REVISIONIST views of history can be quite dangerous. It is to that end that the uproar recently raised over the Enola Gay is indeed unfortunate. Recently, the Smithsonian opened an annex to the popular Air and Space Museum in Dulles, Va. On display are many larger aircraft and spacecraft that would be too big to fit in the Washington, D.C.-based museum.
Among the many interesting pieces is the Enola Gay, the airplane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, during the Second World War. As the ever-liberal Washington Post was happy to report, many people seem to be upset about the display of the airplane. These critics' concerns are completely unfounded on several different counts.
The more radical opponents believe the plane should not be displayed in the first place, citing that the museum should be a museum of peace and accomplishments, not war. As feel-good as this ill-fated idea sounds, it is quite obvious that such events in our history need to be remembered. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not the highest points in human history, but they must be remembered. We must constantly remind ourselves that we cannot again allow a conflict to progress to the point of utilizing atomic weapons. I can think of no better way to accomplish this than to display the plane and remember what happened.
Another group of activists believes that the display at the museum should be constructed differently. Some believe that the exhibit should emphasize the number of civilians killed in the attack. Due to the controversial nature of the plane and the events surrounding it, the Smithsonian made the correct decision to minimize the exhibit surrounding the plane. The text gives the specifications of the plane and what the B-29 was used for around the globe. The exhibit then simply states that the Enola Gay dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and flew weather reconnaissance for the second nuclear weapon drop. These are irrefutable facts and leave political comments completely out of the picture.
A slightly scarier group of individuals seeks to re-write history and cast the use of atomic weapons and subsequent unconditional surrender of Japan as an illegitimate event. According to the Web site enola-gay.org, the "exhibit both legitimizes what happened in 1945 and helps build support for the Bush administration's dangerous new nuclear policies." This clearly leftist organization picks and chooses their facts to portray the bombing of Japan as an unnecessary act.
The real issue at hand is not the dropping of the atomic bomb. There can be no doubt whatsoever that historians will continue to argue and debate the pros and cons of the atomic attack for the foreseeable future. The fact of the matter is that there is no way for us to know what would have happened if we had not dropped the bombs. This being said, the immediate effect of our nuclear attack was to force the complete surrender of the empire of Japan.
Quite frankly it matters very little if one believes that this was the "right thing to do." Without getting into a history lesson to rationalize the bombing, one can unequivocally say that it is an intrinsic part of our history and must be preserved at all costs. It is ridiculous to believe that the display of this airplane somehow promotes war and suffering.
It is indeed unfortunate that many people feel the need to protest this display. It would be hard to criticize the information presented in the exhibit as it reads, "On August 6, 1945, this Martin-built B-29-45-MO dropped the first atomic weapon used in combat on Hiroshima, Japan." Few can dispute this fact, yet some claim that there is a lack of information present. The Smithsonian has taken great pains to ensure that the display is not politically charged. For better or for worse they have left out information about the subsequent surrender of Japan. The plane alone stands as a reminder, and interested parties can seek more information on their own.
The killing of so many civilians is a tragic event. It is horrible that it became necessary. This being said, it is important that we remember this war and the weapons used in it. If the display of the Enola Gay can in any way help us not to allow history to repeat itself, its continued purpose will be justified.
(Daniel Bagley is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. He can be reached at dbagley@cavalierdaily.com.)
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