At 8:15AM on August 6, 2005: the 60th Anniversary of the
Bombing
There is a lot of effort in remembering the dropping of atom bombs
on Hiroshima and Nagasaki this year. Columns are being written,
events planned. Past, present and future mingle as we use this anniversary
to remind ourselves that nuclear weapons continue to be designed,
manufactured, deployed and aimed. Here's a partial list:
A response to the Smithonian's presentation of the Enola Gay as
a "great technological achievement" without any reference
to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of non-combatants caused
by the dropping of the first A-Bomb.
Recognizing the momentous implications of the onset of the nuclear age, in 1999 a national panel of distinguished journalists and scholars voted the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the most significant news event of the 20th century. Yet, in a statement reflecting extraordinary callousness toward the victims, indifference to the deep divisions among American citizens about the propriety of these actions, and disregard for the feelings of most of the world's peoples, museum director Dailey declared, "We are displaying it [the Enola Gay] in all of its glory as a magnificent technological achievement." The plane, in fact, differs little from other B-29s and gains its notoriety only from the deadly and history-altering nature of its mission.
A small page of important, useful links to Hiroshima A-Bomb information.
Expanded, general A-Bomb links and content are available from the
same site's Leo Szilard
Online.
The result of a web project begun in 1994, the A-Bomb WWW Museum
lists two goals:
to provide all readers with accurate information concerning
the impact the first atomic bomb had on Hiroshima.
to provide the context for a constructive discussion of what
the world can learn from this event and why such weapons of total
destruction should never again be used.
Inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1996, the Hiroshima Peace
Memorial (Genbaku Dome) was the only structure left standing in the
area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. Through
the efforts of many people, including those of the city of Hiroshima,
it has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing.
Not only is it a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive
force ever created by humankind; it also expresses the hope for world
peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons. Two countries
opposed this inscription: China and the US. The US stated its concerns
as:
"The United States is dissociating itself from today's decision
to inscribe the Genbaku Dome on the World Heritage List. The United
States and Japan are close friends and allies. We cooperate on
security, diplomatic, international and economic affairs around
the world. Our two countries are tied by deep personal friendships
between many Americans and Japanese. Even so, the United States
cannot support its friend in this inscription."
The tip of an iceberg of informationi related to the nuclear bombing
of Hiroshima. Wikipedia is
an online encyclopedia written and maintained by the web community.
After the nuclear attack, Hiroshima was rebuilt as a "peace
memorial city." The city government continues to advocate
for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and more broadly for world
peace.
Tony Wheeler is the mastermind behind the Lonely Planet series of
travel guides. This quote, taken from the Japan Travel Survival Kit,
appears at the bottom of the page.
An email from a wise friend describing how the dropping of the A-Bombs
on Japan affected the scientists who'd created them, particularly
Albert Einstein.
Another email, from another friend, pointing out the timeliness
of my Hiroshima postings to the Nomadic Spirit: France had just announced
the resumption of its nuclear testing program.
Unsurprisingly, the American A-Bomb Museum presentation is intended
to inspire awe, as opposed to the Hiroshima's horror inducing exhibits.
This New Mexico exhbit is a chilling experience when taken in the
context of Hiroshima.
