Filed under: Blog Post | Tags: America, atomic bomb, children, Culture, Japan, peace
Growing up in the United States we are taught that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved thousands of lives by necessitating Japan’s surrender to the Allied Powers, eliminating the need for a full-scale invasion. While textbooks show images of the aftermath and desolation, being in the city made it become all too real. Hiroshima has risen from the ashes of that horrible day to be one of the largest cities in Japan, and a peace memorial for the rest of the world. The Atomic Bomb Dome stands, as a reminder of the destruction the atomic bomb was capable of producing, with the melted dome and damaged walls. The dome served as our first stop when entering Peace Memorial Park and set the tone for the visit. Being taught in high school that the atomic bomb saved lives, did make me feel any better as we began to see the faces and hear the stories of the victims, many of whom were children. All this time while we were feeling especially down and ashamed for our county’s actions, Japanese school children were so happy to see us. Creating a mix of sadness for those lost and our actions, with happiness for the children who didn’t hate us for out actions, but embraced us as friends.
