Hiroshima Apology

To the Editor: 
An apology is proffered to correct, or make up for, a wrong or an offense. Dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was neither a wrong nor an offense—it was the quickest, least bloody, and most necessary way to end a war that had gone on too long and cost too many lives. By apologizing to Japan, the United States would, in essence, invalidate the survival of hundreds of thousands of servicemen who would have perished in the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland.
Apologists who today clamor for the United States to kowtow in the name of politically-correct revisionism utterly fail to consider the circumstances facing the nation and its citizenry in 1945. Before apologists possess the moral superiority to criticize in revisionist contempt Secretary of State John Kerry (or any of his predecessors) for not bestowing a “We’re sorry” on behalf of the United States, they should imagine themselves in the horrifying realities of 1945, rather than genuflecting in the unscathed realm of their 70-years-removed sensibilities. Would they be willing to sacrifice their son, their brother, their father, their husband rather than see the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima? Because the chances were very good that he would have been killed or grievously wounded in action, either on some Japanese beach or farther inland, where the war would have carried on in rapidly descending madness for at least another year. Apologists should consider that before passing judgment on an entire generation.
Yes, President Truman may well have given the order for Hiroshima to be targeted partly as a political show of force directed at the Soviets, but it would be coldly naïve to think that the million-plus Americans estimated as casualties weren’t paramount in his mind. Yes, Japan has thankfully served as a trusted and reliable ally since the war’s end. And yes, I, as much as anyone, am nauseated by footage of survivors of the atomic bombs.
But if anyone should apologize to the Japanese people, it’s the Japanese government for consigning millions of its citizens to death by starting a war it could not possibly win. For starting that war in the worst way possible—dishonorably and ensuring maximum retaliation. For ordering the suicides of thousands of its sons in futile kamikaze raids. For preferring to save face over saving its race, even when the war’s outcome became grimly obvious. For preparing to self-destruct its own culture by readying it to fight to the last man, woman and child. And perhaps worst of all, for refusing to surrender even after the bombing of Hiroshima, thus necessitating the destruction of Nagasaki.
So, apologist: before you urge that the United States dishonor the sacrifice of millions of Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave life, limb and/or youth to defend this nation from a maniacal foe, ask a World War II veteran if he would rather have invaded Japan than get to go home and live.
Your grandfather should be an illuminatingly self-existent place to start.