Obama’s Japan trip revives war memories

LETTERS LETTERS@ USATODAY. COM Mr. President, we seldom agree, but I do

want to thank you for not apologizing to the Japanese for America dropping the bomb on Hiroshima. If anything, the Japanese should apologize to you for starting the war, and killing, maiming and torturing millions of people across the globe. John Lemandri Williamsburg, Va.

I am eagerly awaiting President Obama’s

visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. I am happy he has showed the courage to visit Hiroshima, even though some people are opposed to him going there.

I can’t express how important it is for the president, and other world leaders, to destroy all nuclear weapons. These weapons are the worst expressions of the potential of human beings. However, humanity has the possibility of starting a new chapter in history in which war, hatred and misery can all disappear. We need a decisive break with the past. Our history has been filled with too much suffering, agony and despair.

President Obama, I appeal to your highest hopes and ideals: Please join with all those who love and cherish life, freedom from terror and human solidarity. Destroy these insane nuclear weapons before it is too late. Rama Kumar Fairfax, Calif HOW AMERICANS VIEW ATOMIC BOMBINGS NOW Do you think the United States made the right decison to drop two nuclear weapons on Japan?

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The debate over the nuclear strikes on Japan during World War II will probably never end. But both countries are very different from what they were in 1945.

If Obama's visit to Hiroshima helps bring some closure to old wounds, and brings the two nations closer together, I welcome it. Mubashir Cheema

The Japanese need to apologize for a lot of things, starting with Pearl Harbor. Tim Webb

The president has to go to Hiroshima. We have to come face to face with what we did. The conscience of the world is weighing us down. George Kafantaris

No matter how holy we try to portray ourselves, we are the only country to deploy nuclear weapons on civilians. Jerry Tyller

Did anyone expect anything else from this president? This has been an apology tour from beginning to end. Well, here is my apology: I am sorry this guy represents the USA. His record of incompetence speaks for itself. Thomas J. Ritz

It was a very different time, and the options we have today were not available. The Japanese were a formidable enemy and had made a vicious, unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor.

As my dad used to say, “We didn’t start the fight, but we sure finished it.” Thom Paul Viceroy

Of course it's viewed as an apology. If you think he's going there for any other reason, you probably voted for him. Japan cannot even teach their own kids about their country’s role in starting the war and the millions of deaths they are responsible for. Of course I have a problem that my president is going there.

Garth Hogan

Sad how Americans justify the killing and maiming of innocent women and children to bring down governments. Pete Wagner If Obama had been president in 1945, we wouldn't be having this discussion now. We would have just surrendered. Bald Knobber