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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune OPINION AAG Sunday, August6, 2000 Criticism of A-Bomb Sacrifices Are Manyfor Troopsin Utah National Guard American news analysts once knew better. HISTORY NEWS SERVICE Every August, the American news media note the anniversary ofoneofthe most important events of: the twentieth century — the atomic bombing of two Japanese cities. Most reporters and commentators who write about Hiroshima and Nagasakiuncritically support the popular assumption that the use of atomic bombs was absolutely necessary to end the war and save American lives. Manyjournalists also proclaim the widely held but mistaken notion that only untrustworthy “revisidnists” or members ofthe irresponsible 1960s generation have criticized the atomic bombings. ‘If the news media’s uncritical acbeptanceofmass violence wasn’t disturbing enough,its fondness for name-calling and half-baked historical theorizing threatensto prematurely close the debate on a deeply disturbing American history. moment in American news analysts once knew better, In fact, many influential journalists concluded in 1945 and soon after that the use of the atomic bomb was both immoral and unnecessary. Even those with close ties to military and political leaders didn’t hesitate to go public withtheircritical views. Consider the following: David Lawrence, the conservative editor of U.S. News & World Report, wrote within days of the Hiroshima bombingthat Japanese surrenderhadappeared inevitable for weeks. The claim of “military necessity,” Official he argued, rang hollow. justifications would “never erase from our minds the simple truth that we . . . did not _ hesitate to employ the most destructive weapon of all times indiscriminately against men, womenand children.” A few monthslater, one of the most popular radio commentators during the war years, Raymond Swing, declared in an, ABC broadcast that the Japanese had been “looking for an opportunity to surrender,andthe testimony of vari- ous Japanese leaders indicates that some other excuses would have beenfound at.an early date even if the atomic bomb had not been dropped.” Henry Luce, the owner of Time, Life, and Fortune magazines, raised critical questions about the atomic bombingsin the late 1940s. In a 1948 speech Luce stated: “If, instead of our doctrine of ‘unconditional surrender,’ we had all along made our conditions clear,I in a 1950 Atlantic Monthly article that“. . .the Japanese would have surrendered even if the bomb had not been dropped, had the [Allied declaration at Potsdam] included our promise to continue the Emperoruponhis throne.” Onthedayofhis retirement in 1953, Washington Post editor Herb Elliston was asked by his newspaper, “Any regrets, now that you're out from under the daily deadline pressure?” Elliston replied, “Oh yes, plenty. One thing I regret is our editorial support of the Abombing of Japan. It didn’t jibe with our expressed feeling [before the bomb wasdropped] that Japan wasalready beaten.” In 1960, Walter Lippniann, perhaps the most respected and influential newspaper commentator of all time, added his voice to the list of prominent media dissenters when he remarked on a CBStelevision program: “Japan was ready for surrender before we dropped the bombs. And in my view, we should have negotiated a surrender before we dropped them. One of the things I look back on with the greatest regret, as an American, is that we were the ones thatfirst dropped atomic bombs.” In his 1991 memoir, another OnJuly 10, the passengers of Delta Flight 454 sat patiently at gate C6 waiting to board an Atlanta-boundplane. Of the more than 100 passengers preparing to board were myself and 13 other soldiers from the Utah Army National one. Gijuard. Dressed to blend into the crowd, these sol- As our economystrengthens, our numbers dwindle. Young men and women ‘seek career diers from CompanyD,1-189th Combat Support paths in business rather than in uniform. As Aviation Battalion and1st Battalion 211th Avi- ourforces get smaller, those who remain work hai Jer and longer. As the requirementsfor our ation Regimentstruggled to hold back the tears as we held ourfamilies for the last time for seven months. For seven monthswewill find ourselves in service continue to increase, we accept. the “imminent danger” as we serve in Southwest cal service professionals, contractors, buyers, Asia, fulfilling U.S. foreign-policy to that area. i challenge anddrive on. This unit is composed ofairline pilots, medicontract fessionals. inistrators andself pro- We represent many aspects of the We will continue to honorably serve our country in a mannerthat reflects highly upon communities from which we come. We are your the communities from which we come. and participate in your carpools. Assoldiers we strive to be role models by This deployment is a major event in our lives,in the lives of our families and whatis often overlooked,in the lives of our employers. The National Guard continuesto playa vital role in the defense ofour nation andto the citizensof thestates in which weserve. Asthe nation’s leadership calls upon the National Guard to serve in ever-increasing overseas deployments, our citizen/soldiers step up to the challenge andplacetheir normal lives on hold. Serving in the National Guardis not a parttime job in the way that manyof ourcitizens take a second job to help support their lifestyle or to make ends meet. Weservein the National Guard because we are passionate about our freedom, we are neighbors. We coach your youth soccer teams with your snow blower through our driveway.’ The National Guard has a proud tradition of taking care of the families that stay behind when the soldiers deploy. We knowthat the tradition will continue while we are away. Wewouldlike to express our gratitudeto our * civilian employers. Thank you for your con- tinued support. Weunderstand the challenges that you face losing good employees for a duration suchasthis. % Weunderstandthatalthough you may notbe * impacted by this deploymentto the extent that our families are, you are still significantly impacted. i Wewishto also thank our extended families * and our neighbors for your pledge to watch over representing whatis good about America. We are the ones whostand with you and get choked up whenthenational anthemis played at sporting events. Weare the ones whostandwith you and honortheflag as it passes by us in parades. So while we are away providing peace and things while we are gone. Thank you in advance for repairing brokensprinkler heads anu soldiers from your community, ask for your help. Watchoverour families. Help them when they have doneall that they can and don’t know whoorhow toaskfor help. Whenthe family car Whena National Guard or Reserve unit is* mobilized for federal services, an entire community is mobilized. Theripple effect extends security to our friendsin far-off lands, we, the for winterizing our swamp coolers. Thank you also for repairing flat bicycle tires and for destroying waspnests in our back yards. Thank youfor all that you have already done andall that you have pledged to do while we are away. breaks down,offer a ride. When the lawn gets to well beyond thecitizen/soldier. long because the lawn mowerbroke down, offer ahand. Whenthe snow gets too deep and heavy for our spouses to shovel, make an extra sweep Capt. Pete Adams is commander of Company D,, 1-189th, Southwest Asia carsesltribecom New York Times journalist, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Pulitzer Prize winner James Reston, explained that “the diplomatic course was inadequately ex- Transportation Dealer Search >» Search Dealer Inventory for your next vehicle... plored beforethe military strategy was accepted.” These are but some of the prominentmedia voices that were oncecritical of America’s use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They appear in stark contrast to the now common media stereotype that opposition to the atomic bombings emerged only in the 1960s, or that critics must, necessarily, be pacifists, “revision- ists,” or disgruntled members of the Sixties generation. Renewed notice of the mostly forgotten comments of such influential newsanalysts of an earlier generation should prompttoday's journalists to rethink their uncritical acceptanceof the conventional wisdom they so often dish out to the public on the anniversaries of Hiroshima. Onlyin this way will Americans be able to honestly and critically confrontoneofthe mostdisturbing episodesin our nation’s past. havelittle doubt that the war with Japan would have ended soon without the bomb explosion which so jarred the Christian conscience.” Hanson Baldwin, military editor of The New York Times, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy anda staunchcold warrior, argued Uday Mohanand Leo Maley III are graduatestudents at American University and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, respectively, They research and write about Hiroshima and American culture. 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Volunteers must be at least 21 years ofage and using a medication other than insulin to controltheir diabetes OR attempting to controltheir diabetes with diet and exercise. Qualified participants receive study medication, glucose meter, and study-related medical care,free of charge, along with compensation of $260, 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM * MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY INTERMOUNTAIN CLINICAL RESEARCH 150 SoutH | O00 East * SALT Laxe City that old Buick Roadmaster you've always wanted. Search the classifeds, local dealers’ inventory, obtain quotes, find Blue Book values, get financing and much more... all in one location. Contact Trent Eyre at 237-2008 or teyre @nacorp.com for rates and information LakeTribune www.sltrib,com " cw TAN OH HY PH Sp BY UDAY MOHAN and LEO MALEYIll to share that passion with other nations when called to do so. Weservein the National Guard because we wantto contribute to our communities. In the eventoflocal and state emergencies we are there to serve. We are humanitarians, peacekeepers and warriors all rolled up into ans 2%n> Has a Long History ws Watchover ourfamilies. Help them. . passionate about democracyandweare willing BYPETE ADAMS |