Thesis
In his article “We Should Not Apologize for Hiroshima,” David Harsanyi rather emotionally reminds everyone who seeks to accuse the United States of nuclear terrorist attacks in Hiroshima that Japan also has its ‘black’ moments in history.
Article Summary
Harsanyi begins his article by saying that politics should aim for a world without nuclear weapons. Most people want a US apology from Japan. Initially, the author focuses on the growing speculation that President Obama will apologize on behalf of the country. Harsanyi emphasizes that the accusations only go one way, although the US is not the only country that caused many brutal deaths during World War II. As a result, the author states that the United States certainly needs to recognize the devastating catastrophe caused by nuclear weapons, but there is no need to make direct apologies.
Article Analysis
Credibility
David Harsanyi is currently the Senior Editor of The Federalist; his entire career is connected with journalism. Harsanyi has worked for more than ten magazines and is the author of five books (David Harsanyi). The author is considered credible, but the public often does not take him seriously.
Tone, Audience, and Vocabulary
In his article, the author remains biased; he uses a seemingly offended tone and, to some extent, even tries to downplay the tragedy caused by the bombing of Hiroshima. The author says, “alleged sins and moral deficiencies of the U.S.” (Harsanyi para. 9). The article’s target audience is anyone interested in politics, especially those who share the author’s opinion. The author does not use complex vocabulary; the author constantly expands the information in one paragraph by inserting constructions.
Evidence
Harsanyi cites only two credible sources, primarily referring to various speculations (Harsanyi para. 4). To convict Japan of its sins, Harsanyi talks about historical events as evidence but does not use scientific resources. Thus, most of the evidence is unreliable, so the author’s arguments are weak.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The main weakness of the article is its subjectivity and emotionality. It is necessary to give strong arguments, which the author does not. However, the author skillfully uses the journalistic style of writing, which is a strength. Future readers should be critical of the article’s content and remember that the absence of strong evidence casts doubt on the article. One may also become more familiar with the bombing of Hiroshima, the US apology, and Japan’s activities during World War II; however, general knowledge will also suffice.
Works Cited
David Harsanyi. 2023. Web.
Harsanyi, David. “We Should Not Apologize for Hiroshima.” The Detroit News. 2016. Web.