A-Bombs

I can understand why one would wait so long to air this TV show, although I am of the opinion it should have been shown sooner. In 1945, most people were unaware of the devastation and horrors the bomb caused, and undoubtedly would have felt less faith in their government had they known. From the standpoint of the broadcaster of the video, letting the topic "cool" was a good idea, as such shocking information could have caused viewers to take it out on the messenger, which would be bad for business. As the video seems to generally be against the bomb, with its description of the pain and suffering and testimonies from victims, it also makes sense that they may have waited to air it until there was more public support. What I find interesting, and disturbing, is that one of the American veterans says the bomb may have saved many lives, and that the invasion which otherwise would have happened would have killed tens or hundreds of thousands, which is the amount the bomb killed. The bomb (and radiation) killed 140,000 people within the first year, and many more afterwards. The story 1000 Paper Cranes, about a girl who suffered from radiation sickness but was born after WWII, is based on a real story, and tells of how radiation sickness continues to affect the Japanese people, in a very personal and real way. After reading the book, and seeing the casualty numbers, it is very difficult to justify dropping the atom bomb.