Hiroshima and Nagasaki a racist attack?
...ride. How could America be attacked by anyone and by insignificant Japan, of all countries? Our pride was hurt and we wanted vengeance. However, if it was an issue of pride, why did we only imprison those of Japanese origin in internment camps? Why did we not imprison Germans and Italians? Was it because the Japanese looked different then us or because they were Asian and not Europeans. Was America being Racist? A country that fought a civil war to try to eliminate racism against African Americans, how could we be racist? America was above such things, like racism, or were we? Why did we only drop an atomic bomb on Japan and not on Germany? The truth is, America thought of Germany or any other European country as a worth adversary, but Japan was not worth the time. We wanted to end the war after Germany surrendered. Americans thought that they were far superior to the Japanese. To answer this question fully we must ask ourselves another question, was the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary? After the fall of the Mariana Islands, including Saipan, to the U.S. in July of 1944, the impending defeat of Japan became increasingly apparent to many Allied and Japanese leaders. The Marianas had been providing protection to Japan; now Japan would be within range of bombing runs from Pacific Ocean locations that were superior to the China bases that had been used for bombing missions before. The Allies began a series of numerous large-scale B-29 non-nuclear bombing raids on industrial targets. According to General Curtis LeMay, the war would end in September or October of 1945 because by then they would have run out of industrial targets to bomb. In addition, the naval blockade was strangling Japan's ability to import oil and other vital materials and its ability to produce war materials. Admiral William Leahy, the Chief of Staff to President Roosevelt and then to President Truman, wrote, “By the beginning of September (1944), Japan was almost completely defeated through a practically complete sea and air blockade.” In addition, in May of 1945 Germany surrendered, which allowed the allies to focus all their forces on Japan. If Japan’s defeat was inevitable, why did we bomb them? Was it revenge, racism, diplomacy, or something else? America did offer Japan a chance to surrender. On July 26, 1945, America sent the Potsdam Proclamation to Japan. The proclamation demanded “the unconditional surrender of all the Japanese armed forces.” However, the Proclamation made no mention of the Emperor retaining his position. This was crucial because the Japanese believed their Emperor was a god. In addition, the proclamation made statements that, to the Japanes...