Question answered by Ruth Gardner, Young Generation/ University Chapter Coordinator at PTPI.
4. The role of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in Japan’s surrender and the U.S.’s ethical justification for them has been the subject of scholarly and popular debate for decades. Even one of the character’s in the book John Falconer – a survivor of the Bataan Death March, stated that the Hiroshima bombing was “beautiful”. What are you thoughts about the bombing after reading the book?
For a second Unbroken forced me to consider the idea that Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings resulted in a positive outcome, but in my opinion the bombings were a catastrophic event for humanity. I understand that the United Statesdid not know the long term repercussions of the atom bomb at the time but more than fifty years later people in Japan are still dealing with adverse affects. It is possible that the outcome of the war would have been different and Louis might not be alive if the bombings did not happen. War is devastating, but the power of the atom bomb redefined war.
People to People International’s Global Book Club is a way to connect with your global community. Global Book Club members communicate about valuable, international topics and gain unique insight and understanding of various cultural views in relation to those topics. For more information on People to People International, visit www.ptpi.org
The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of PTPI or its Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.