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I saw a fascinating documentary a few nights ago about the Japanese Kamikaze pilots. One thing that struck me was how some US Navy pilots also said they would've done Kamikaze attacks too if they were put in the same desperate position the Japanese were in.
So, here is my question:
Would Americans have done some kind of "suicide" attacks on Japanese forces if Japan was about to invade America? Knowing how the Japanese treated their prisoners, I am thinking many American pilots would probably dive their heavily loaded B25 bombers into the heart of a Japanese aircraft carrier.
What's the real difference between a Kamikaze attack and a soldier grenading himself on an enemy machine gun nest?
The US mindset wouldn't really allow for planned suicide attacks although some missions were kind of that anyway. The difference was/is that our guys always allow for a way out.
Most cultures believe they're the only correct ones, and there are various attitudes about suicide. Some, like the Kamikaze pilots, did it for their Emperor. Others do it to get to Heaven (among other things). Americans value life and find suicide unacceptable except in the most extreme cases, such as Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis of Knox, Pa. who died saving 4 crewmen of a Hummer last week in Iraq by diving on a grenade when he could have easily avoided injury by simply jumping out of the way. There is a big difference in planned suicide and a split-second decision. Is it nature or nuture?
No. Only "cowards" (and Muslims, which is the same thing) do things like that, and we have no cowards.
I find this way of thinking to be both funny and sad.
I wonder how many people of this opinion would be "cowardly" enough to give their life for what they feel is right, rather than letting someone else do it for them, then claiming victory and superiority for themselves.
Location: Finally escaped The People's Republic of California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasNick
Knowing how the Japanese treated their prisoners, I am thinking many American pilots would probably dive their heavily loaded B25 bombers into the heart of a Japanese aircraft carrier.
?
Well I think there is a difference between the thoughts of "i"m going to intenionaly kill myself " and "I'm not going to be taken alive".. with the latter your still looking for away out..
and no I doubt that we would have had Kamakazi attacks on the Japanese fleet. But when they hit our shores they would discover the second ammendment for sure.....
I'm not sure all the Japanese pilots were willing.. I've seen documentaries where they were strapped into their planes with only enough fuel to get to the target...so what choice did they have???
I'm not sure all the Japanese pilots were willing.. I've seen documentaries where they were strapped into their planes with only enough fuel to get to the target...so what choice did they have???
Not much different than the way a lot of our young men and women die, if you think about it. In most cases, they have no choice either.
The philosophy of the Kamikaze was that they could be fairly sure of scoring a direct hit. Almost exactly, in every respect, the tactic that was used on the WTC on 9/11.
The Japanese knew that their kamikaze attacks were not going to be enough to stop the US invasion. What they were going for was the psychological effect. It was all they could do at that point. Many kamikaze pilots did not agree with that thinking, but most of them did it anyways. The Japanese people were already ready and willing to fight to the last man. Each women was trained with a bamboo spear, etc. Would Americans react the same way if our country was being invaded by such a vicious military?
Could one say the Doolittle raid was some sort of early "Kamikaze" attack? If I recall, most of the pilots didn't think they were going to make it...and it wouldn't do much damage to the target.
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