Thomas McGann (Voice, Aug. 2) attempts to put the atom bomb in perspective. Unfortunately, he uses speculated casualty figures as the only argument. Among the historic facts are:
– Japan was very fearful of the USSR’s entry into the war and, when attacked by the Red Army, was quick to realize there was no hope for the future.
– The Japanese military government was torn by whether to surrender or not.
– U.S. political interests (most notably, the concerns over the USSR’s entry into the war) were a part of the decision to drop the bomb.
– The Japanese government was discussing how to surrender the morning the second atom bomb was dropped.
– U.S. casualty estimates (not death estimates) of 1 million in the event of an invasion were given in 1947.
There is no doubt that the atom bomb was dropped and that there was a complicated web of reasons for it, effecting a hastened end of the war. The response we all can have 50 years later is to look with horror and repentance over what war does–it robs us of our humanity.
