Facts important to understanding history

On November 19, Mr. Golding wrote about his frustration with the war in Israel. So far, so good. But then he suggested a bombing be done similar to what was done to end World War II in August 1945. His suggestion (absurd on so many levels, in my opinion) contained two supposed facts that are not facts. Accurate facts could have shared if accurate research had been done.

First, he asserted that President Truman dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima. No. One was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, then another one was dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9. Second, Mr. Golding said that Japan surrendered two hours after the Hiroshima bomb was dropped.

No, again. While the dates are open to some historical interpretation, there are three dates of note in the documented history: Aug. 10, when Emperor Hirohito announced Japan would surrender; Aug. 14, when President Truman announced the Japanese surrender; and Sept. 2, when Japan’s formal surrender happened on the USS Missouri. Accurate facts, not alternate facts, are important so we can come to a more truthful understanding of history.