Dec 7th from the Opposite Side

[Ghost]

Interesting read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/opinion/a-reluctant-enemy.html


ON a bright Hawaiian Sunday morning 70 years ago today, hundreds of Japanese warplanes appeared suddenly over Pearl Harbor and laid waste to the United States Pacific Fleet. The American people boiled over in righteous fury, and America plunged into World War II. The “date which will live in infamy” was the real turning point of the war, which had been raging for more than two years, and it opened an era of American internationalism and global security commitments that continues to this day.



By a peculiar twist of fate, the Japanese admiral who masterminded the attack had persistently warned his government not to fight the United States. Had his countrymen listened, the history of the 20th century might have turned out much differently.

[McVaaahhh]

Cool read, thanks for sharing.

[Ghost]

Cool read, thanks for sharing.

Sure thing, glad you liked it.

[modette99]

Pretty amazing...

The world is a bunch of what ifs, I think of those ifs from time to time, what would of happened if I did this instead of that. We all can say this about our lives, and it also impacts history and our world.

[sprtbkbabe]

I heard on NPR that Japanese school books are not printed with who started the attack on Pearl Harbor. Not sure if that's true, but it's sad if they are not taught the whole truth of WWII's Pacific theater

[brennahm]

What do you mean who started it? Like the name of the guy who ordered the attack? If that's true I don't see a problem with it.

If they're told that the attack happened...it would seem clear which country "started it".

[Ezzzzy1]

Pretty sure we ended it... :dunno:

[Ghost]

Pretty amazing...

The world is a bunch of what ifs, I think of those ifs from time to time, what would of happened if I did this instead of that. We all can say this about our lives, and it also impacts history and our world.

It's possible this is just one instance of "reality" and in countless others each of those other possible "what ifs" have come true...

But, even within this world, it's amazing the close calls, the almost-happened, that strokes of luck and chance that completely change history--your personal history and/or that of the world...

[sprtbkbabe]

What do you mean who started it? Like the name of the guy who ordered the attack? If that's true I don't see a problem with it.

If they're told that the attack happened...it would seem clear which country "started it".

I'll elaborate: There is no reference to the actions in which the pearl harbor attack happened. In particular, the direct bombing by the Japanese.

[rforsythe]

I heard on NPR that Japanese school books are not printed with who started the attack on Pearl Harbor. Not sure if that's true, but it's sad if they are not taught the whole truth of WWII's Pacific theater

I assure you, our children are not taught the "whole truth" of WWII's Pacific Theater either. Every country slants things in their education of youth.

[Ghost]

I assure you, our children are not taught the "whole truth" of WWII's Pacific Theater either. Every country slants things in their education of youth.

Or Vietnam...

[Keyser Soze]

I assure you, our children are not taught the "whole truth" of WWII's Pacific Theater either. Every country slants things in their education of youth.

What is the truth, Ralphie? :p

[sprtbkbabe]

I assure you, our children are not taught the "whole truth" of WWII's Pacific Theater either. Every country slants things in their education of youth.

True!

Or glosses it over:


Translated from a Japanese history textbook of the late 1960s:


In April 1941, Japan agreed to a Japan-USSR Neutrality Treaty in order to lessen the military threat to the north. This was followed by the occupation of the southern half of Indo-China by Japanese military forces. In consequence, the American attitude towards Japan hardened, and diplomatic relations between the two countries came to a dead end. The Tojo Cabinet conducted its business in extreme secrecy, and in the pre-dawn hours of December 8, 1941 [December 7, Honolulu time], Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked and war was simultaneously declared against the United States and England. The Pacific War was thus begun. (Donald W. Robinson, Editor, As Others See Us, International Views of American History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969.)

[Ghost]

True!

Or glosses it over:


Translated from a Japanese history textbook of the late 1960s:


In April 1941, Japan agreed to a Japan-USSR Neutrality Treaty in order to lessen the military threat to the north. This was followed by the occupation of the southern half of Indo-China by Japanese military forces. In consequence, the American attitude towards Japan hardened, and diplomatic relations between the two countries came to a dead end. The Tojo Cabinet conducted its business in extreme secrecy, and in the pre-dawn hours of December 8, 1941 [December 7, Honolulu time], Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked and war was simultaneously declared against the United States and England. The Pacific War was thus begun. (Donald W. Robinson, Editor, As Others See Us, International Views of American History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969.)

I don't see glossing over, just a presentation of minimal facts. Here it clearly states that the Japanese initiated the attack. How much depth is required for a children's history book?

[laspariahs]

True!

Or glosses it over:


Translated from a Japanese history textbook of the late 1960s:


In April 1941, Japan agreed to a Japan-USSR Neutrality Treaty in order to lessen the military threat to the north. This was followed by the occupation of the southern half of Indo-China by Japanese military forces. In consequence, the American attitude towards Japan hardened, and diplomatic relations between the two countries came to a dead end. The Tojo Cabinet conducted its business in extreme secrecy, and in the pre-dawn hours of December 8, 1941 [December 7, Honolulu time], Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked and war was simultaneously declared against the United States and England. The Pacific War was thus begun. (Donald W. Robinson, Editor, As Others See Us, International Views of American History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969.)


I'm sure they don't like to talk about the medical experiments they did on the Chinese, or the rape of Nanking either, doesn't mean that's not what happened. Reality is much different than what people are taught k-12.

Just like we don't like to talk about how we put american citizens in camps, or the firebombings of tokyo.

[asp_125]

They say history is written by the conquerers.