[lbo-talk] Gallup on Hiroshima & Nagasaki (Re: SPIEGEL on Dresden)

jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net
Thu Feb 17 15:06:57 PST 2005



> > It is disturbing, however, to find out that, in 1995, 59% of
> > Americans still approved of dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and
> > Nagasaki: [Yoshie]
>
> Or is it encouraging? How did the percentage get that low, when we lefties
> seemingly have so little access to the audience? 41 percent disapprove!
> That's pretty amazing, and cause for hope. Think how little it would take
> to double that figure...
>
> Michael Dawson

I thought the same thing when I read this. I would have guessed the approval number to be between 75% and 80% and was pleasantly surprised. For every two who disapprove there are only three that approve. This seems very encouraging to me since the school texts I've read and museum displays I've read all speak of the bomb as necessary to end the war and save more lives than it cost. I wonder if this number has dropped any since '95?

My parents vacation home has old newspapers in frames hung on the wall and one of them is the first atomic bomb dropped on Japan. One of the articles beginning on the front page is less than enthusiastic and mentions opposition to dropping the bomb and questions its necessity. I was surprised to read that. I incorrectly assumed no such viewpoint would have been allowed at the time. I haven't read the entire article since it is buried in the rest of the paper and the paper is sealed in an airtight frame.

John Thornton



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