Alright, so I have finally heard from all my friends in Japan, and can now rest my mind a little bit. My heart is still breaking for their country, and my prayers are going out to them constantly.
Now, over the past two years I have really fallen in love with the language and culture and people of this amazing and beautiful country. Therefore, it sickens me to think that there are people from my home country who honestly believe the "Japanese" had it coming due to the Pearl Harbor raid during World War II.
At first I didn't even know how to channel this. I was so disgusted and so angry that I honestly think I could have happily punched whoever started this ill-conceived, uninformed and heinous "thought" (if you can even call it that). However, I decided that I will be a more mature person about this and simply let history speak for itself.
After the Pearl Harbor Attacks, on February 19, 1942, in Executive Order 9066, President Roosevelt required all Japanese-Americans to be placed in interment camps (in Nazi Germany these were called "concentration camps".) The official reason given for this action was for "national security-to counteract the threat of spying." However, later historical analysis would show that underlying reasons included war hysteria and revenge on the Japanese people for bombing American territory (not "state," Hawaii didn't become a state until 1959), as well as racist feelings against the Japanese that had existed for many years. Over 110,000 Japanese-Americans were uprooted from their homes and moved to temporary camps inland, where they were forced to remain.
Peal Harbor took place as all of you know in Hawaii, where 32% of the population at the time was in fact Japanese. And very American patriotic Japanese-Americans as well. In fact, in 1943 some of the prisoners were released to serve voluntarily in the armed services. Over 17,000 Japanese who were able to prove their loyalty to the United States were placed in segregated units that earned great respect and distinguished combat records. One regiment, popularly known as “Go for Broke” or the 442nd Regimental Combat Team became the most decorated combat unit of the war while serving in the European theater.
However, despite the amazing acts of heroism by the Japanese-Americans, racism still ran very strongly throughout America. So much so that when an agreement could not be made between the US and the Republic of China with Japan to surrender, the US bombed not one but two cities in Japan with atomic weapons.
Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki, with roughly half of the deaths in each city occurring on the first day. The Hiroshima prefectural health department estimates that, of the people who died on the day of the explosion, 60% died from flash or flame burns, 30% from falling debris and 10% from other causes.
During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness. In a US estimate of the total immediate and short term cause of death, 15–20% died from radiation sickness, 20–30% from flash burns, and 50–60% from other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians.
Okay, now that I've given you all the numbers available on what we, the United States, did to Japan. How about I tell you what Japan did to US?
First off it was an attack on military personnel (i.e. not civilians) and second off there is still a serious debate over whether there was warning given a head of time or not. And even if there wasn't a warning given by Japan to America, the never-before-seen destruction caused by atomic bombs is hardly likened to Pearl Harbor attack, which consisted of 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers.
Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and the four others present were damaged. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 men were killed and 1,282 wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked.
See that's the thing about atomic bombs, you can't just "pick a target," you pick an area, and everything in that space is going to get vaporized. So as you can see, the Japanese obviously "had this tsunami coming" because they bombed us at Pearl Harbor. Because natural disasters and acts of war 70 years ago are obviously comparable.
For my poorly informed Americans out there, I highly recommend "reading," it's this amazing concept that some of us started doing around the age of 3 or so. It "informs" you and stuff. It's kinda handy for making you not look like an arrogant idiot.
And to all my Japanese friends, I want you to know that you shouldn't listen to what any of those people say, they don't know what they're talking about. This tsunami is a terrible tragedy and our prayers and hearts are with all of you. God Bless Japan. And God Shut-up America.
Sources:
Yes, I used Wikipedia, because every American who has the ability to use Twitter and make stupid comments has the ability to use the Wiki search bar. I wanted to make it easy for you guys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_advance-knowledge_debate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor#cite_note-108
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_Infantry_Regiment_%28United_States%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_American_internment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
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