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Patrick Tiernan
History 4000
Book Review #1
Ronald Takaki
Hiroshima: Why America dropped the Atomic Bomb
Hiroshima: Why
America dropped the Atomic Bomb written by Ronald Takaki, attempts to
stir up debate by producing ideas which do not closely align to the
traditional reasons why America dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. Takakis
reasons are legitimate reasons although using them as the primary causes for
the attack appears to downplay World War II historians traditional views on
the subject. Takaki focuses his ideas on Russian expansion into Eastern
Europe, American racism towards Japan and the personality of the American
President Harry Truman as reasons for the attack. Ronald Takaki is a
Japanese-American who holds a Ph.D. in History and is a teacher of ethnic
studies at University of California.
Takakis concludes
the American fear of Russian expansion into Eastern Europe and opposition
from Russia in the post World War II era was the dominant cause the United
States released the bombs. The bombings were an attempt by President Truman
to demonstrate the force of the American military to Russia. Takaki
analysis excerpts from Trumans memoirs with quotes from the National
Archives and official government documents to establish the attitudes of the
American Government directed at Russia.
Takaki concludes
that racism, which resulted from war propaganda combined with the attack on
Pearl Harbor, made it easier for the American military to carry out
firebombing missions in Japan and drop the Atomic bomb, which resulted in
thousands of civilian deaths. Racism continually developed throughout the
war by American propaganda that portraded the Japanese as being “…demons, a
monkey race, savages and beasts.” The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor also
allowed liberal ideas of racism to flow through American society. Takaki
uses Pearl Harbor as the starting point for the racial ideas that
established quickly in American culture. However, along with the ideas
Takaki brings up about American racism, he also summarizes Japanese
anti-American ideology and fear of American imperialism. He concludes the
Japanese also possessed a deep racial ideology that was rooted in their
national mythology and culture. This ideology was instilled in Japanese
society that resulted in Japanese brutality to Americans and other allied
forces in the Pacific theater.
Takaki uses Harry
Truman’s personality and the influence of his close government officials as
influences which guided Truman to make the decision to drop the bomb.
Takaki uses Truman’s childhood that he deems as “effeminate and weak” to
establish Trumans foundations of racism. Takaki lays out examples of
adversity that Truman faced as a child that would lay the foundation for his
racist feelings. For Truman, Takaki explains, the Atomic Bomb was a way for
Truman to show his toughness towards not only Japan but Russia as well.
Takaki states that Truman did not possess the toughest personality or the
most intelligent mind, and the Atomic Bomb allowed Truman an outlet to
express his frustration.
Takaki’s ideas can be established as reasons why the United States dropped
the bomb on Japan although they are most likely not primary reasons. Fear
of Russian expansion by the U.S. government was obviously present at the
time and while the two countries maintained a partnership rather than a
friendship, this reason alone cannot be the determining factor in why
America dropped the bomb. Takakis role as a Japanese-American ethnic
studies professor allows him the opportunity to focus on racism as a key
issue. American propaganda as well as the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor
greatly increased the hatred of the Japanese military as well as harsh
feeling towards the citizens of Japan. Propaganda produced a un-humanlike
quality of the Japanese people while the devastation of the Pearl Harbor
attack made it easier for American citizens to sympathize with the killing
of thousands of Japanese. Truman’s personal history can be factored into
the decision although he was not the sole culprit in the decision to drop
the bomb. Other personalities influenced the decision to drop the bomb that
included military generals and various Atomic Bomb committees. The final
decision to drop the bomb involves a broad range of issues that certainly
include the ideas that Takaki has put forth although the final decision
involves various other complex issues.
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