The test tricks you a bit because he goes on the "techincal" answer rather than an obvious one.

For example the "The United States of America is a Democracy." statement. I knew that, techincally, we are not called a democracy, officially we are called a Federal Republic, but because we are given the right to vote, we are looked at as a democratic society. But, techincally, we are not a democracy.

Also the answer for the "In 1945, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on civilian populations in Japan in order to force Japan's surrender and "save a million lives" statement is a half-truth. oOo:

Yes. It says in the later explaination that "Only 50,000 AMERICANS would have died in an invasion". It fails to account, however, for the number of Japanese that would have been killed. If you know history, you know the Japanese would have killed themselves before risking being captured by an enemy, especially a low lifeform such as a round eye. On Okinowa, all Japanese civlians were marched to and over a cliff by the military. There is no reason to believe that it would have been any different in Mainland Japan. 1 million Japanese would have easily died. But yes, it is also true that it was a show of force for the Soviet Union.

[quote:f7983]In 1945, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on civilian populations in Japan in order to force Japan's surrender and "save a million lives."
FALSE. Although this was the "official" history taught to U.S. schoolchildren, we now know that the U.S. dropped nuclear bombs on an essentially defeated Japan. Japan was, in fact, attempting to initiate surrender negotiations even before the bombs were dropped. The primary purpose of bombing Japan was to demonstrate to the Soviet Union that the United States not only had nuclear weapons, but was willing to use them, thus cementing America's nuclear stance during the ramp-up to the Cold War. This explanation, of course, remains highly debatable, but the fact remains that even U.S. military leaders estimated no more than 50,000 Americans would be lost in a D-Day style assault on Japan. It's a huge number of lives, yes, but nowhere near one million. The two nuclear bombs, by the way, killed at least 200,000 Japanese civilians.[/quote:f7983]

[quote="Short Hand":a7634]
[quote:a7634]In 1945, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on civilian populations in Japan in order to force Japan's surrender and "save a million lives."
FALSE. Although this was the "official" history taught to U.S. schoolchildren, we now know that the U.S. dropped nuclear bombs on an essentially defeated Japan. Japan was, in fact, attempting to initiate surrender negotiations even before the bombs were dropped. The primary purpose of bombing Japan was to demonstrate to the Soviet Union that the United States not only had nuclear weapons, but was willing to use them, thus cementing America's nuclear stance during the ramp-up to the Cold War. This explanation, of course, remains highly debatable, but the fact remains that even U.S. military leaders estimated no more than 50,000 Americans would be lost in a D-Day style assault on Japan. It's a huge number of lives, yes, but nowhere near one million. The two nuclear bombs, by the way, killed at least 200,000 Japanese civilians.[/quote:a7634][/quote:a7634]
um... yes, thank you, short hand.

Like I said, half-truth. The emporer wanted to surrender but his Japanese Generals would not let him.

Yea. Actually, a very good book to read on the politics of the pacific war is flyboys by james bradley

If you knew 1 thing about their culture, it was that the emperor = living God, they would not second question him. BUT of course, you care little for that, All you care about is justfying a war crime to keep you concious clean. rolleyes:

And if you knew anything about history, you probably wouldntlook like such a fuck off. The higher generals, who had positions as "councillors" to the emporer, actually made most of his decisions. The emporer had very little real power. Ever see the last samurai? Same thing.

Correct me if I am wrong lypo, but did the Emperor not make the final decision/ have the last word in that movie... rolleyes: Not to mention that he ended up slowing down Japan's industrial/modern developements at the end to save Japenese traditions... which in turn would support the whole fiasco of keeping such mantras as "the Emperor = living God".... Hey that is just my look on it..but meh.

[quote="Short Hand":c372a]If you knew 1 thing about their culture, it was that the emperor = living God, they would not second question him. BUT of course, you care little for that, All you care about is justfying a war crime to keep you concious clean. rolleyes:[/quote:c372a]
imwithstupid:

I watched a discovery channel 3 hour special on Emporer Hirohito.

They brought a man on the show and interviewed him, he was 14 at the time of the war when the US was closest to the time of the invasion, and he recalled his town being told via messenger from the Emporer that a US invasion was imminent, and that to save their families honor they would have to commit suicide.

So him and his two brothers tied up their mother, and beat her to death. Then him and his next older brother tied up their oldest brother, and beat him to death. Finally he tied up his last brother and beat him to death with a rock.

There was no one left to kill him and he said he couldn't bring himself to commit suicide. He said there wasn't a day that goes by where he doesn't cry hysterically remembering how he saw all his friends and family commit suicide.

No one ever mentions those kind of things.

And I'm sure it's the US's fault no matter what. nag:

[quote="Short Hand":1ae6c]If you knew 1 thing about their culture, it was that the emperor = living God, they would not second question him. BUT of course, you care little for that, All you care about is justfying a war crime to keep you concious clean. rolleyes:[/quote:1ae6c]

The emporers were raised in seclusion from the rest of society until it was time for them to lead, when Hirohito took his position as Emporer he had no idea how to lead, and he had no idea what normal life was like.

His advisors took advantage of his social ineptness, they didn't directly disobey him.

[img]http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/cape_cod/images/great%20black-backed%20gull.jpg[/img]

[quote="Short Hand":ca587]Correct me if I am wrong lypo, but did the Emperor not make the final decision/ have the last word in that movie... rolleyes: Not to mention that he ended up slowing down Japan's industrial/modern developements at the end to save Japenese traditions... which in turn would support the whole fiasco of keeping such mantras as "the Emperor = living God".... Hey that is just my look on it..but meh.[/quote:ca587]

Emperor Hirohito was kept in the dark for the general course of the war. His council--as they traditionally would--lied to him and bolstered his spirit. The Japanese Imperial Navy and Army held veto power over any and all decisions that were made by the Emperor or his cabinet.

