World War ll

Various situations such as the Holocaust, the strategic firebombing of Dresden and Tokyo, the internment of Japanese Americans in the United States, the decision on the part of the U.S. to drop the Atomic Bomb, or other situations that are associated with or happened as a direct result of WWII present a number of “moral dilemmas.” They, as well, should force us to consider this question: can there be morality in a time of war, or, just as the old adage goes, is all fair in love AND war? What do you consider to be a “moral dilemma”? For example – if a significant amount of the population of the Japanese Islands had already been killed as a result of strategic firebombing, why, then was it necessary to drop two atomic bombs, or was it really necessary? In the same regard, when on considers the sheer brutality of the war in the Pacific (kamikaze pilots, a military culture in Japan where honor was achieved through death on the battlefield, etc) what other choice might the U.S. had – or did it merely come down to an “us or them” decision? Keep in mind that “firebombing” also occurred in Dresden, at the hands of the British. Another issue for consideration is the response (or lack thereof) of the international community to the Holocaust – a genocide that resulted in the deaths of 7.5 million European Jews and other “undesirables” (as deemed by the Nazis). Often times, this situation is considered to be a case of “bystander psychology,” where one chooses inaction over action even though there is a clear understanding of what is right and what is wrong.

For this discussion board, after considering the information presented in the chapter as well as the supplemental material found in the EXTERNAL LINKS, respond to the following questions. Remember to rely of SPECIFIC examples to support your conclusions:

Address what you believe is the definition of a “moral dilemma” and, discuss whether or not you believe morality can be and should be a factor in a time of war (rely on specific evidence to support your response).
From the perspective of United States history and participation in the war, think about this statement in respect to WWII as “the good war, the standard by which the nation’s subsequent wars would be judged.” Do you agree with this statement, why or why not?
In what ways do you think WWII shaped (or reshaped) the international system as it moved towards the era of “Cold War?”
What do you consider to be the legacy of WWII in the world in which we live, today?