Hiroshima

"During the second world war the people of Hiroshima wondered why they alone were not being pounded by American bombs. Almost daily observation planes flew overhead. Sure occasionally bombs fell, but they did little damage. Fantastic rumors circulated wildly that America had something special in store for us, but no one dreamed of the reality that was to come." Johannes Siemes, SJ, a professor of philosophy

I was deeply moved by Hiroshima, but not so much by the pictures of the destruction, which are mind numbing, but by the response here for peace, especially by the letters and posters for peace by children from around the world. At a time in human history when people were turning away from secular religion and putting their faith in rationalism and science the dropping of the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima showed the world that science was no longer a saviour of humanity but rather it too became identified with death and destruction.

The one building left standing, Genbaku (Atomic Bomb) Dome, was a promotional hall with a green dome. It was directly under the blast, at ground zero, so the force pushed down instead of out destroying and burning everything inside yet leaving all the walls remaining standing.This building and it's hallowed grounds have been preserved to remind not only Japan but the world of that day and that deed.