(Photos courtesy of a computer letter from Walt)
The world quaked in it's boots, and alternately breathed a sigh of relief in the wake of the August 6, 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. As the news spread around the planet, it became obvious that America would now finally vanquish the Japs and put an end to the madness that had gripped the entire world for far too many years.
It would take another devastating A-Bomb drop on Nagasaki, Japland 3 days later to finally convince the nips to give it up.There is no doubt that President Harry Truman went to his grave as the man that had made the toughest decision in world history (except for when our Lord Jesus decided to go on ahead to the Cross, and be crucified for our sins). I pray that "Give 'em hell Harry" found peace in the fact that he saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans, and millions of nips that were bound to be killed in a full-force invasion of Japan.
The devastation was complete...and I hope never to witness such a thing before I croak. And I pray that my children will not witness such an event after I go on to Heaven.
Fast-forward to 2009: 64 years later, Hiroshima, Japland seems to have made the best of a bad situation...
Evidently, the Japs done pretty danged good at rising from the ashes!
Now, on to the OTHER CITY in this tale...and the "Quiz."
When "The Bomb" was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, this was a thriving city. It was the hometown of patriotic Americans that marched off to war. Many thousands of its' residents paid the ultimate price of their lives fighting in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Theater to keep their city prosperous, safe, and free. God rest their souls!
64 years later, the sacrifice of these city boys (and gals, btw) seems to be all but forgotten! Their lives were disrupted, their families were spread hither and yon. Many brothers were never reunited. Many Mommas & sisters wept 'til they had no more tears. Many young brides bore children whose fathers were already in the ground in Europe, or some lonely patch of sand on some unknown island in the Pacific. The sacrifice was great.
Yet, the entire nation celebrated through the sorrow.
Our "American Way of Life" had been preserved! Their city had been preserved as a decent place to raise a family, pursue a dream freely, grow old together with the High School Sweetheart...for a while at least...
So, we won the war! (The actual e-mail Walt sent me asks, "Who The Hell Won The War?")
The quiz: What city looks like it took the business end of the A-bomb? Don't know the name of it? Well, I'll give you one last clue...
(I'd offer a prize for the correct answer, but I've tried that before...and nobody wants Sadie).
HOLY CRAP!!! It's Baton Rouge?!?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteWell, I set myself up for that one! I was pretty sure that you would be the one to catch the nuance...
ReplyDeleteSigh...
Baton Rouge is still a "tad" better off than the overwhelming cesspool. But not by much...
You win!
Oddly enough, Flint is even worse than Detroit. I would love to vacation there.
ReplyDeleteFluffy the Michigan Poodle and I would like to let you know that we live in WEST Michigan. The conservative side of the state. It is the eastern side of Michigan with it's larger population that elects the Democrats. Got to keep those welfare checks rolling in over there you know. We NEVER drive around in Detroit, 'cause us white folk don't wanna get shot.
ReplyDeleteI hear that Flint is lovely...especially this time of year.
ReplyDeleteDeanna, Fluffy is obviously in good hands. Girl, what a mess De-troit has become. But I know what you're saying. I live in VERY conservative NW Louisiana, far from the madding crowd in New Orleans, and Baton Rouge that continue to keep my beloved State in a continual prison by their actions at the ballot box.
Were it not for that pesky two million "gimme Jimmys" in the SE part of the State, it would truly be paradise. I truly feel your pain.