The Role of Radio and Speeches in Diplomatic Communication

 A newspaper seller in London on September 3, 1939.

Courtesy:  The Telegraph

The allied leaders of Great Britain and the United States understood the value of obtaining support from the people of their nations.  This was best displayed in the radio broadcasts and speeches made to explain the reasons for, and the status of Great Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, and the U.S. declaration of war on Japan.  These communications were vital to the masses of people who were now partners in these traumatic endeavors. 

Neville Chamberlain announces Britain at war with Germany.

Courtesy:  British Broadcasting Company

On September 3, 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced the British declaration of war with Germany in a radio broadcast. 

King Georve VI announces Britain at war with Germany.

Courtesy:  The Telegraph

On the same day, King George VI gave his speech explaining why Britain was entering the war.  The story of King George’s speech is documented and dramatized in The King’s Speech, an award winning book and film which also tells of his struggle with public speaking.   

The speech was a personal challenge for King George because of his severe speech impediment. In the speech, King George said:

“It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own.  I ask them to stand calm, firm and united in this time of trial.” 



It was not hard to gain British support as they were subjected to German bombings during the Blitz.  

Image from The London Blitz

Courtesy:  The Telegraph

Buckingham Palace (residence of their Royal Family) was bombed and a 14-year old future queen, Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Rose broadcast condolences of concern to British children displaced from their homes due to the war. 

Children sit among the rubble of the London Blitz

Courtesy:  eyewitnesshistory.com

Sir Winston Churchill explained what the war would entail, and praised the anticipated finest hour of the British people in his speech on June 18, 1940.  On December 26, 1941, speaking passionately about British support for America against Japan, Churchill addressed the U.S. Joint Session of Congress.  He explained regarding the U.S. and Britain, “Now we are the masters of our Fate” in their unity against Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Courtesy: hcscc.areavoices.com

 It was not hard to gain American support after the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor.   





Pearl Harbor Attack

Courtesy:  blog.usnavyseals.com

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the military installation in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which resulted in war between Japan and the U.S.  On December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan at a joint session of the U.S. Congress.   

Prior to June 6, 1944 (D-Day), General Dwight Eisenhower spoke by radio broadcast to the occupied people of Western Europe to announce their anticipated liberation by allied forces of the U.S., Great Britain, and Russia.

General Eisenhower delivering the Order of the Day, June 6, 1944.

Courtesy: archives.gov

In times of war it is imperative for the morale of the country that leaders communicate with their people.  A complete contast to this is the behavior of Emperor Hirohito of Japan.  

It was ironic that the first time the Japanese people heard their beloved Emperor Hirohito’s voice was when he was surrendering.  In John Hersey’s book, Hiroshima, Mr. Tanimoto said:

“At the time of the Post-War, the marvelous thing in our history happened.  Our Emperor broadcasted his own voice through radio directly to us, common people of Japan.” (64-65)

History - An Informed Opinion

History - An Informed Opinion

Kiyoshi Tanimoto and the Hiroshima Maidens

Courtesy:  Conelrad Adjacent (conrad.blog)

Aftermath is the last chapter of John Hersey’s book, Hiroshima.  The last section in that chapter is a post-Hiroshima Bombing update on Kiyoshi Tanimoto, the pastor of the Hiroshima Methodist Church.  The section focuses on his life after the bombing, particularly his work establishing a World Peace Center, and raising funds for the Hiroshima Maidens. 

Two of the Hiroshima Maidens

Courtesy: Intersections:  Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific

Issue 24, June 2010

 

According to Hersey, the Hiroshima Maidens were hibakusha girls that attended a bible class for survivors of the Hiroshima bombing.   These girls had suffered burns and scars on their faces, arms, and hands (Hersey 1946, 141).  Kiyoshi Tanimoto went on many tours to raise money for the Hiroshima Maiden’s plastic surgery.  One of these appearances was on May 11, 1955, on the American television show, “This is Your Life”.  Viewers of this show saw a highly emotional segment, with the high point of Captain Robert Lewis (co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the plane that carried and dropped the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb) making an appearance.  On the show Captain Lewis described his reaction to dropping the bomb, and presented a donation to Kiyoshi Tanimoto. 

According to Hersey, the program was far from what it appeared.  Tanimoto was only told he was appearing on a local television interview and was unprepared for that major national television broadcast.  During the program, Lewis appeared to be crying but really had been drinking (144).  In fact, Marvin Green (a friend of Kiyoshi Tanimoto) told Rodney Barker, author of The Hiroshima Maidens: A Story of Courage, Compassion, and Survival, that Captain Lewis frightened the people from the show when he went drinking after discovering he was not receiving a large check for appearing on the show (Hersey 1946, 145). 