He is by no means a 'living-God.' Most Japanese who are Shinto Buddhist, about 80% and even more at the time of the Second World War, could have only considered the Dali Llama, if interpreted that way, to be a living God. Although there was much respect for the Emperor, it has been made painstakingly clear that he had great interest in military affairs, but that in the years 1942 and 1943 as the war started to go sour for Japan that the information he was recieving had less and less to do with reality. The assertation of 'divinity' came from Hirohito trying to protect himself from the Americans. He was essentially just lucky that MacArthur found him usefull.

Before you argue next time about knowing, "One thing about their culture," don't just make random and tenatively generic shit up to support your rather baseless and pathetic argument.

[quote=GordonHall]Emperor Hirohito was kept in the dark for the general course of the war. His council--as they traditionally would--lied to him and bolstered his spirit. The Japanese Imperial Navy and Army held veto power over any and all decisions that were made by the Emperor or his cabinet.

He is by no means a 'living-God.' Most Japanese who are Shinto Buddhist, about 80% and even more at the time of the Second World War, could have only considered the Dali Llama, if interpreted that way, to be a living God. Although there was much respect for the Emperor, it has been made painstakingly clear that he had great interest in military affairs, but that in the years 1942 and 1943 as the war started to go sour for Japan that the information he was recieving had less and less to do with reality. The assertation of 'divinity' came from Hirohito trying to protect himself from the Americans. He was essentially just lucky that MacArthur found him usefull.

Before you argue next time about knowing, "One thing about their culture," don't just make random and tenatively generic shit up to support your rather baseless and pathetic argument.[/quote:c32b4]

HTF did you know that...

I read.

oh god not another hiroshima debate....

[quote=GordonHall]Emperor Hirohito was kept in the dark for the general course of the war. His council--as they traditionally would--lied to him and bolstered his spirit. The Japanese Imperial Navy and Army held veto power over any and all decisions that were made by the Emperor or his cabinet.

He is by no means a 'living-God.' Most Japanese who are Shinto Buddhist, about 80% and even more at the time of the Second World War, could have only considered the Dali Llama, if interpreted that way, to be a living God. Although there was much respect for the Emperor, it has been made painstakingly clear that he had great interest in military affairs, but that in the years 1942 and 1943 as the war started to go sour for Japan that the information he was recieving had less and less to do with reality. The assertation of 'divinity' came from Hirohito trying to protect himself from the Americans. He was essentially just lucky that MacArthur found him usefull.

Before you argue next time about knowing, "One thing about their culture," don't just make random and tenatively generic shit up to support your rather baseless and pathetic argument.[/quote:97af4]

pathetic ? lol. rolleyes: . Baseless ?? lol. tenatively generic shit LOL. Both of you make these claims yet not a single reliable source to back it up. Look at the power this man must of had if you look at Blases story, the family Killed itself in respects to his words. That is Power right there Gordon.

[quote:4924e]All the clean hydrogen we need to power the world is already contained in crystals at the bottom of the ocean called gas hydrates.
TRUE. The mainstream U.S. press doesn't talk about it much, but the world's hydrogen problems have a ready solution. Frozen ice crystals found off the shores of Canada, Japan, Russia, Iceland and other nations with Northern shores contain vast quantities of clean, frozen hydrogen -- enough to power the entire world far beyond the limits of petroleum reserves. The U.S. press doesn't talk much about gas hydrates, preferring to focus on hydrogen derived from either natural gas or petroleum (resources the U.S. tends to own or control).[/quote:4924e]

oOo: oOo: didnt know this, is it true?

Short = served

Ya.. served oOo:

Glad you agree.

oOo:

eek:

[img]http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/chucktupp/bullpro.jpg[/img]

[quote="Eight Ace":93546][img]http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/chucktupp/bullpro.jpg[/img][/quote:93546]

happy:

91

[quote:37bfe]pathetic ? lol. . Baseless ?? lol. tenatively generic shit LOL. Both of you make these claims yet not a single reliable source to back it up. Look at the power this man must of had if you look at Blases story, the family Killed itself in respects to his words. That is Power right there Gordon.[/quote:37bfe]

You want sources then? Fine, you chose not to sight yours so I didn't sight mine. You simply backdowned because you got your shit pummeled like twelve year old against a chain gang.

Most Japanese citizens were under the impression that the Japanese were winning the war or would harm others under the premise that through Imperial propoganda that the American military was far worse than anything else they could imagine. Imperial military officers were immune to this, because they realized how week and easily controlled the emperor was.

So, here are my sources:

Enigma Of The Emperors: Sacred Subservience In Japanese History - by Ben-Ami Shillony (Really expensive, don't buy this unless it's secondhand by the way)

Bushido: The Way of the Samurai - Tsunetomo Yamamoto

Horror in the East: Japan and the Atrocities of World War II - Laurence Rees

There are a few others, but they are loaned to a friend of mine and I can't recall the authors and titles exactly. This knowledge however isn't simply gathered through reading, but rather by alleviating the pressure from your ass by uprooting your head from that direction and try a little non-internet related study beforehand so you can post more extravegant--but more believable--lies about cultures and history you know dick about.

rock:

Where'd you go Short?

temple

Prob. to go google more info he doesn't know.

He's chosen to drudge his idiocy through other threads rather than manning up to this one and realizing he was most definately wrong.

it says in my hisotry book, gordon rocks and shorthand sucks.

anyway hydrogen post is cool, got any links?

oh yea and, shorthand sucks cool: