Humans Frighten Me
I came across a link the other night, which I found quite fascinating, but very sad. Not only because of the reason for the link, but because of the way it illustrates how frighteningly horrid humans often are.
I don't even recall how I came across this link - likely through some other site that I was wandering through. It is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum site, and there is a ton of excellent information on it. Looking through the site spurred me to search for sites on Nagasaki, but unfortunately so far I have not come across anything as detailed as Peace Museum site. I did find one link that totally appalled me. It had very little in the way of pictures or information on the Nagasaki bombing, but it did have a large section where people had left their comments. I was saddened, horrified, and quite frankly, disgusted at the number of people who said they were still glad that the bombs had been dropped, and they felt the Japanese had asked for it.
Several people stated that the Japanese had committed atrocities, so they didn't feel sorry for them. I damned near choked when reading comments like that. If these people honestly think that other nations - including the US, Canada, and their allies - did not commit atrocities, then they can think again, and they need to start using the brains God gave them. In any war, there are atrocities committed by every side. Of course not all people are involved in them - you can bet your butt that not all the Japanese military personnel were involved, either. But there are a lot of psychotic individuals out there in all countries, and wars are like a giant sandbox to them - a huge playground where they can get away with satisfying their sadistic urges. So I was appalled to read those comments - appalled at the blind stupidity of these people, and at the hate they still carry. Some even mentioned that the Japanese would have used the bombs if they'd had them - well, maybe they would have. Maybe not. No one will know. The point is, the use of the bombs was a huge atrocity in itself, and would have been no matter who used them.
Some people stated that the war would not have ended as soon, and that more people would have died. Perhaps that is so, but two entire cities were demolished, and hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians were killed - some quickly, which was a blessing, but others suffered agonizing deaths. Yet others still suffer to this day from the affects of the radiation. Many people died who could have been saved, had it not been for a publication ban by the invading forces that prevented news of the disaster from reaching the appropriate agencies in Japan. This ban did not just affect the situation for a short period - it was a few years before much-needed assistance was able to be provided. Assistance was provided by other countries, as they heard the news long before people in other parts of Japan did. But while that was wonderful, it was not enough. Yet the people managed to hang on, survive, and rebuild - and forgive. Amazing.
I would like to think that if the people in power at the time had realized the full repercussions of the bombs, they would have chosen not to utilize them. But I'm afraid that I'm simply doing some hopeful dreaming, because I suspect that they still would have gone ahead. It really saddens me - and frightens me - to see what humans do to each other. It's truly disgusting, and more disgusting to me to hear and read about people justifying - and actually approving of - actions like this.
However, in spite of my rant, it is not that site on Nagasaki that I wish to give you the link to. It is the link to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum site that I was impressed with, and I highly recommend it. It has good information, and is done well and respectfully. It is a wonderful tribute to the citizens as a whole, and to several individuals who they have information on - both survivors, and those who did not make it. In spite of the horror of the subject matter, there is a very positive feel to the site. As awful as humans can be, we can also be incredibly resilient, and come together to work wonders. Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki literally rose from the ashes to become thriving, vibrant centres of life - a very positive recovery and an awesome testament to human determination and strength. The Peace Museum not only focuses on the horrors of the bomb, but also on the rebuilding of Hiroshima, the diligent work of the medical and military staff who were aware of what had happened, and the aid and support provided by people in other countries - including the US - as the news of this horrid tragedy became known. So without further babbling, here is one of my all-time favourite links:
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
May all who were affected rest in peace, and may their loved ones find peace as well.
I don't even recall how I came across this link - likely through some other site that I was wandering through. It is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum site, and there is a ton of excellent information on it. Looking through the site spurred me to search for sites on Nagasaki, but unfortunately so far I have not come across anything as detailed as Peace Museum site. I did find one link that totally appalled me. It had very little in the way of pictures or information on the Nagasaki bombing, but it did have a large section where people had left their comments. I was saddened, horrified, and quite frankly, disgusted at the number of people who said they were still glad that the bombs had been dropped, and they felt the Japanese had asked for it.
Several people stated that the Japanese had committed atrocities, so they didn't feel sorry for them. I damned near choked when reading comments like that. If these people honestly think that other nations - including the US, Canada, and their allies - did not commit atrocities, then they can think again, and they need to start using the brains God gave them. In any war, there are atrocities committed by every side. Of course not all people are involved in them - you can bet your butt that not all the Japanese military personnel were involved, either. But there are a lot of psychotic individuals out there in all countries, and wars are like a giant sandbox to them - a huge playground where they can get away with satisfying their sadistic urges. So I was appalled to read those comments - appalled at the blind stupidity of these people, and at the hate they still carry. Some even mentioned that the Japanese would have used the bombs if they'd had them - well, maybe they would have. Maybe not. No one will know. The point is, the use of the bombs was a huge atrocity in itself, and would have been no matter who used them.
Some people stated that the war would not have ended as soon, and that more people would have died. Perhaps that is so, but two entire cities were demolished, and hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians were killed - some quickly, which was a blessing, but others suffered agonizing deaths. Yet others still suffer to this day from the affects of the radiation. Many people died who could have been saved, had it not been for a publication ban by the invading forces that prevented news of the disaster from reaching the appropriate agencies in Japan. This ban did not just affect the situation for a short period - it was a few years before much-needed assistance was able to be provided. Assistance was provided by other countries, as they heard the news long before people in other parts of Japan did. But while that was wonderful, it was not enough. Yet the people managed to hang on, survive, and rebuild - and forgive. Amazing.
I would like to think that if the people in power at the time had realized the full repercussions of the bombs, they would have chosen not to utilize them. But I'm afraid that I'm simply doing some hopeful dreaming, because I suspect that they still would have gone ahead. It really saddens me - and frightens me - to see what humans do to each other. It's truly disgusting, and more disgusting to me to hear and read about people justifying - and actually approving of - actions like this.
However, in spite of my rant, it is not that site on Nagasaki that I wish to give you the link to. It is the link to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum site that I was impressed with, and I highly recommend it. It has good information, and is done well and respectfully. It is a wonderful tribute to the citizens as a whole, and to several individuals who they have information on - both survivors, and those who did not make it. In spite of the horror of the subject matter, there is a very positive feel to the site. As awful as humans can be, we can also be incredibly resilient, and come together to work wonders. Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki literally rose from the ashes to become thriving, vibrant centres of life - a very positive recovery and an awesome testament to human determination and strength. The Peace Museum not only focuses on the horrors of the bomb, but also on the rebuilding of Hiroshima, the diligent work of the medical and military staff who were aware of what had happened, and the aid and support provided by people in other countries - including the US - as the news of this horrid tragedy became known. So without further babbling, here is one of my all-time favourite links:
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
May all who were affected rest in peace, and may their loved ones find peace as well.
posted by Fullmoondolphin at 1:24 PM
4 Comments:
Yes, Pam, humans are definitely the scariest!! Nice post!! Interesting link!! Haven't had a chance to really delve into it, but I hope to soon.
Love You!! xoxoxoxoxoxo
Hi Linda. Glad you liked the post. I was just so ticked off and appalled reading those comments on the other site - had to rant about it! I know you don't have much time to get into the links, but I do hope you get a chance to look at this one a bit - it really is very interesting. Love you too!
Good one Pammie, albeit a sad but necessarily remembered part of hmanity's history, just like the concentration camps.
Hi Judy! Thanks, and yes, the concentration camps are another example of how horrible humans can be. I've found some good sites on those in the past, and will likely be looking for them again and posting them.
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