see you? I missed you at Josh’s house that night; didn’t know you’d be there!

]]> By: cary http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-4 cary Sun, 21 Aug 2005 15:28:06 +0000 http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2005/08/21/sadness-and-remorse-for-the-worst-acts-of-human-history/#comment-4 If you want a rather good read on this very specific topic of actually considering the use of the bomb, check out: Prompt and Utter Destruction: President Truman and the Use of the Atomic Bombs Against Japan; by J. Samuel Walker. I may have a copy somewhere if you want to borrow it. If you want a rather good read on this very specific topic of actually considering the use of the bomb, check out: Prompt and Utter Destruction: President Truman and the Use of the Atomic Bombs Against Japan; by J. Samuel Walker. I may have a copy somewhere if you want to borrow it.

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