I’m a bit late commenting on this as it all blew up a few weeks back, but it seems to be reverberating still.
Plans for Stephen Fry to film part of a documentary series in Japan have been shelved after complaints about nuclear bomb jokes in his quiz show QI.
The programme featured a discussion about a man who survived the blasts at both Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
I watched this episode. The question in question was about a chap who managed to be in Horishima when the first bomb dropped and having survived pretty much unscathed, got on a train to Nagasaki in time for the second one. Given the nature of the programme, this rather odd fact was ideal for inclusion. And, given the man’s miraculous escape, it was ripe for some amusing banter.
The Japanese Embassy accused the BBC of making light of the attacks, which killed up to 250,000 civilians.
Saying “Oh, FFS!” for the umpteenth time doesn’t seem to cut it any more. This happened sixty years ago. Sure, it was horrific, but in the midst of horror, strange and amusing things happen. Commenting on this coincidence – and the man’s miraculous escape – did not make light of what happened in Horishima and Nagasaki and even if it did, so what? It is a light hearted quiz show, are they not supposed to touch on any subject that may be deemed to have too much gravitas? Best not to answer that one.
The BBC, which later apologised, said the cancellation of the filming was due to the “strength of feeling” in Japan.
Yeah, see, that just makes matters worse, not better. What they should have done is told the Japanese ambassador to grow a pair. A few light hearted words don’t actually cause any harm – unlike a bloody great atom bomb… or two. Banter – even if it is in bad taste, even if it is broadcast on national media is what happens when you allow free speech. Sometimes you get to hear things said that you don’t like or find offensive, to which the correct response is; tough. Get over yourself. You can reply or rebut any allegations being made, but in this case, nothing was said that really warranted any such rebuttal. Best, then, to ignore it.
And Stephen Fry expressed amazement that the Japanese trains were still running after the blast.
Given the destructive power of the bomb in question, what is wrong with that? And frankly, while Davies’ comments were puerile, they were just joshing. Joshing may well cause people to be offended, but this constant demanding of apologies and the use of the word “inappropriate” or “unacceptable” is becoming, er inappropriate and unacceptable, frankly. Grow up people and grow a thicker skin.
I have a one word response to the Japanese Ambassador re the wailing about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is ‘Nanking’.
Furthermore, claims that the bombs killed a quarter of a million civilians is a serious re-writing of history.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were chosen because they were towns in a state of total war: all of the people there were military personnel or civilians who had chosen to stay despite the organised evacuations some month earlier.
Not only that, but the Americans dropped flyers all over the towns, warning the people that said towns were going to be obliterated by “a weapon of unprecedented power”.
Anyone that stayed was stubborn, stupid or—for the most part—actively engaged in the war effort.
So, with all due respect (none), the Japanese Ambassador can go fuck himself.
DK
XX Not only that, but the Americans dropped flyers all over the towns, warning the people that said towns were going to be obliterated by “a weapon of unprecedented power”. XX
Aye? When the Brits stayed in London all through the blitz, and later the V1 and V2s, they were hailed as some kind of heroes. The Japanese do it and get called stupid twats?
O.K. From now on, everytime I here of “the brave Londoners sitting out the blitzu” I will immediatly think “Deserved what the fucking got, stupid twats staying there when they had already been warned”.