THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502150029
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
As a veteran of World War II, I was dismayed to see on the front page of your Jan. 31 newspaper a pathetic picture of a Japanese schoolboy alongside the article about the Enola Gay. Most Americans, I believe, were and are sympathetic for the many Japanese civilians who were killed and maimed by the atomic bombing on Japan. However, it seems grossly unfair to attempt to make us conscience-stricken.
In justification of the bombing you could have shown a picture of the burning and exploding battleship Arizona, which still has entombed in its hull hundreds of sailors. As someone rightfully said, ``If there had been no attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, there most likely would not have been an atomic bombing of Japan.''
You could have shown pictures of the hundreds of thousands of Chinese, Filipinos and other nationals who were killed, raped and ravaged by the Japanese military. With some searching you might have found pictures of the many beheadings of American and Allied airmen. I am sure that many POWs were victims or witnessed similar events.
Decapitation was a favorite method of killing by the Japanese - hence their beautiful swords. Who can forget the wager made by two Japanese Army lieutenants as to which one could cut off the most heads in one day. Later, after a furious day of fighting, the winner boasted of having lopped off more than 108 Chinese heads. It is hard to understand the enormity of such brutality
Please try not to impose a sense of guilt upon us for the atomic bombing of Japan. Do have some concern for our sensibilities.
JOSEPH C. SEVER
Norfolk, Feb. 4, 1995 by CNB