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Published: July 30th 2010
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The Children's Memorial
With paper cranes in the cases behind the structure Hiroshima (7/25/10 to 7/27/10)
Hiroshima has risen out of the ashes of war and destruction to become a beacon of peace for the rest of the world. The entire city stands united in their mission to abolish nuclear weapons and embrace peace amongst nations. While other nations stock-pile an arsenal of fear and threats, Japan has turned their experience of fear into a pilgrimage.
I respect that.
I spent almost three days at what is known as Peace Memorial Park. The park is dotted with memorials and a museum related to the atomic bombing. The park itself is located at the epicenter of where the bomb was dropped.
Of the memorials, I was most moved by the Children's Memorial. It was inspired by Sadako Sasaki, a bomb survivor who developed Leukemia when she was 11. Sadako believed she would recover if she could fold 1000 paper cranes. She died before reaching her goal, but her classmates finished them after her death.
The story inspires Japanese students to this day to fold cranes as a symbol of peace. The Children's Memorial is surrounded by thousands of strands of these paper cranes, as well as a cement and
Memorial for those who died
Notice the A-bomb dome in the background metal structure with a child being lifted up to heaven by a crane.
I spent over five hours in the museum itself. The bottom floor discussed the political events and decision-making leading up to both the attack on Pearl Harbor and the dropping of the A-bomb. The area was rich with primary documents and sources--a history teacher's dream! I was impressed with the fairness and level of depth of the presentations.
The top floor showed the effects of the bomb on the city and the people. It was horrific: twisted metal, concrete walls imbedded with glass, bottles and roof tiles fused together and human shadows imprinted on streets. The human experience was worse: charred school uniforms, photographs of unrecognizable faces, medical reports detailing radiation illnesses and even the skin and fingernails/tips of a 12-year old boy. These displays told stories of the victims and their final days as remembered by surviving family members.
I followed around a man in his seventies who was sharing his experience of the bombing. When he came to a display of mannequins in burned, tattered clothing surrounded by fire and rubble, he pointed to their arms and said in broken English, "I
Charred school uniform
in a display case in the Museum saw skin dripping off, it falling off. I saw."
The final section of the museum discussed the nuclear age and the build-up of nuclear arsenals around the world. The present day reality is both disheartening and frightening. It is neither the American, nor the human legacy to which I prescribe.
Walking through Peace Memorial Park, I pondered my personal legacy in terms of contributing to world peace. Sometimes it seems so out-of-my-hands, with religious and political figures pulling all the strings. I want to make a substantial difference--make an impact--but it appears to be an issue so much bigger than I...
But not really.
So let Peace begin with me:
In my reactions and interactions,
In my writing and conversations,
in my conflicts and resolutions.
Let Peace begin with me:
In my choices and thoughts,
In my home and workplace,
In my demeanor and idealogies.
Let Peace begin with me;
A refined, determined, contagious peace/
Let Peace begin with me.
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Jill
non-member comment
Hi Jason
Hi Jason, I'm at Kelley's with Cameron. This is the first of your emails I've received. This is #5. Don't know where 1,2,3 and 4 are! As with your previous adventures, I'm loving reading your 'blogs'. I really think you should become a writer. PERU was fantastic. Don't think I'd do it again, but had a great time. However, the old grey mare aint what she used to be. Love you, be careful! xoxoxo Jill