Hiroshima and Nagasaki: America's revenge for Pearl Harbor

Today is Immaculate Conception day, but in America this was a day of infamy. On December 8, 1941, or exactly 82 years ago, the US Congress unanimously approved the declaration of war against the Empire of Japan for its highly-treacherous attack on Pearl Harbor. It was a treachery because while still in diplomatic talks, Japan attacked Hawaii, killing no less than 2,400 soldiers and civilians and wounding more than 2,000 others. The Japanese attack destroyed many war assets but it also triggered the righteous anger of the Americans against its former ally, Japan.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt told the US Congress in a joint session: "Yesterday , December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that Nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message."

The president continued: "And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

“Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces with the unbounding determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”

War was declared and millions died counting both sides' casualties. Japan was the culprit, the aggressor. The US was merely acting in self-defense. And the Philippines suffered the worst collateral damage. Japan killed one million Filipinos, made our women their sex slaves, and never owned up to their heinous crimes against humanity.

As a small part of its righteous retaliation for Pearl Harbor, America, upon the order of President Harry Truman (he succeeded Roosevelt who died in office), detonated on August 6, 1945, two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs killed 129,000 people in Hiroshima and 226,000 in Nagasaki. Fearing that America would target Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities next, Japan pleaded on bended knees and surrendered on August 15, 1945. Forthwith, the Soviet Union (now Russia) who was then an ally of America, declared war against Japan, protesting against Japan's unprovoked invasion of Manchuria.

The Japanese government signed the instrument of surrender on September 2, 1945. The Second World War ended for the US, Japan, and the Philippines. But Japan has not fully paid its humongous debt to the Filipinos until now. My father was wounded in armed combat in Cebu. Many Filipina women were made sex slaves or comfort women. Japan never apologized nor even owned up to their crimes against humanity. No amount of financial aid or loans can ever assuage the pains that the Japanese inflicted on the Filipinos. The Japanese people have inflicted damage upon millions in the Asia-Pacific rim. Until now, they are not apologetic. And if they are, their apologies can never revive the lives of one million Filipinos and millions of other Asians.

Today, as I pray for the soul of my late father, I ask God to heal me for my feelings of hatred and spite against the atrocious and despicable crimes committed against our country and people. I hope to receive this healing before Christmas.