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March 27th, 2008 at 6:00 am

Hotel Hiroshima

» by Brian Engel in: Japan, Japanese History, Military, WW-II

Hiroshima

Slate.com, one of my favorite websites, has an article on Hiroshima which I found disappointing.  It’s long (very long — whatever happened to being concise?), unfocused, and somewhat pointless.  Despite that, it does raise a few thought-provoking questions and makes a couple of interesting observations even while rehashing a lot of old material.  Points of note include the banality of much of modern day Hiroshima (Starbucks, KFC, McDonalds, etc.), comparisons to current issues of 9/11 commemoration, and why A-bomb victims deserve special recognition over other war dead.  You won’t miss much if you give this article a pass, but if Hiroshima and its place in history interests you, give it a quick read.

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  • 1

    Who are you, Brian Engel, and where did you come from?

    Marie Mockett on March 27th, 2008
  • 2

    Not sure how I should take that! International Man of Mystery from Cleveland, Ohio? (cue Austin Powers music) :-) Edward has asked me to put up a bio on the website, so I’ll put that together shortly.

    Brian Engel on March 27th, 2008
  • 3

    It’s a rambling piece from a writer who seems to believe that ironically the city only came into existence when it was obliterated. And he seems surprised that anything has happened there since, that people and their city have endured. Very odd. Why should Hiroshima not also be famous for pancakes? It’s only significant in his mind for the bombing, but that speaks of his ignorance and says nothing new about the city itself.
    He does make a point later on (I think) that ground my gears in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki (and generally), namely the careful focus on the end of the war. Rather than on anything else like, say, the beginning or the the middle. ‘Peace museums’ are fine and all. But Japan is rather in need a few more ‘war museums’ with a wider focus.

    overoften on March 27th, 2008
  • 4

    ‘Peace museums’ are fine and all. But Japan is rather in need a few more ‘war museums’ with a wider focus.

    Perhaps you should write the article.

    Marie Mockett on March 27th, 2008

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