100, 000 People Perished, But Who Remembers? By Howard W. French

Summary And Thesis

Howard French article, 100, 000 People Perished, but Who Remembers, presents a vivid picture of the actual situation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bomb attack of 1945. The article is a report to Japanese leaders to remember the victims of the bombings. Through the witnesses, the author he presents the devastating effects of Tokyo bombings and gives evidence of the attack. The killing of over100, 000 people happened in one night, but the actual facts is represented as having no effect. The convention attack was in no way affected destruction of Japanese cities. Another aspect that the author tackles is the psychological effect that lasted in the minds of Japanese people. He further questions the justification of the atomic bomb used against Japan. Not remembering refers to America’s point of view yet Japan still remembers the devastation of Tokyo. French’s thesis in this article is few traces have been left in commemoration of the firebombing of Tokyo despite the huge toll it caused.

Evidence

French’s article is part of the debate that has existed over the years in the use of bombing to make Japan to surrender. The debate is based on ethical justification over the United States’ decision. The controversy still continues to the present day. The author is in opposition of the decision to bomb Tokyo just like many other scholars. They see the attack as a state terror, immoral, a war crime, and military unnecessary.

The main points of French article are well emphasized by his interviewees. They enhance the point that the effect of the bombings is long forgotten by the leaders but still lingers in their minds just like it happened the other day.

Schools have not emphasized on the topic. This is seen through Hiroshi Hoshino, I who says when he gave his speech in schools about the attack, what he receives are “blank stares from the students. Him and his family survived of the napalm attack which

Most of the people are unaware of. Mr. Hoshino, Ikuyo Misu, and other survivors have teamed up to remember those who were killed in the bombings of March 10, 1945.

The author presents a vivid picture of the scene on that day. He says people “suffocated, trampled, and burnt alive” leading to the death of millions of people than those killed in Nagasaki.

The memorial of this dull day has however, passed with almost no notice or anniversary in Tokyo. French suggests various reasons for the little attention given to this fateful occasion. First, is because of the nature of war that the United States used. Just like Germans cities the Japanese cities became incinerated but the use of atomic bombs still remains unique up to war history. The Japanese were subjected to feel victimized; as the author states that they felt like “war time victimehoood”.

Secondly, the Japanese leaders honor the fallen soldiers but risk incidences of diplomacy with their neighbors. The dead civilians have however, received no honor yet their innocence questions the use of atomic bombs on moral grounds. This is because Japanese leaders are avoiding “awkward questions” which may be directed towards them and their role during the war. The leaders do not also commemorate the death of the civilian so as to retain the friendship with the United States after the 1945 happening.

Another reason the author presents for the ‘forgetting’ of over 1000, 000 dead civilians lies in the San Francisco Treaty of 1952. The treaty clearly gave an indication that the Japan media will henceforth be restricted from saying anything “negative about the United States. Further, the alliance between Japan and the United States indicated that Japan is “too busy in rebuilding the country and to leave the past behind”.

Conclusion

The article, 100, 000 People Perished, but Who Remembers, by Howard W. French is an evidently written report which describes the survivors ordeal. It presents the debate on whether or not the bombing of Japan’s cities was morally justified or not. Further, the paper presents the reaction and comparison of how the United States and Japan responded after the 1945 attack. The Japanese and it leaders have been silenced by the treaty and fear of questions which prevents them from honoring the over 1000, 000 innocent civilians who died in one night. We are left to ask ourselves power of mind psychology and its impact on a71 year old who remembers the bombing attack just like it was yesterday. Can the civilians really be forgotten? Japanese leaders have the responsibility to lead the people to honor the fallen innocent lives of civilians.

Reference

French H, (2002) 100, 000 People Perished, but Who Remembers?

On August 11, 2010

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