Enola Gay, heroism or insanity?

[Gnarly Gnu]

Don't just blame the Muslims, "Think Crusades" Many evil things have been done in the name of Christianity.

Geoff you are absolutely right of course that evil things have been done in the name of Christianity - the inquisition etc is awful. But the vital point here is what the principal reference of each of the faiths commands - the bible clearly commands Christians not to do this violence. I have many Hindu relatives and friends plus a few Buddhists; I haven't studied their religious texts in depths but far as I am aware they are not commanded to kills others. Some followers of these religions have but I don't think they are following their religion in doing so. I have studied the Koran (it allowed me to understand how they think and act) and as far as I am aware this is the only significant faith that commands its followers to to enslave or kill all non-Moslems. In fact the only means of being assured acceptance by allah is to kill or be killed in his 'holy war'. I hope you can see the fundamental difference between faiths here.

 

You suggest people investigate these issues for themselves?? You do realise that the vast majority of religious people inherit their beliefs from someone else. This is literally the biggest issue and threat the world faces. And it's not just a few 'bad religions'. If you are willing to ignore science and the progression of society because of what was written in a book thousands of years ago, you are part of the problem.

Hello Nick in my opinion yes indeed each of us would do well to question the faith and beliefs we grew up with or inherited as you say - be it Christian, Hindu, Mormon, Buddhist, Atheist, Hindu, Catholic - whatever. And as above examining the primary source texts are the best place to start. I like science and engineering (particularly those I use for my occupation, math and specific aspects of physics) and from my investigations have found no disagreement with what the Bible teaches; you may have been taught at school there is massive discrepancies but a close study shows this is not the case - again don't just unthinkingly accept what your teachers or the media promotes. In fact many recent scientific findings have been underscoring what the Bible tells us from thousands of years ago.

 

Sorry folks, the original topic is an interesting one - just answering some questions.

 

 

[Bruce Tuncks]

Gnarly, there is a biblical hazard for us fliers... there is a firmament to separate the waters above from the waters below. And in this firmament is set the sun and moon. Now just what altitude is not disclosed, but it must be below freezing level or it would be ice above.

 

So we live under a rooftop sea... wow the firmament would be stronger than a Jabiru I reckon. And the sun is lower than I thought.

 

 

[Rastus]

Enola Gay was Paul Tibbets mother. Nothing whatsoever to do with happiness or homosexuality.

 

 

[fly_tornado]

This is the Moslem's Allah you are referring to - and I agree. It is awful that people commit violence for this reason. Again Jesus foretells this in John 16 "but the hour is coming that every one who kills you will think to render service to God; and these things they will do because they have not known the Father nor me"

 

 

Please understand that I am not telling you what to think Kasper, quite the opposite - I am suggesting you should think and investigate these issues for yourself. Don't let others think for you or unthinkingly accept what they claim on matters so important! Groupthink and peer pressure is very strong in our society.

people are challenged by your "powerful" intellect GNu

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

Enola Gay was Paul Tibbets mother. Nothing whatsoever to do with happiness or homosexuality.

Yeah I was just being silly Rastus, will add a smiley next time.

 

 

[turboplanner]

people are challenged by your "powerful" intellect GNu

It's just as well you have a sense of humour FT

 

 

[poteroo]

What really got them to surrender to the Americans was the massive Soviet attack. They felt that the Americans would let them keep their Emporer, but the commies wouldn't.

There are certainly many opinions on the 'ending' of WW2 in the Pacific. A very well researched and written book is RETRIBUTION: The Battle for Japan 1944-45 by Max Hastings.

 

 

The politics of halting Russian expansion would certainly have been one factor in the decision to use the A-bomb, as would the estimated 2 million American losses should they invade Japan. However, Hastings proposes that good old fashioned retribution was one of the major drivers for President Truman. The shocking barbarity of the Japanese occupying troops, whether to military or civilian prisoners, or the occupied civilians - was just too much for the Allied leaders to overlook. Most of our returned soldiers would be in full agreement with him.

 

 

[fly_tornado]

It's just as well you have a sense of humour FT

I think you'll agree GNu's intellect is more challenging

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

...that good old fashioned retribution was one of the major drivers for President Truman. The shocking barbarity of the Japanese occupying troops, whether to military or civilian prisoners, or the occupied civilians - was just too much for the Allied leaders to overlook. Most of our returned soldiers would be in full agreement with him.

Quite true, Poteroo. Our species has a nasty habit of running amok after winning. In many cases it was officially encouraged. A whole generation of traumatised Russian, Chinese and German women can attest to that.

I am no fan of Douglas MacArthur, but after defeating the Japanese he showed enormous humanity and foresight in the way he rebuilt their shattered nation.

 

 

[poteroo]

I am no fan of Douglas MacArthur, but after defeating the Japanese he showed enormous humanity and foresight in the way he rebuilt their shattered nation

Yes, he proved a more able civil Administrator than an Army General. He was also a great walking advertisement for RayBans:victory:

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Russia's imminent invasion of Japan was the catalyst for using the bomb.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Care to share some supporting evidence FT?

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Don't just blame the Muslims, "Think Crusades" Many evil things have been done in the name of Christianity.

But they're on our side so that's ok.

 

Enola Gay was Paul Tibbets mother. Nothing whatsoever to do with happiness or homosexuality.

What on earth are you doing here with facts - Are you trying to break the internet?

 

One of the many conundrums troubling me: if the supreme being exists and has power over us, why

I just won't to know how come the Supreme one, being supreme and all, was knackered after only 6 days of work and had to have a bludge on the 7th?

 

Hmm, possible evidence the Supreme one was Australian.

 

 

[dutchroll]

Indeed. Hell awaits the God haters.

Given that my opinion is that there is no such deity to hate, I'm pretty confident that no Hell awaits me.

Although if your deity does exist, I do take objection to him/her threatening my life if I don't do exactly as they say. They can sod off if that's their attitude.

 

 

[Rastus]

What on earth are you doing here with facts - Are you trying to break the internet?

Anything for a giggle, Bex

 

 

[Bruce Tuncks]

As much as they may have liked to, I don't see how the Russians would have had the wherewithal to mount an invasion on Japan in 1945.

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Care to share some supporting evidence FT?

read your history books TP. 2nd bomb dropped on the day russia invaded

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

As much as they may have liked to, I don't see how the Russians would have had the wherewithal to mount an invasion on Japan in 1945.

They had moved vast land and air forces to the Far East where they quickly overwhelmed the die-hard Japanese, but you're right: they lacked the means of getting them across the sea to Japan.

(Another similarity between Japan and Britain.)

 

 

[bexrbetter]

I do take objection to him/her threatening my life if I don't do exactly as they say. They can sod off if that's their attitude.

I generally think that's the key one that's peeves a lot of people off, it especially leaves Street Preaches open for retort.