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Poll: Use of atomic bombs in WWII OK (Most Americans support use of nukes in Hiroshima)
Washington Times ^ | 8/5/2009 | John Christoffersen

Posted on 08/05/2009 9:21:16 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

NEW HAVEN, Conn. | A majority of Americans surveyed think dropping atomic bombs on Japan during World War II was the right thing to do, but support was weaker among Democrats, women, younger voters and minority voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.

The poll, released Tuesday, found 61 percent of more than 2,400 American voters questioned think the U.S. did the right thing; 22 percent called it wrong, 16 percent were undecided.

The first bomb was dropped Aug. 6, 1945, on Hiroshima. An estimated 140,000 people were killed instantly or died within a few months. Tens of thousands more died from radiation poisoning in years following.

Three days later, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing about 80,000 people. Japan surrendered less than a week later.

"Sixty-four years after the dawn of the atomic age, one in five Americans think President Harry Truman made a mistake dropping the bomb," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The poll asked a single question: "Do you think the United States did the right thing or the wrong thing by dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?"

Among voters over 55 years of age, 73 percent of those surveyed approved the decision, while 13 percent opposed. Sixty percent of voters 35 to 54 approved, while 50 percent approved among voters 18 to 34 years old, according to the poll.

"Voters who remember the horrors of World War II overwhelmingly support Truman's decision," Mr. Brown said. "Support drops with age, from the generation that grew up with the nuclear fear of the Cold War to the youngest voters, who know less about WW II or the Cold War."

Only 34 percent of black voters and 44 percent of Hispanic voters approved the decision, according to the poll.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: anniversary; hiroshima; nagasaki; nuclearweapons; wwii
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To: SeekAndFind

Well what do you know : If you’re black or hispanic, you tend not to support the use of Atomic Weapons in Japan.


They obviously haven’t done much to educate themselves. They clearly have a poor understanding of the situation and of history.


21 posted on 08/05/2009 9:50:15 PM PDT by boycott
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To: sonofstrangelove

NO NO NO,,Not on Russia! Thats *the very last* wild population of smokin’ hot women on earth, that hasn’t been exposed to the feminazi virus!


22 posted on 08/05/2009 9:53:42 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs earn the title of "man's best friend", Muslims hate dogs,,add that up.)
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To: SeekAndFind

It will be a sad day in America when right and wrong are decided by a public opinion poll.


23 posted on 08/05/2009 9:57:22 PM PDT by logician2u
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To: DesertRhino

And the former satellites.


24 posted on 08/05/2009 9:59:02 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: freebilly

>support was weaker among Democrats, women, younger voters and minority voters
In other words, support was weaker among people who self identify as victims....<

Freeb, you hit it right on the head.


25 posted on 08/05/2009 10:00:11 PM PDT by max americana
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To: Rastus

Ahhhh yes,,, the satellites. Im going to my happy place now.


26 posted on 08/05/2009 10:02:21 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs earn the title of "man's best friend", Muslims hate dogs,,add that up.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Photobucket

Thank God for the bomb. I shudder to think what the world would have been like without it keeping the tyrannical regimes of the world at bay. The bomb has done more for peace then all the pacifists of the world. And the smarter of them will admit it.

27 posted on 08/05/2009 10:04:32 PM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
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To: DesertRhino

Hungary. The Ukraine. What’s the deal? Is it the water? Fallout from Chernobyl? If these be mutants, let’s nuke our women, too. ;-D


28 posted on 08/05/2009 10:07:05 PM PDT by Rastus
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To: SeekAndFind

And if we hadn’t have dropped the bomb...twice...the death toll probably would have been much much larger. I’m just thankful the Japanese didn’t call our bluff on a third bomb. If I remember correctly it wasn’t finished yet.


29 posted on 08/05/2009 10:07:48 PM PDT by Domandred (Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.. I am Jim Thompson.)
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To: Hillarys nightmare
...while 50 percent approved among voters 18 to 34 years old, according to the poll...Only 34 percent of black voters and 44 percent of Hispanic voters approved the decision, according to the poll

You may be heartened by the poll, but I think it stinks. Only 50% of the 18-34 years old approve, which means that they have been indoctrinated by our Leftist education system that distorts the history of this country.

And the fact that support among blacks and Hispanics is so low is a harbinger of our nation's future. By 2023 half of the children 18 and under will be minorities and by 2042 half of the country will be minorities. Is it any wonder why Obama goes around the world apologizing for America?

30 posted on 08/05/2009 10:10:12 PM PDT by kabar
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To: Rastus

Think we could work out a trade? Like in Baseball? We could somehow make em think they are getting a good deal, by the time they realized how bad they messed up, it’d be too late.


31 posted on 08/05/2009 10:10:20 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs earn the title of "man's best friend", Muslims hate dogs,,add that up.)
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To: SeekAndFind

We were close to winning, so we could have just invaded the island and given hundred of thousands of Colombian neckties to the populace.


32 posted on 08/05/2009 10:11:09 PM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: kabar

You know, election of Obama is nothing more than the simple reality that a lot of Americans hate the tarditional USA.


