[thechat] West v. East (was: civilized vs. uncivilized)

[Ron White]

<erika>
Sorry, but I'm not a WWII scholar and I don't know enough about what
was going on in Japan at that time to give an educated answer to your
question.
</erika>

Well I am and that you aren't is entirely obvious, since you once again read
only bits and pieces of my post and skipped where I said that had the Allies
had to invade Japan, MILLIONS of civilians would have died. So was it better
to kill 100,000 Japanese to save the lives of MILLIONS of Japanese,
Americans, Brits, Aussies, Kiwis and Russians?? I say yes, and I thank all
of the gods of heaven and earth that I didn't have to make that decision.
Truman was not only concerned with Allied soldiers lives, but for the
Japanese as well. Their army had over 100 divisions waiting for the
invasion, as well as thousands of Kamikazes. The death and devastation would
have been horrendous. The Japanese were arming their civilians for defense
of the Homeland and as fanatical as they were at the time they would have
attacked our tanks with broom handles and in the fog of battle that looks
like a rifle, so they would have been killed.

<erika>
To a large extent, the decision to go to war is
made by any and every soldier who is willing to pick up a gun.
</erika>

Defending one's home is a very noble and honorable choice to make. Or do you
think Geromino, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull et al were just war mongers? I
think they were great heroes!

Thanks,
Ron White