• skisnow@lemmy.ca
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    3 days ago

    Japan could keep on fighting to the last man, woman and child.

    “fighting to the last man, woman and child” invokes a long-standing racist orientalism, with this notion of a super-honorable Japanese race who are incapable of making rational decisions - conveniently played up and accepted as gospel to justify the mass murder of a six-figure number of civilians whilst also painting them as not normal humans.

    • Nythos@sh.itjust.works
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      3 days ago

      Volunteer Fighting Corps conscripted all males aged 15-60 and all unmarried females aged 17-40

      Operation Downfall estimated casualties in the millions for both sides with the USA still using purple hearts that were made FOR Downfall

      It’s not racist to say that a society that would rather commit ritualistic suicide than spread shame or dishonour to their family would fight to the very bloody end than bear the shame of losing the war.

      • skisnow@lemmy.ca
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        3 days ago

        It’s not racist to say that a society that would rather commit ritualistic suicide than spread shame or dishonour to their family would fight to the very bloody end than bear the shame of losing the war.

        It’s dictionary definition racism. You’re attributing something that a small number of people in the country did, to the entire group. It doesn’t get any more racist than that.

        Your citations are poor as well, given the Allies also had conscription, and you’re citing Allied reports as though they could possibly be regarded as a reliable unbiased description of the Japanese.

        You’re using “I’m not racist but…” racism, to justify mass civilian murder. Have a word with yourself.