Only Tanimoto and Lewis know the truth of the matter, but this story certainly makes you view the video with a grain of salt.  In the ending chapter of Hiroshima, Hersey told the significance of the lives of the six major characters of his masterpiece.  The ending story of Kiyoshi Tanimoto brought the final message full circle.  The ending message according to Tanimoto was the world’s memory was getting spotty (Hersey 1946, 152).

Maybe it is better to just listen to the voices of the Hiroshima Maidens

Shigeko Sasamori -Peace and Love - 1/5

Shigeko Sasamori -Peace and Love - 2/5

Shigeko Sasamori - Peace and Love - 3/5

 Shigeko Sasamori - Peace and Love - 4/5

 

 Shigeko Sasamori - Peace and Love - 5/5

The Bombing of Hiroshima

The Bombing of Hiroshima – August 6, 1945



In reflection of reading John Hersey’s book, Hiroshima, I was overwhelmed by the mental images of man’s inhumanity to man.  The book was a stunningly, powerful testimony of the tragic devastation bestowed on Japan when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.  The people of Hiroshima started that morning as usual, to have their world destroyed with a flash at 8:15 a.m.

Courtesy – news discovery.com

File Photos of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima

Courtesy - AFP.com

 

In Hiroshima, Reverend Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto (pastor of the Hiroshima Methodist Church) reproached doctors for not coming to Asano Park to treat patients.  The doctor stated, “In an emergency like this the first task is to help as many as possible-to save as many lives as possible.  There is no hope for the heavily wounded.  They will die.  We can’t bother with them.” (Hersey 1946, 50).  Many of the Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) were devastated to later discover they were victims of nuclear radiation sickness.

Lest We Forget 

By Matsumura Kazuo, a Hiroshima bombing survivor -32 years old in August 1945

Courtesy - http://omcbride-ahebee.blogspot.com/2012/08/lest-we-forget-atomic-bombing-on.html

Interview with a Hiroshima Survivor

The Voices of Hibakusha

“There’s not much time left for us Hibakusha (survivors of an atomic bomb).  We must find ways to not create even one more Hibakusha”. (Junko KIayashige – Hiroshima Bomb Survivor – 6 years old at the time).

“I believe that the A-bombs (the atomic bombs) were dropped not on Hiroshima and Nagaski alone, but on the entire humanity.  We have no choice but to abolish nuclear weapons”. (Mujako Yano – Hiroshima Bomb Survivor – 14 years old at the time).

Two survivors tell their story.

A Necessary Mission for the Survival of Mankind

What lessons has mankind learned from the horrors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?  Has mankind learned the use of weapons of mass destruction can end our existence?  Is it possible for mankind to reduce the fever of political, religious, and cultural saber rattling before the world is mortally damaged or destroyed?  What would be the victory in creating the largest nuclear explosion if the result is human annihilation?   

Men and women of the modern age should be using their skills of negotiation to protect the world before we manage to damage or destroy it and its inhabitants. 

 

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  (Holy Bible, Luke 12:48, New International Version)



The Russians Are Coming!!!!

The Alliance Becomes Unbalanced

The Cold War began after World War II, after the Potsdam Conference in August of 1945.  The allies had reached a point in their relationship where they were out of balance. In essence, Winston Churchill of Great Britain, and Harry Truman of the United States wanted European democracies.  Joseph Stalin of Russia wanted to rule Europe.  The relationship of the allies became unbalanced not because of the existence of the Atomic Bomb, but the fact that Truman actually used it.  

The Allies: Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Joseph Stalin

Courtesy-Truman Library.org

Joseph Stalin

If The Russians Are Coming, Are We Still Scared??

In the United States of America, one of the major themes of the Cold War was, “the Russians are Coming”.  This theme grew out of genuine fear of a Russian invasion or attack on American soil.  Over time this fear diminished into a subject it was possible to cautiously show a sense of humor about.  Out of this development came a particularly funny movie that was ironically entitled “The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming”.  The plot of this critically acclaimed comedy has a fictitious Russian submarine commander grounding his submarine in a small New England coastal town while sightseeing.  The Russians try to dislodge their vessel but are discovered by the locals, who have various reactions to the Russians invading their town.  After a comedy of errors by the Americans and the Russians, they team up to help the Russians escape capture by the American authorities and head home.  World War III is avoided and both the Americans and Russians discover it is possible to work together and it is not necessary to be enemies. 

