Bridges Academy: The A-Bomb and End of World War II – History as Fact, History as Fiction, or History as Morality Play?

Bridges Academy: The A-Bomb and End of World War II – History as Fact, History as Fiction, or History as Morality Play?

Date and Time

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

This event occurred in the past

  • Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location

Degheri Alumni Center, 120

5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110

Cost

Free

Details

Most Americans, and a good many historians — including the historian writing these words — believe the United States had good reason to drop two atomic bombs on Japan. The Japanese high command had vowed to fight to the end, and pledged to sacrifice the life of every citizen to fight off the Americans who initially believed that a land invasion was the only way to end the war in the Pacific. To prevent the loss of millions of Japanese, as well as thousands and thousands of Americans, President Harry S. Truman ordered the incineration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to convince Emperor Hirohito and the members of his government that they should surrender. There is evidence to support this version of events, but history complicates any attempt to find meaning in the past. Thus, educated people from all walks of life must view history with a critical eye and judge events on their own terms rather than use standards from the present. When revisiting the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the purpose of history, and why it is necessary, will depend on the nature of the evidence and who is asking the question. Join Dr. Michael Gonzalez, from the Department of History, to learn more.

Bridges Academy is a continuing education program for those 55 and older. Join us for exciting lectures given by USD’s leading faculty. All lectures are held mid-week on the picturesque USD campus. While the lecture series is free to all participants, the Office of Planned Giving encourages the growth of the Bridges Endowed Scholarship fund, which awards merit-based scholarships to undergraduate students. We look forward to seeing you on campus!