Stop the Violence

I have been very lucky that in my life I have been able to experience 2nd hand (I won't say first because I wasn't there when these tragedies were occurring) the Holocaust and the Atomic Bomb of Hiroshima. It really enhances the experience to be present at the exact place these events have taken place. Both of these events have killed hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. I don't want this site to be controversial but I feel it is extremely important to stop the War in Iraq and all wars so many more innocent people aren't killed.

Walking down the streets of Hiroshima is amazing if you take the time to realize that 60 years ago it was NOTHING. And when I say nothing, I should say negative nothing because nothing was even supposed to be able to grow there for 75 years. Science was once again proven wrong. Hiroshima is a city bustling with business, people and life. The main attractions are the Atomic Bomb and Peace Memorial Museum, the Peace Park, and the Atomic Bomb Dome (the only remaining existence from before the bomb). The museum is full of information about the bomb and its effects. Some interesting facts are, Albert Einstein was the first to mention building an atomic bomb and he knew the consequences that it could demolish an entire city. Second, the mayor of Hiroshima writes a letter to the leader of a nation any time they are building or going to test an nuclear weapon. To this day he asks them not to test the weapon due to the consequences of the city in which he lives. When the bomb was dropped temperatures reached around 3000 degrees Celsius. It is amazing anyone lived. Skin hung from the bodies of victims and many people died of thirst and lack of help. The museum contains articles of clothes and items found on the street as well as skin and deformed fingernails of the victims. It was a tragedy that people are still living with today.

On a related note I was able to go out and about in the city. This included going to bars where many marines hang out. There is a base in Iwakuni which is actually in Yamaguchi-ken. I apologize if any of you readers are military men or have friends/family in the military. This is a generalization and I know generalizations are bad. I am proud of what soldiers are doing to defend our country but the men I met this weekend were anything but good. They first of all they were obnoxious and didn't pay any regard to the culture they are living in. Secondly, I mentioned to a bunch of them that I live in Yamaguchi which is where they live and they had no idea they lived there. That is like not knowing you live in Texas or Ohio. I understand that they aren't in Japan by choice and probably don't want to be there but it is important to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. They weren't having a hard time going out and having a good time in Hiroshima. Isn't one of the main marketing techniques that the military uses to recruit people are "you can see the world!", so if this is why some have joined why don't they take interest in the culture? Sorry I had to mention that but I think it is important for those of you that are back to home to know how your country men are behaving, those who are defending us.

Here is a neat story. Walking through the peace park I was stopped by a man to sign a petition to end the use of nuclear weapons and of course give a donation. This man was a 2nd generation bomb victim, which I thought was amazing. Of course, I signed the petition and emptied my wallet of all the change I had. I continued to walk through the park and an old woman stopped me. I believe she had lived through the bomb, I didn't understand all of her Japanese. She asked me if she could pray for me. Now, I was thinking she wanted money and I had just gotten rid of all my change. But I continued to close my eyes like she asked and she raised her right hand in front of my face and prayed for me for about a minute. I was very confused, why was she doing this? What did she want from me? I had no clue. When I opened my eyes she said "Arigatoo gozaimasu" and I went on my way. She had just wanted to pray for me. That's all, no strings attached. The people in this culture continue to amaze me.