War and Peace

 More Letters From Paradise

          War and Peace

Yesterday marked the 68th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.  The Hiroshima Peace Bell was rung by a survivor, Mr. Keigo Hakojo. The service was held at the Izumo Taishakyo Mission here in downtown.  Singers from the YMCA and Pacific Peace- Makers sang "We Are the World."
But, unless I missed it, there was no mention of the 140,000 who died.  And Nagasaki was next to be bombed. The Japanese take the matter of the bombings of these two cities very seriously. But, so did my father who was in the army in Germany.  Having finished with the Nazis, these tired soldiers were being prepared to be sent to the Pacific.  News of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was greeted  with joys of relief.  I have talked to other men who had fought in Europe, and they too felt great relief.  The belief at the time was that the Japanese would have fought bitterly to defend their islands. They were already training civilians to march and be ready to fight armed with bamboo spears.  It was a hell of a choice President Truman had to face.  But why is it that women and children always have to suffer the madness of war?
I also urge anyone who has not yet read "Hiroshima" by John Hershey to read it. 

              Aloha
              Grant