Subject: WWII

So I am doing a research paper on Japan and the USA during WWII and an interesting point was brought up during the course of my research. As noted by some scholars, it is said that the war in the pacific vs the war in Europe was fought with enormous amounts of vigor and hatred towards the Japanese as a people (vs fighting Hitler- Never the German People)- A RACE WAR

So my question to you guys is do you believe that the Japanese People were demonized far greater that that of Germans? if so to what extent was it based of racism?
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I am just trying to get an assortment of opinions. thanks guys.

-ken

I wasn't around back then obviously but I think that the japanese were demonized more. It was probly based a lot on racism because japanese are more different than us than germans and we naturally fear/judge things that are different

To be honest, yes I believe that they were as well. It may have partly been because of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Because as many saw it then, from what I've been told at least, it was completely blatant. And the fact that the Japanese had planned that for over 6 months, but had fooled the USA and the people into believing they wanted peace. And from the short time I've been on this Earth, I can say I've truly learned one thing about Americans. And that is that we do not enjoy being lied to or hit with a low blow.


Hope that makes sense?

yeah, the historical evidence points to a national feeling of anger and want for retribution for the attack on pearl harbor. germany didn't want america in the war, but japan's worries about its oil reserves drove them to pre-emptively attack the america.

so do you guys think that the want and need for revenge was exacerbatted by "racist" feelings, one which allowed for the demonization of anything Japanese, which also allowed for the A-bombs to be dropped?

Ive heard differing accounts on how there would be no way in hell the US would deploy nukes on Germany.... but then again i dont know...?

Having lived through WW II, I'll give my opinion on what that era was like. Yes, I'm now 73 years young and remember that time very well.

There was little, if any, racism involved.

The unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor was the deed that caused the level of retribution.

There was a bit of paranoia about things 'oriental', but mostly on the West Coast of the US, where the majority of Asian-Americans lived.

The use of atomic weapons to end the war came about when it was determined that millions of Americans and Japanese would be casualties if an invasion of Japan would take place. The use of nuclear weapons vs. Germany wasn't necessary or planned due to two reasons:
1. The weapons weren't 'ready' when Germany surrendered.
2. The Allied troops were deep into Germany when the Germans surrendered.

Most people are not aware that the US had exactly THREE atomic weapons when the first two were used on Japan. The third was used later to detonate the first 'hydrogen' weapon in the Pacific many years later. (Yes, the actual 'first' was the one detonated in the US at the test site, meaning only FOUR were built prior to the end of WW II).

there's no racism in the usa against orientals now, and i don't believe there was then. I wasn't alive like havi, but i've never heard that as being a driving factor.

Pearl harbor was a huge deal to the USA.
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yeah thats why i posted this question....one my professors stated that an argument could be made for the racial aspect of US actions towards japan in wwii.... im not to sure if i actually agree but it sounds like quite a stretch.

I'm not sure about racism nowdays, but definetely some degree of discrimination is there.

For example: my Wife is Asian and she always applied for jobs using her Maiden Name, and barely got interviews. Then she decide to apply for some of the same companies using my Last name, like in a month spam for the same position, and she start to receive phonecalls about getting interviews.

well clearly racism still exists today seeing how even though we have a black president there are multiple examples of racism (whether it would be distribution of wealth, healthcare, individual sterotypes, etc.) then again i was born and raised here (california) im asian and i dont really feel any different...but maybe thats just me.

my original question was do you guys think WWII in the pacific could be deemed a RACE WAR...and i think i get the jest of what everyone thinks and i agree...which was there may have been a racial element to it but for the most part it was not fueled by racismm...?

i guess if it was a RACE WAR your professor was saying that japan had something against caucasians?

Because they kinda started that war pretty clearly, eh?

lol actually the opposite...she says that for the past 100 years starting in the 1840s all of Japan's actions can be explained through a defensive mentality..in order to protect their soveirgnty from Western imperialism.

i dont really agree with her but then again who am i to say that her theory is flawed.

lol actually the opposite...she says that for the past 100 years starting in the 1840s all of Japan's actions can be explained through a defensive mentality..in order to protect their soveirgnty from Western imperialism.

Where are their any actions or threats by the Americans during that time for the Japanese to fear for their sovereignty. America was coming out of the Civil War in the mid 1860's and were just then starting to expand west and rebuild afterwords. Then at the turn of the century we were more involved in starting the industrial revolution and dealing with the Great Depression.

Sounds like the babblings of a lunatic fringe liberal professor who is just trying to continue to promote a racism agenda against the US in general. Sad really when the unprovoked attacks by Japan were the ONLY reason that the US was at war with Japan.

BTW, why don't you ask your professor why were the Japanese invading Manchuria in the early 30's and committing genocide against the Chinese until they attacked Pearl Harbor. Amazing how their has been no talk of racism against the Japanese for there actions in Manchuria. I guess that can be excused because an Atom bomb was dropped on them. *rolleyes

Sneak attacks killing thousands of Americans and sinking most of our Pacific fleet tends to piss people off.

ya think? :)