The Limits of Historical Revisionism

As far as I'm concerned, Matt Yglesias just wrote the definitive post on the limits of historical revisionism when it comes to Truman's use of the atomic bombs in WWII. He is right in that we can find a place in our hearts to regret the terrible deaths of Hiroshima (and Tokyo and Dresden) and still recognize that there is nothing morally repugnant about Truman's conduct within his historical context. The hard-left crowd who thinks Truman is is a war criminal are not right. Neither is the traditional view of WWII as a glorious, morally unambiguous victory. Perhaps the best conclusion we can draw from the recent flurry of discussion revisiting Truman's choice is to avoid drawing easy lessons from the past.

Children deliver lanterns to the Urakami river to pay tribute to the victims of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005. (HT - Dadahead)