Shrugging-Off the Atomic Bomb

Sixty-two years later and the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki claim another victim, the political career of Japan's defense minister Fumio Kyuma. Kyuma resigned due to the uproar over his comment that the bombings were “shou ga nai” (described by linguists as a “verbal shrug” implying “it’s not good, but what can you do?”).

Well sure, it's not good. The whole war was not good (contrary to what Studs Terkel might tell you). And sixty years later, what can you do? Continue to pick up the pieces and try to see that it doesn't happen again...doesn't need to happen again.

The issue here is that survivor groups feel that Kyuma's comments justified U.S. actions. Whether the bombings were justified is a post for another time perhaps. Personally, I'm happy that such a debate continues and that the bombings remain so pivotal and feared in world culture. The more mythic that status we give to nukes, the less likely we all will be to use them.