|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
In Reply to: yeah, but not till postWW2 it actually got backing..UN...nt posted by Nick on May 13, 2001 at 08:01:32:
Hello Nick,If you think that the articles of the Geneva Convention did not apply to the US prior to 1949, then you are wrong.
If you think that I would bother to correct you if I didn't think it was important, then at least have the courtesy to check your facts.
The first "Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of
the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field" was signed by 12
countries. The international treaty, known as the Geneva Convention,
also guaranteed the neutrality of members of the Red Cross.The United States was accepted and granted accession in 1882.
Here is a link to The Avalon Project at Yale University
Follow Ups:
Of course they did. But do u really believe no violations occured during WW2?
If you think the US only supplied boyscouts as Marines and soldiers, I think you've seen too many Harrison Ford movies. Wake up!
***Of course they did. But do u really believe no violations occured during WW2?
If you think the US only supplied boyscouts as Marines and soldiers, I think you've seen too many Harrison Ford movies. Wake up!No boyscouts, you say? You are right, of course. And no one should condone any such behavior.
But for the true sense of proportion please review the Japanese atrocities in China and against the US servicemen. Sometimes it makes me wonder why all that fixation with SS and extermination camps when the Japanese have done things at least as horrible.
At least I don't recall any stories about the "killing competitions" between the German officers.
The really sad fact is how the Japanese tone down what they did in their history books.
I was stationed in Japan twice (two six month tours) while I was in the Marines, and now and then theree were dibates about the war. Most young Japanese actually believed it was the US that attacked Japan first and thus started the great Pacific war! This according to english language (but Japanese) newspapers who'd done survays among students.
Don't get me wrong, the Japanese are extremely nice and polite, I enjoyed very much my 12 months there, but it's a shame they are so deeply proud as people that they just cannot handle the bad parts of their history.
I guess a few years as a Jar-Head really doesn't help, nor living in a non english speaking country. But still I have no good excuse for my horrid english. Sorry folks.
How long have you lived in the US Vic?
.
"Luckily the Geneva convention did not exsist yet" was the statement you made.All I did was point out that the Geneva Convention did exist. If you want to change your point to "The Geneva Conventions may as well not have existed in the minds of those brave men who faced the most difficult circumstances during the war against the Japanese"- go right ahead.
Thank you, I am wide awake by the way, and as far as I know Harrison Ford has made only 1 WW2 action movie- "Force 10 from Navarone", but Hanover Street was set in WW2 England. You should have used Van Johson or John wayne or even Vic Morrow.
If you want to see a Pacific War movie explore the ambivalence which marines faced towards the Japanese, try "Hell to Eternity".
Its about the true story of a marine-"Gabby" Gabaldon who was brought up by a Japanese family in the US. The action takes place on Saipan, it's not a great film, but the hero wrestles with his conscience many times. After seeing his buddy savagely killed then hacked by a katana wielding Japanese officer- he goes on a rampage, taking no prisoners, even shooting unarmed Japanese in the back!
The he is taken to see Japanese civilians who are jumping off a cliff rather than surrendering. He is shocked, and for a moment sees his own mother as one of the civilians.
He changes. He goes out and single -handedly captures the Japanese general and convinces him to surrender his troops. He succeeds. The hundreds of remaining troops throw down their weapons. As the troops file by the general and Gabby, the general takes out his knife and ceremoniously disembowels himself, barely making a whimper he eventually falls to his knees as the beaten soldiers trudge past him towards the marines.
Oraaaah! Semper Fi! Please remember that Marines is always spelled with capital M!
all right all ready. What I meant to say was: The Geneva Conventions may as well not have existed in the minds of those brave men who faced the most difficult circumstances during the war against the Japanese.
I thought that was rather clear, but no...
You are right about Okinawa- imagine a 2.5 to 3 hour movie with Saving Private Ryan production quality set during that horrendous battle. It would make D Day look tame by comparison. I don't think there has been a definitive Pacific War film yet- Thin Red Line was too slow for the most part.Hoorah ..er Orrrah...wait, ooh ah! no..
john
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: