Unit 731 and 24 hours after Hiroshima

[WernherVonTrapp]

I think I saw "24 Hours..." recently on either Discovery, or maybe National Geographic channel. I couldn't watch "Unit 731" because I was prompted to log-in at YouTube. I tried three times but it wouldn't accept my username/password.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Ahh, finally I was able to watch it in it's entirety. I found that part 3 was the only section that required a log-on. I watched all the other sections on YouTube and found part 3 on another website. What a process. Still, with some variations, the series seemed commensurate with what I've read about Nazis medical experiments in Europe. I wonder what would've happened if the Americans (in Europe), had not found the evidence of medical experiments before the Nazis were able to destroy it, or even conceal it for future bargaining. The only difference, aside from mass exterminations using various inhumane methods in Europe, was the scale with which the Japanese deployed their biological experiments. The Japanese seemed more indifferent to life in general, but then again, they used to kill themselves en masse with ritual seppuku or in pointless Banzai charges against vastly superior firepower. In that respect, their inhumanity is no surprise. I've read some equally horrific stories about Nazi medical experiments, some of which seemed to have no medical purpose whatsoever.

[Rockin Robbins]

I have always heard from people who have lived in the Orient that life has a completely different value to them than it does for us, that it is much more expendable. This is said to be true, whether it be Japanese, Chinese, Korean or others.

Their societies are highly stratified and it is as if members of "lower" strata are not even humans with the right to live, except at the pleasure of their "betters." I'm sure they're fully polluted by western thought today and what emerges will be a stronger, more resilient and resourceful Oriental than what was before. But I hope they have also learned some "humanity."

I don't think we would have taught them "humanity" by treating them with the same inhumanity that they doled out to their victims. I believe it was with good purpose that MacArthur called an end to the witch hunts in 1948 and said that's it. The crimes are paid for and now we move forward.

After all, the goal was not punishment, but the emergence of Japan as a new creature, strong, independent, capable and responsible in its citizenship in the world. So let's judge MacArthur's actions by the results. Is Japan a first-rate nation today, prosperous, indpendent, moral, non-aggressive and a good citizen of the world? If you agree that it is, and I can't imagine how you can think Japan is not, then you have to admit that forgiveness works better than punishment as a motivator of future behavior. First you establish the bedrock of what is right and what is wrong. Then you draw a line in the sand, cross it together and proceed side by side as friends.

Otherwise any peace that resulted from WWII would only have been a short preparation for the next war, as the 1920s and 1930s were for WWII after WWI, which ended with pettiness and revenge. Victory cannot be obtained by revenge.

[u crank]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

After all, the goal was not punishment, but the emergence of Japan as a new creature, strong, independent, capable and responsible in its citizenship in the world. So let's judge MacArthur's actions by the results. Is Japan a first-rate nation today, prosperous, indpendent, moral, non-aggressive and a good citizen of the world? If you agree that it is, and I can't imagine how you can think Japan is not, then you have to admit that forgiveness works better than punishment as a motivator of future behavior. First you establish the bedrock of what is right and what is wrong. Then you draw a line in the sand, cross it together and proceed side by side as friends.

Agreed. Only way it can be. Well said.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I have always heard from people who have lived in the Orient that life has a completely different value to them than it does for us, that it is much more expendable. This is said to be true, whether it be Japanese, Chinese, Korean or others.

Their societies are highly stratified and it is as if members of "lower" strata are not even humans with the right to live, except at the pleasure of their "betters." I'm sure they're fully polluted by western thought today and what emerges will be a stronger, more resilient and resourceful Oriental than what was before. But I hope they have also learned some "humanity."

I don't think we would have taught them "humanity" by treating them with the same inhumanity that they doled out to their victims. I believe it was with good purpose that MacArthur called an end to the witch hunts in 1948 and said that's it. The crimes are paid for and now we move forward.

After all, the goal was not punishment, but the emergence of Japan as a new creature, strong, independent, capable and responsible in its citizenship in the world. So let's judge MacArthur's actions by the results. Is Japan a first-rate nation today, prosperous, indpendent, moral, non-aggressive and a good citizen of the world? If you agree that it is, and I can't imagine how you can think Japan is not, then you have to admit that forgiveness works better than punishment as a motivator of future behavior. First you establish the bedrock of what is right and what is wrong. Then you draw a line in the sand, cross it together and proceed side by side as friends.

Otherwise any peace that resulted from WWII would only have been a short preparation for the next war, as the 1920s and 1930s were for WWII after WWI, which ended with pettiness and revenge. Victory cannot be obtained by revenge.

Very well put, and I agree wholeheartedly.