While visiting Hiroshima last week, I was lucky enough to go to the memorials and museum of the atomic bomb. My host parents were actually very surprised when I requested to go, they said that the majority of young people never want to go or learn about it because it's sad or just not interesting to them. I personally believe it's an extremely important part of my home and host country's history, which is why I think it's important to learn from such a terrible event.
The memorials are beautiful. We started at the only building that survived the bomb. It's sort of amazing because the only reason it made it through the blast is because it was literally right underneath where the bomb was dropped. By some miracle, to this day, it stands as a reminder of the past.
The second and my favorite was the memorial of Sadako and the other children who died during and after the bombing of Hiroshima. It is a statue with a girl reaching for the sky and a bell inside. The statue is surrounded by cases of thousands upon thousands of paper cranes from all over the world! It was truly beautiful.
Next, we visited the museum. The museum itself was hard to get through. Photos, stories, and remains of items from the blast were not easy to look at. I had a difficult time actually looking people in the eye for a while after that. To know that such a terrible thing is a result of a decision made by my country, even if was in a time of war, is hard to comprehend. I know I am in no way responsible, but I feel the responsibility to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.
The museum had a model of the bomb before it exploded and to my surprise, it was not much bigger than me! It really got me thinking, if it affected thousands of people, why can't I? I can spread peace just as the bomb spread destruction. That is why rotary has an exchange program right? To spread peace and understanding throughout the world. I left that museum feeling sad but inspired. I know now what my real mission here is and I will work even harder now to fulfill it.
I plan to write another blog soon about more happy things, but I felt that I needed to write this for now. If any of you get the chance, please try to visit the memorials and museum in Hiroshima. They are beautiful and very eye opening. Until next time, please remember the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.