Let's hope we never have to do something like that again. Indeed, it is the fact that so many don't understand that if things go wrongly, we might, that scares me most.

You of course know far more about the Japanese than I do, but from my background as an American who's studied Japanese martial arts, loves their movies, their anime, their manga, some of their music, much of their food, and a few of their books (especially "A Book of Five Rings") I'll make this haphazard observation: Whatever its shortcomings, the Japanese concept of honor is mostly a healthy thing. Understanding that your enemy has vanquished you but may still be honorable and may even become your equal and your friend--this is a very healthy thing. I understand that of course not all Japanese feel this way, but the friendship that sprang up between Japanese and Americans after the war ended, this has long been treasured by me as a great thing for both peoples, and for the human race. You share that with any of your dangerous yellow slant-eyed friends who think would like to hear it. ;-)

I've known many Japanese, from the childhood friend, fellow graduate students, co-workers, and mentor. But I've never been apologetic. Once, a co-worker recounted his family members who died during the Great Pacific War, one uncle disappeared in New Guinea, another in China, a third was lost at sea, and an aunt who died in a firebombing raid. Tragic each and every one. I patiently listened to Hoshi's list and after he stopped I quietly told him that I'm d*%n glad it was his uncles and not my dad or my uncles. As a wise man once noted, America can choke on a gnat but swallows tigers whole. He smiled and replied, "I'm glad that America swallowed Japan whole." His explanation being that Japan wasn't chewed in into little pieces and digested.