Hiroshima and Nagasaki

A lady that I respect in many ways sent me (and others) email about volunteering for survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who are coming to NYC to voice peace at UN. I have left Japan 13 years ago and I was becoming less aware of those tragic events. The first thing it came to my mind was my grandfather who is a veteran of WWII. He was in shock when he found out I wanted to go to ENEMY'S country. He never wanted to come to the states and I was impressed by the fact those survivors are coming here to voice peace rather than blaming on America.

Anyways, I decided to be part of the volunteering team. At orientation, I was in tears by just listening to song.

I COME AND STAND AT EVERY DOOR
[Dead Little Girl of Hiroshima]
(words by Nazim Hikmet, English translation by Jeanette Turner)

I come and stand at every door,
But none can hear my silent tread.
I knock, and yet remain unseen,
For I am dead, for I am dead.

I'm only seven, though I died
In Hiroshima long ago.
I'm seven now as I was then -
When children die, they do not grow.

My hair was scorched by swirling flame;
My eyes grew dim, grew dim and blind.
Death came and turned my bones to dust,
And that was scattered by the wind.

I need no fruit, I need no rice.
I need no sweets, or even bread;
I ask for nothing for myself,
For I am dead, for I am dead.

All that I ask is that for peace
You fight today, you fight today,
So that the children of the world
May live and grow and laugh and play!

 



It was my first day to face to survivors yesterday. I escorted them with sightseeing and shopping. Of course they are aging, so they were very slow and tired but their energy level was way up high and they are committed for their mission. All asked if they could go to ground zero. We volunteers took them there. One man looked at ground zero in his tears and said "HITONO INOCHIWO NANDATO OMOTTEIRUNDA!" (I can't translate his statement very well but what he meant was he can't believe how some take human's life in this way) I could have felt his anger and sympathy.

I asked one lady if she could share the story with me and she kindly took her time and told me her story. Her sister whose back is burnt, father died after 3 years of suffering from radioactive effects, what ABCC has done to her family, her memories kept going on..... But at the end, surprisingly she said to me "I am very glad it was America who dropped the bomb" I couldn't understand why she can even say such a thing. I asked her to explain to me what she meant by that. She said Japan recovered from such tragic events very quickly and successfully because America supported Japan in so many ways. She received lots of foods, clothing, and even letters from American citizens. She told me American people are very warm, kind, and caring. I thought about my grandpa who couldn't see America in different way like she did. But I do know my grandpa is here with me after his death smiling at his AMERICAN great grandchildren...., right? Grandpa?

My story will continue....after I come back from today's rally from Times Square to UN!!!

I just wanted to write what I felt at this moment rather than remembering what I think I felt later on....

On my way to rally...