This isn't a long diary.
I've got much more thinking to do on a subject that's occupied a big portion of my mind over the years, namely the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
But the bombs had to be delivered, and someone had to deliver them.
And the man who headed up those missions was Paul Tibbets. He died today, at the age of 92, and unapologetic to the end.
Greg Mitchell, writing about Tibbets today in Editor and Publisher, says:
(Tibbets) scoffed at the notion of shedding any tears over the bombing.
"I’ve got a standard answer on that," he informed me. "I felt nothing about it....I couldn’t worry about the people getting burned up down there on the ground. ...This wasn’t anything personal as far as I’m concerned , so I had no personal part in it....It wasn’t my decision to make morally, one way or another...I did what I was told -- it was a success as far as I was concerned, and that’s where I’ve left it...I can assure you that I can sleep just as peacefully at night as anybody can sleep...."
So, who's going to own up to what happened?
Like I said, I've got more to think about on this. In the meantime, here're the lyrics to a song by OMD from my punk days that at least begin to ask the question:
Enola Gay,
you should have stayed at home yesterday
Aha words can't describe
the feeling and the way you lied
These games you play,
they're gonna end it more than tears someday
Aha Enola Gay,
it shouldn't ever have to end this way
Its 8:15,
and that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio,
"conditions normal" and you're coming home
Enola Gay,
is mother proud of little boy today?
Aha this kiss you give,
it's never ever gonna fade away
Enola Gay,
it shouldn't ever have to end this way
Aha Enola Gay,
it shouldn't fade in our dreams away
Its 8:15,
and that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio,
"conditions normal" and you're coming home
Enola Gay,
is mother proud of little boy today?
Aha this kiss you give,
it's never ever gonna fade away.
Paul Tibbets doesn't have to answer to us anymore.