Sixty-five years ago, the world's first atomic bomb was detonated. It was quickly followed by a second (the last one to be used in a military setting).
The two bombs ended the most destructive war the world had ever seen. Yet every year, a percentage of the population looks upon the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings as a horrific chapter in human history.
The truth is that President Harry Truman saved lives by deciding to destroy those cities instead of the only alternative--invasion.
An invasion of the island of Japan was estimated to result in a million Allied casualties and tens of millions of Japanese casualties.
About 200,000 Japanese died from the atomic bombings.
Despite the fact that the bombs saved lives in the end, and subsequent nuclear buildup by the United States has led to no major wars in 50 years, peace activists still call for an end to nuclear weapons, like the ones at the recent demonstration in Ventura.
While the possession of nukes are a stabilizing influence in the world, the price we pay is living under the threat of total annihilation. I agree with the activists that I'd rather not have to do that. But the nukes aren't going anywhere, and the worst thing you can do is advocate for the abolition of them in your own country.
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Eric Ingemunson's commentary has been featured on Hannity, CNN, NBC, Inside Edition, and KFI's The John and Ken Show.
Eric was born and raised in Ventura County and currently resides in Moorpark. He earned a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University. As a conservative, Eric supports smaller government, less taxation, more individual freedom, the rule of law, and a strict adherence to the Constitution.
