Home » Poems » Duke Beaufort » they were not human

Notes About The Poem

The United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan at the end of World War II. Some maintain this saved American lives. However, the Russians were about to enter the war, and Japan had no viable navy or airforce. The end was near without our use of nuclear weapons. Logically, a Japanese civilian represented something less than human that we could exterminate without regret or consequences--at least so we thought:

they were not human

We’d already beaten Japan
But the A-bomb was Truman’s plan
To tell Russian reds
We’ll cut you to shreds
And that’s how the Cold War began

We flashed two targets civilian
And killed point two of a million
Of sub-human trash
Just burned into ash
But we’re in no way reptilian

racismworld war iilimerick

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Sara Kendrick

Date: 6/13/2024 12:45:00 PM

Interesting ideas about this topic. While Japan had delegates over here talking peace, they knew they were going to bomb Pearl Harbor and they did. Their peace talks meant nothing. Sara K

Duke Beaufort
Date: 6/20/2024 6:07:00 PM

Sara, yes the Japanese did some terrible things during the war. There's no shortage of bad behavior during war, but the ending circumstances of WWII had many negative repercussions still affecting us. I hope you're not saying we were justified in using nuclear weapons at that time. Historical documents show the attack to be a message to the Russians and that the Japanese were slaughtered to deliver that message. While this is not pleasant to consider or accept, it is true.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 6/11/2024 5:08:00 AM

Thought-provoking, Duke! The more we learn about people…not just learn but get to know them, the more we care about them and their part of the world. God bless!

Duke Beaufort
Date: 6/20/2024 12:12:00 PM

Kim, thanks for this comment. Yes, it's harder to abuse someone we know. Demonization can lead to all kinds of bad things.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/3/2024 8:25:00 AM

I really like your statement here. I already forgot the name of the Oscar winning movie about the main brain behind the bomb, but as usual, the higher ups tried to throw him under the bus. Politicians are so good at that. Also I read about Hiroshima and the most tragic thing I read was how some people's SHADOWS got imprinted on walls. Unbelievable power in that bomb

Duke Beaufort
Date: 6/4/2024 3:42:00 PM

I think you mean Oppenheimer. He was one of the chief scientists involved in the development of the atomic bomb. The horror of it all didn't end with the end of the war. It led to an arms race and proliferation of nuclear weapons that still threaten us all.

Sotto Poet

Date: 6/1/2024 12:46:00 PM

Your limerick poem, dear Duke, is truly captivating. It delves into the moral and ethical complexities surrounding the US's choice to deploy atomic bombs on Japan at the close of World War II. Your poem serves as a reflection on the justification for using nuclear weapons on civilian populations and the aftermath of such decisions, particularly in the context of the onset of the Cold War. Through emotive and critical language, you shed light on the dehumanization of Japanese civilians and raise important questions about the rationale behind the use of atomic bombs. Your choice of words effectively conveys the brutality and inhumanity of these actions.

Duke Beaufort
Date: 6/4/2024 3:39:00 PM

SP, thanks. This is a difficult subject. Your review highlights exactly what this is about. It's not something I revel in writing about since it is so very unflattering. However, if we don't fact the truth regarding our past actions, we can never act differently when faced with similar situations.

Robert Gorelick

Date: 5/30/2024 11:34:00 AM

Extremely well taken. True that Soviets were posed to invade. Allied mind set during WW2 mirrored Admiral Halsy's deplorable comment "the only good Jap is a dead Jap" Would the invasion of Japan actually have cost the death of 400,000 allied soldiers? Maybe. The Japanese committed unspeakable atrocities (e.g.) The rape of Nanking. In war, hate has a mind of its own. Good job my friend, Robert

Duke Beaufort
Date: 6/1/2024 11:14:00 AM

Robert, thanks for your comment. The racism that developed as a result of the war was unfortunate and widespread. It enabled the Truman administration to use the bomb for political reasons without regard to its effect on civilians. The original thesis proposed by Gar Alperovitz in his book Atomic Diplomacy, has largely been reaffirmed as more information about decisions made has come to light. The potential deaths of allied soldiers was used to justify the use of the bombs and it seemed like a reasonable excuse to many at the time, but it hid the real motivation for the bomb's use. The lie undermined our democratic society, which requires truth in order for us to decide what leadership we should have. The real motives should have been stated from day 1. Now, all we can do is learn from what happened provided we are willing to accept the evil we participated in. It's very bitter and even impossible for many Americans to contemplate.

Tonye George

Date: 5/29/2024 4:57:00 PM

Lovely one Duke. I hate wars though and I never want to witness it. We've heard a lot about wars, and casualties. People pay with their lives and they were never part of anything. It just brings so much suffering and fewer answers.

Duke Beaufort
Date: 5/30/2024 6:08:00 AM

Tonye, I'm with you...wars represent the worst possible way to settle differences. Compromise, understanding, and willingness to share resources goes a long way toward this goal, but we often seem not willing to consider the perspective of others.

Daniel Henry Rodgers

Date: 5/29/2024 5:55:00 AM

Hello Duke, Your poem is seriously powerful. For it hits hard with its raw, unflinching look at history and its consequences. Your words pack a punch, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths. The way you mix dark humor and stark reality is impressive. You've captured a heavy topic with such clarity and impact. Keep challenging perspectives with your incredible work! - Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Duke Beaufort
Date: 5/30/2024 5:46:00 AM

Daniel, you are very kind indeed and also very open minded....a really good thing. We know we can't go back and undo things from the past, but we could learn the lessons and change the way we deal with disagreements, opportunities, and challenges going forward. Any change that could occur involves recognition of what happened previously. The way we act now says a lot about who we are. Sounds somewhat like therapy for a whole country!

Arthur Vaso

Date: 5/29/2024 1:10:00 AM

I had not thought of it in this way, I like poetry that makes me think.

Duke Beaufort
Date: 5/29/2024 5:15:00 AM

Thanks for being thoughtful Arthur. In one sense, this was an ongoing example of cultural dismissal. We haven't changed our behavior since we displaced the native Americans. At least legal slavery ended. The brutality involved regarding the A-bomb is hard for us to look at.

Hilda Greenhough

Date: 5/29/2024 12:01:00 AM

Two sides to every story. I don't think the Japanese, who were fighting to the death, ever condemned us. Our prisoners of war, that were held in Japan, were executed after Hirohito proclaimed peace. There are sons of mothers on both sides. It is best not to start wars.

Duke Beaufort
Date: 5/29/2024 5:22:00 AM

Hilda, I agree wars result in horrible things and we should not start them. Diplomacy and peace can solve the same issues and cost a lot less in pain, suffering, and treasure. The actions taken at the end of WWII were calculated by our leaders rather than performed by subordinates such as described in your comment. We should not forgive any of it, as every single death is tragic. All the victims lost everything.

they were not human

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