The United States is the only country in world history (so far) to use nuclear weapons. In bombing two Japanese cities, the U.S. government killed close to a quarter of a million people — the vast majority of them innocent civilians. At the time, almost all Americans were thrilled at the slaughter and heartily approved. Today, a lot of us believe that what happened was unjustified murder of innocents. Which view is best?
When I was growing up, I believed the atomic bombings were justified. I know all the standard arguments in favor of them, because I used to agree with them completely. (Here’s a sampling of arguments on both sides of the issue.) I came to see the bombings in a very different way, though, as I started questioning the legitimacy of coercive governments.
Before I started seeing the world in a different way, I saw every person living in a land as part of the organism of a nation-state, so they were collectively guilty for their government’s actions. Now, I see those people as individuals, most of whom couldn’t change “their” government’s actions if they wanted to. (And I realize now that many of them would have wanted to.)
I’m disgusted to live in a world where Judge Judy makes millions
EU says it might block people from getting their own money from banks
Majority of Americans approve of feds snooping in name of security
How do you suppose invention of ‘truth machine’ would affect you?
No matter who you are or what you’ve done, time is your enemy
Where do those ‘unalienable rights’ really come from?
Insane incentives create insane results as kids are paid to attend classes
If you participate in sham of voting, you’re responsible for what it creates
When people show you who they are, trust their actions, not words