Why are we so bent out of shape about an apology to Japan?

SSgt Dan Montague — Sun, 29 May 2016 22:18:06 -0400

I see a lot about this all over here and FB. First of all no one apologized to Japan for dropping the bombs. Second of all, who cares??? It was over 70 years ago and Japan is one of our greatest allies. I see no reason why apologizing would in the slightest degrade the honor of what all of our men died for in WW2. Some of Our generation hate Obama so much that they are blinded by the lies we read. Japanese soldiers and airmen that bombed pearl harbor have visited out of respect. I watched a Japanese sub pull into Pearl Harbor back in '94. They maned the rails in dress whites and rendered honors as they passed by the Arizona. Many US WW2 Vets have made friends with their former German and Japanese enemies.
My question is, if the ones who fought the war can forgive and become friends, why cant this generation allow it officially?

Response by SN Greg Wright made May 29 at 2016 10:22 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 29 May 2016 22:22:58 -0400

Who's we? I'm not. Having said that, he didn't actually apologize.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made May 29 at 2016 10:28 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Sun, 29 May 2016 22:28:55 -0400

See above

Response by Maj John Bell made May 29 at 2016 10:37 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 29 May 2016 22:37:48 -0400

A thug breaks into your house, rapes your daughters and wife, Kills them, then sets your house on fire. You arrive home and nail the thug with a baseball bat that breaks his jaw, knocks out several of his teeth and leaves him with mild brain damage. 70 years later your Great Grandson apologizes to the thug's children, grand children and great grand children. After all, you were bigger than him and you surprised him, and he didn't know that you had a baseball bat. You could have used the bat to break a lamp to show you were serious without actually hurting him. Your Grandson does this in a very public format, The thug's funeral.

What would you say to your Grandson? If I were you the best he could hope fore is never-ending accusatory silence.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made May 29 at 2016 10:58 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Sun, 29 May 2016 22:58:59 -0400

We have nothing to apologise for. Japan got what it needed at the time. That said I see no reason that we can't be friends now.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2016 11:24 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 May 2016 23:24:27 -0400

I am absolutely no fan of President Obama, however, there's no purpose in making him appear worse than he is. A visit to their memorial while in their country is a measure of respect that I would expect from our President!

Response by Sgt Bry K. made May 30 at 2016 2:08 AM

Sgt Bry K. — Mon, 30 May 2016 02:08:34 -0400

We have nothing to oppologize for. They started it, we finished it. If any government should be the first to visit, render honors and call their country's actions evil, it should be done at Pearl Harbor, where we were thrown into the war.
The salt in the wound is that our president is doing this dog and pony show for Japan on the weekend of our national holiday recognizing our men and women lost in war.
If you don't think that is a show of disrespect then I don't know what to tell you. But a leader who has disrespected the military for the last 8 years has bred the same disrespect in the other citizens. Look at the acts of vandalism to veteran memorials and cemetaries this weekend already.

Response by SFC James Liedtka made May 30 at 2016 10:20 AM

SFC James Liedtka — Mon, 30 May 2016 10:20:34 -0400

Why hasn't japan apologized for the murder and rape they did all over the far east?
The real issue with obama is that he called us evil, In the country that caused the war just before the holiday memorializing those individuals that gave their lives to stop them.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2016 1:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 May 2016 13:20:50 -0400

Why are discussing an apology that didn't happen? Oh well, enjoy.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2016 2:56 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 May 2016 14:56:30 -0400

Because the false narrative that President Obama apologized. He never apologized, but respected the fallen. And I would expect that from any human. But, we had to do what we had to do, it was either the bombs or Operation Downfall.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 30 at 2016 5:11 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 30 May 2016 17:11:40 -0400

Good Question. Way too many People are stuck in some kind of weird Time Warp. They live in an Ancient Past that has little bearing on today.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made May 30 at 2016 6:02 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Mon, 30 May 2016 18:02:23 -0400

Totally disagree!! Actual on a trip to Hawaii I took several years ago I toured the Arizona-on the trip out to this sacred memorial there were several Japanese tourists on board who had to be reminded several times that this was sacred ground with war dead, even then they kept talking and were generally discourteous! Also the Japanese have never officially apologized for their many war crimes committed during this time-I think we can blame old Doug McArthur at least in part for not holding the Japanese accountable after the war. I believe you need to revisit some of the history of this period

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 31 at 2016 12:17 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 31 May 2016 12:17:29 -0400

Because there is nothing to apologize for. We used a weapon at our disposal (which we couldn't have foreseen the second or third order affects of) to end the bloodiest war the world has ever seen. Period. Japan doesn't deserve an apology for that. If you don't want to have your nation destroyed, don't start a war of conquest.

That being said, when Japan actually makes at true apology for some of the crap they pulled during WW2 (and I don't consider Pearl Harbor necessarily a war crime. Just piss poor timing and coordination on their part), I'd be more apt to "apologize" for nuking them.

Response by Sgt Nick Marshall made Jun 1 at 2016 9:33 PM

Sgt Nick Marshall — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 21:33:06 -0400

Obama never apologized, why does the right wing twist this so???

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Jun 2 at 2016 7:57 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 07:57:52 -0400

Many WWII Veterans of the Pacific Wars still have not forgotten what the Japanese did to those Americans they captured or killed in combat. I knew some old Marine Veterans who would not even consider buying a car made in Japan.