33 posted on 08/05/2009 10:18:06 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs earn the title of "man's best friend", Muslims hate dogs,,add that up.)
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To: All

Rush - Manhattan Project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7RaDUn7W84

Imagine a time
When it all began in the dying days of a war
A weapon — that would settle the score
Whoever found it first
Would be sure to do their worst —
They always had before...

Imagine a man
Where it all began a scientist pacing the floor
In each nation — always eager to explore
To build the best big stick
To turn the winning trick —
But this was something more...

The big bang — took and shook the world
Shot down the rising sun
The end was begun — it would hit everyone
When the chain reaction was done
The big shots — try to hold it back
Fools try to wish it away
The hopeful depend on a world without end
Whatever the hopeless may say

Imagine a place
Where it all began
They gathered from across the land
To work in the secrecy of the desert sand
All of the brightest boys
To play with the biggest toys —
More than they bargained for...

Imagine a man
When it all began
The pilot of enola gay
Flying out of the shockwave
On that august day
All the powers that be
And the course of history
Would be changed for evermore...


34 posted on 08/05/2009 10:19:51 PM PDT by wastedyears (The Tree is thirsty and the hogs are hungry.)
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To: kabar
You may be heartened by the poll, but I think it stinks. Only 50% of the 18-34 years old approve, which means that they have been indoctrinated by our Leftist education system that distorts the history of this country.

Interestingly, back in 1945, conservatives were more likely to condemn the dropping of the bomb than the New Dealers who wanted to destroy all vestiges of Japanese traditional society.

The conservatives were right.. It wasn't necessary to slaughter thousands of babies, little old ladies, teenagers, and the destroy the center of Japanese Christianity (Nagasaki) to bring an end to the war. Truman could have ended it earlier by agreeing to let the Japanese keep the emperor (which Truman ultimately did anyway).

35 posted on 08/05/2009 10:24:11 PM PDT by Captain Kirk
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To: Domandred
I’m just thankful the Japanese didn’t call our bluff on a third bomb. If I remember correctly it wasn’t finished yet.

Actually, we had a third one ready to go on August 19th. Another one would have been ready the first part of September with an addtional three later that month. Another three would have been ready in October.

36 posted on 08/05/2009 10:27:27 PM PDT by kabar
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To: SeekAndFind
Well what do you know : If you're black or hispanic, you tend not to support the use of Atomic Weapons in Japan.

Of course! They dropped the bomb on the minorities in Japan, so black and hispanics naturally empathize. Snark.

37 posted on 08/05/2009 10:36:14 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: DesertRhino

Dropping two atomic bombs on Russia would have stopped the Cold War from even starting.I believe Winston Churchill wanted this. My targets would have been Moscow and Leningrad.


38 posted on 08/05/2009 10:38:31 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("I don't mind being called tough, because in this racket it's tough guys who lead the survivors.)
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To: DesertRhino

At that time, we had a virtual monopoly on the atomic bomb. That monopoly would have lasted a bit longer is atomic bombs were dropped on Russia


39 posted on 08/05/2009 10:41:46 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("I don't mind being called tough, because in this racket it's tough guys who lead the survivors.)
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To: Captain Kirk
Interestingly, back in 1945, conservatives were more likely to condemn the dropping of the bomb than the New Dealers who wanted to destroy all vestiges of Japanese traditional society.

Where do you come up with that nonsense? All Americans were committed to total, unconditional surrender of the Japanese. The fire bombings of Tokyo killed more people than either Hiroshima or Nagasaki. The Japanese Kamikaze suicide attacks took a terrible toll of US ships and personnel off the coast of Okinawa in April-June 1945. Suicide attacks by planes or boats at Okinawa sank or put out of action at least 30 U.S. warships, and at least three U.S. merchant ships, along with some from other Allied forces. The attacks expended 1,465 planes. Much worse was expected if we invaded Japan on sea and on land.

The idea that there was some partisan divide between conservative Republicans and Democrats in 1945 on how to deal with Japan is pure fantasy.

The conservatives were right.. It wasn't necessary to slaughter thousands of babies, little old ladies, teenagers, and the destroy the center of Japanese Christianity (Nagasaki) to bring an end to the war. Truman could have ended it earlier by agreeing to let the Japanese keep the emperor (which Truman ultimately did anyway).

Just more revisionist history. We were fighting a total war just like the Japanese did. We didn't "slaughter" anyone. We were fighting for our national survival. If you want to talk about slaughter, then take a look at what the Japanese did to China killing millions of people. The Japanese warrior code of Bushido helped to define the way the Japanese fought. Being captured was a sign of weakness and prisoners were shown no respect. True warriors fought to the death. Truman did the right thing.

How old are you. You sound like one of the brainwashed 18-34 year olds who have been fed a line of crap in our failing school systems. FYI: I was born in 1943, served 8 years in the Navy, including a year in Vietnam. My father and his four brother served in WWII with some seeing service in Tarawa, Anzio, and Salerno. They supported Truman's decision as did the vast majority of Americans. And by doing so, we probably saved Japanese lives as well.

I visited the museum in Nagasaki at ground zero in 1967.

40 posted on 08/05/2009 10:55:13 PM PDT by kabar
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