Article offered a warped perspective
Regarding the Associated Press story, “New exhibit offers different perspective on World War II,” which appeared in the June 14 edition of the Observer-Reporter, I think it is warped and fails to address the realities that confronted the United States and our allies at the end of the war.
While traveling in Japan a few years ago, my wife and I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. A very large number of people were in attendance, including schoolchildren. Numerous items from the nuclear blast site were on display. Hundreds of photographs displayed ruins and human remains.
Not a single person made an adverse comment toward us. A woman identified herself as a teacher and said that Japan should never again be the aggressor. While on a bridge, we displayed the peace sign to a large group of schoolchildren below us. They responded with the peace sign and smiles.
We took a crowded trolley from the museum, and I offered my seat to an elderly lady who had obvious problems with her feet. She refused, so I bowed to her with my second offer. She accepted with a big smile. Then I noticed all the ladies around us were smiling. I subsequently was advised that a man in Japan does not offer his seat to a lady.
Clarence Spicer
Canonsburg