# So Obama visits Hiroshima, doesn't apologize, but is accused by the right of apologizing anyway **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2016, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879 "2016-05-28T07:03:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/41 "2016-05-30T04:18:54Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve already cited that was his original desire. Pretending a visit to Hiroshima with a speech about how the dead want us to look inward and take stock of ourselves isn’t an apology is a complete denial of reality. > > He did this knowing they didn’t want it and he did it right before Memorial day. You know that nothing in your cite even comes close to showing that Obama wanted to apologize, right? ---
**Author:** ![Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bag_of_mostly_water/32/1029_2.png) [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/42 "2016-05-30T05:10:55Z")
Everyone is missing the point of Obama’s visit and speech. The target was not the US or even Japan, but North Korea and possibly Iran, India and Pakistan. He makes it very clear that Japan, as the only country to have an atomic bomb used against it in war understands the power and terror of these weapons. Obama makes it clear that North Korea needs to understand the genie they are bottling with their nuclear program. Once the genie is in the bottle, there is the possibility that it will be released. The speech was not an apology, but a warning. This is the reason Japan agreed to host the ceremony – they wanted to send a clear message to North Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/43 "2016-05-30T06:00:44Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And I still can’t believe no other U.S. President has been there. I’ve been there. Granted, I’m not the President. YET. _muahahah_ ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/44 "2016-05-30T06:26:42Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Granted, I’m not the President. Or _are you?_ _dun dun DUNNNN_😃 ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/45 "2016-05-30T08:29:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Jesus fucking hype over nothing. Can we just admit that nuclear weapons, like all indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction, are terrible devices we have invented and deployed out of desperation and (often) an unwillingness to sit down with our ideological opponents and negotiate a more moderate peace (or else confront directly and restrain, instead of letting them consume over half of central Europe), without being accused of being weak or conciliatory? Do you think we should have negotiated with a peace with the Japanese Empire? If so, do you think we should have done the same with the Third Reich? ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/46 "2016-05-30T11:47:38Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Jesus fucking hype over nothing. Can we just admit that nuclear weapons, like all indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction, are terrible devices we have invented and deployed out of desperation and (often) an unwillingness to sit down with our ideological opponents and negotiate a more moderate peace (or else confront directly and restrain, instead of letting them consume over half of central Europe), without being accused of being weak or conciliatory? Stranger Just what moderate peace in 1943 do you think the Allies would have been willing to accept with Hitler ? As I recall the English with the “Peace in our Time” was a negotiation of sorts. Hitler did not bother to honor that. The Russians and Germany had a non aggression pact and Hitler ignored that one also. The Allies knew once Stalingrad was over it would be a long slog to fight out to the finish but the tide turned to their side. Why would they accept anything less than a total victory at that point ? I find your statement humorous beyond belief. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/47 "2016-05-30T15:05:45Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > You know that nothing in your cite even comes close to showing that Obama wanted to apologize, right? You mean beyond the Japanese Government requesting him not to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/48 "2016-05-30T15:41:46Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You mean beyond the Japanese Government requesting him not to do it. Which says nothing about Obama’s intent. It only shows what the Japanese government might have thought his intent was. Or that they wanted to cover their bases and pre-emptively ask him not to do it. If Donald Trump demands that Obama show his real birth certificate, it doesn’t mean that the one Obama already showed was fake, or that Obama is hiding his real birth certificate, it only means that Donald Trump demanded that Obama show his real birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/49 "2016-05-30T16:31:12Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Which says nothing about Obama’s intent. It only shows what the Japanese government might have thought his intent was. Or that they wanted to cover their bases and pre-emptively ask him not to do it. uh huh. ---
**Author:** ![Pylesos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@Pylesos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pylesos)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/50 "2016-05-30T16:45:57Z")
The US government should officially demand the Japanese emperor to visit Pearl Harbor and apologize for attacking the US. Now, from what I understand, accepting the apology in Japanese culture would mean that the matter is settled and put to rest, so the apology would have to be rejected ( and it should be made clear to the Japanese that it would be rejected beforehand ). Nevertheless, the demand must be made and the apology should be offered. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/51 "2016-05-30T16:51:42Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve already cited that was his original desire. Pretending a visit to Hiroshima with a speech about how the dead want us to look inward and take stock of ourselves isn’t an apology is a complete denial of reality. > > He did this knowing they didn’t want it and he did it right before Memorial day. So, if this was his meaning and desire, why do you think he “apologized” in a code that only some of his domestic political opponents could read? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/52 "2016-05-30T17:32:49Z")
Christ. He didn’t fucking apologize. If you think he wanted to and didn’t, then you’re projecting. If Reagan did the exact same thing, conservatives would still be fawning over it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/53 "2016-05-30T17:56:41Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If Reagan did the exact same thing, conservatives would still be fawning over it. Like, for example, [laying a wreath](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitburg_controversy_(1985)) at a German military cemetery. To be fair, conservatives aren’t exactly fawning over it. One might even think they’ve forgotten it completely. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/54 "2016-05-30T18:00:23Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > So, if this was his meaning and desire, why do you think he “apologized” in a code that only some of his domestic political opponents could read? If Obama’s entire statement was nothing more than “Go to hell, all of you!!! You slant-eyed little fuckers deserved it!”, he would still be accused of apologizing. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/55 "2016-05-30T18:14:03Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > So, if this was his meaning and desire, why do you think he “apologized” in a code that only some of his domestic political opponents could read? It’s not a code that only some some of his domestic political opponents could read. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/56 "2016-05-30T18:20:22Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It’s not a code that only some some of his domestic political opponents could read. OK, point us to the interpretation of someone not in that category. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/57 "2016-05-30T18:29:39Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > OK, point us to the interpretation of someone not in that category. I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/58 "2016-05-30T18:40:57Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them. An article written a few days ago can only hint at Obama’s true motives. It’s messages from 7 years ago that provide the real proof. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/59 "2016-05-30T18:41:21Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them. “Say, didn’t we break the Japanese code?” “Not now, Crow.” **alert** [“we’ve got movie sign!”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKUyznbgJzA) ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879/60 "2016-05-30T18:44:29Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them. Seriously, that is the entirety of your argument? As **Raguleader** noted, your link makes no claims about _his_ intentions, only about some Japanese’ anticipation of possibilities. Except, of course, for the part where the White House spokesman says, “there was never any plan for the president to apologize.” Is that a lie? Is there a conspiracy to cover up Obama’s plan to make a _secret coded apology?_ If Obama _wanted to apologize,_ why would he _avoid using any of the words_ that people recognize as indicating an apology? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-obama-visits-hiroshima-doesnt-apologize-but-is-accused-by-the-right-of-apologizing-anyway/755879.md?page=4)