Donald Trump’s thunderous threat to North Korea warning of the “Fire and fury like the world has never seen” is uncomfortably familiar.
This uncanny echo has been heard before and no, not from Kim Jong-un and his blustering Korean state media but from a former U.S. President.
Harry Truman the only president to have actually used atomic weapons warned Japan after we had bombed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 that “If they did not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.”
Without the convenience of twitter, Truman announced the news of the bombing of Hiroshima in a press release from the White House and in a radio address.
Truman was discouraged by Japans refusal to accept the demand for unconditional surrender that had been issued at Potsdam on July 26.
Masters Of The Universe
Warning that this rain of ruin would continue he threatened “Behind this air attack will follow sea and land forces in such number that and power as they have not yet seen and with the fighting skill of which they are already well aware.”
Ironically today marks the 72 anniversary of the tragic bombing of Nagasaki, in which Truman made good on his threatened rain of ruin. It was the last time a nuclear bomb was used.
The U.S. released this evil from it’s Pandora’s box and it now up to us to contain it, and more urgently contain our President.
Donald Trump’s actions have been a daily “reign of ruin” on our country, our fundamental beliefs and our standing in the world.
I am filled with fury…and fear.
© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2017.