Courtesy - soundtrackcollector.com

The Russians Have Landed!!

Today, Russians have come to the United States and become a part of the American melting pot.

A Nightmare Solution Born from Fear

                                                    Courtesy - Time Magazine

 

 Albert Einstein was a scientific genius identified as the Grandfather of the Atomic Bomb.  He discovered the Theory ofRelativity (E=MC2) which was the secret of the Atomic Bomb.  Einstein was a pacifist, passionately against killing, but became concerned that Hitler and the German Nazis would build the bomb and create world annihilation.   

 

Einstein and Szilard

Courtesy - Reformation.org

 

Einstein became persuaded by a physicist (Leo Szilard) to support the cause for America to build the bomb.  They wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt explaining the situation and in the hope America would build the Atomic Bomb before Germany and the Nazis did.  President Roosevelt was convinced and authorized the Manhattan Project which was the American project to build the Atomic Bomb.

 

 Images of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki



Courtesy - jenniewrites.wordpress.com

 

 

The Atomic Bomb was dropped in Japan at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The results were devastating and many in hindsight questioned if the bombing was necessary. Out of regret for his role in creating the bomb, Einstein spent the rest of his life working to control the use of nuclear weapons. 

 

Courtesy of answers.com

 

J. Robert Oppenheimer
Courtesy- Time Magazine
 

In an interview, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the Science Director of the Manhattan Project expressed regret concerning use of the bomb and quoted a Hindu scripture, “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”.  J. Robert Oppenheimer’s picture is the first photo shown in this video – a tribute to tthe victims of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

 

The grandfather (Albert Einstein), and father (J. Robert Oppenheimer) of the Atomic Bomb were both filled with remorse for the devastation created by their creation.  In reflection, was it necessary to create and use the bomb?  What if Hitler and the Nazis would have acquired it before America?  Can anyone imagine what would have been the alternative conclusion to World War II if Hitler had dropped the bomb?  It is a question I am sure haunted all involved to their grave, and continues to be a topic of discussion.

Daniel Ellsberg discusses - If Hitler had Dropped the Bomb

Courtesy - FORA.tv 



 

Our class material has covered films showing response to the effects of nuclear weapons attacks.  There are also fiction and non-fiction films on the traumatic lives of military personnel handling nuclear submarines and weapons.   Though presented as entertainment, these movies visually relay the seriousness of the potential for protection and utter destruction by these vessels and weapons. 

(Courtesy of Scenic Reflections)

 

The film, "K19, The Widowmaker" is based on the true story of a Russian nuclear submarine disabled in American waters with a leaking nuclear reactor.  In real life, this vessel had so many problems it was nicknamed “Hiroshima”.
 

 The film, “Crimson Tide” is fiction, and one of my favorite military films.  This critically acclaimed movie shows the complex checks and balances required to launch a nuclear missile from a U.S. Navy submarine.  In this film the commander and the executive officer disagree over the decision to launch a nuclear missile when the orders transmission is interrupted.  To hesitate launching could show weakness, but to launch by mistake could cause a world war.  The film enactment is tense, and takes on a life of its own.  It shows the danger of a commander brave enough to launch the weapon, but lacking the wisdom to use diplomatic restraint.  Attached are four clips courtesy of YouTube.com that are well worth watching.  They show the crew’s mission, the disagreement of the commander and the executive officer, the complete orders transmission, and the overall dilemma of launching nuclear weapons from a submarine.

 

For the sake of the continued existence of mankind, the use of nuclear weapons must be kept in the hands of wise and calm heads, who understand the burden of launching weapons of mass destruction.  There is nothing wise about playing chicken with a nuclear bomb.

 

^{Launching of the U.S. Nautilus}

A powerful tool of the Cold War was nuclear powered submarines.  These vessels were considered a great technological advancement.  The first U.S. nuclear powered submarine was the USS Nautilus which was launched in 1954. It was soon followed by the USS Seawolf, and USS Skipjack.  Nuclear powered submarines performed many tasks, including moving nuclear missiles which were Atomic Bombs.  It was part of the new military concept of Strategic Air Command (Wills 2011, 42).

Attached is a short video produced by General Electric and the United States Navy explaining atomic energy and atomic powered submarines. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW12KRYRODE

The movement of nuclear missiles became a major concern to America during the Cuban Missiles Crisis in October 1962 when Soviet Union built nuclear missile sites were discovered in Cuba.     

An important topic for discussion that may fly under the radar is the environmental concerns related to decommissioning nuclear powered submarines.  The radioactivewaste disposal must be handled appropriately.