Thoughts on Hiroshima Day

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

This year will be the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. August 6 is Hiroshima Day. It is also my birthday. Ever since I made this connection I have found this deeply troubling.

I feel that most Americans have not digested the sheer horror of what was done by our government to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I once did a study of how American high school history textbooks handled this major event in the history of our inhumanity to each other. These atomic bombings were seen as a marginal event in the history of World War II. They were a way of finishing World War II more quickly so that fewer American lives would be lost. This was war – and in war anything is permissible.

One group of Americans who did take in the horror of these bombings was our missionaries who went to Japan right after World War II. What courage that must have taken! What cynicism they must have encountered! These Americans whose government had just decimated the civilian populations of two Japanese cities arrive to preach a gospel of love and peace! It is a miracle that out of that effort came Christian churches and schools. If anything proves that God is not finished with us yet it is this!

Whenever I confront the reality of war I think of these words from a song “When will we ever learn?” However, the Japanese did learn from their experience in World War II. They disarmed themselves and to this day they do not have a standing army. They even put this into their constitution. However I read recently that there is now pressure in Japan to begin to rearm. Of course the Japanese people who were victims of the bombing are trying to stop their country from rearming. When will we ever learn?

Let us thank God today for not giving up on us altogether, and pray that the victims of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will prevail against militarism. Let us tell our children the story of Sadako and make some paper cranes so they will learn and not forget. Let us also say together the World Peace Prayer, which is often said on Hiroshima Day. Let us say it everyday –
often!

The World Peace Prayer
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts, our minds, our universe.

Elizabeth Frank

Ken & Betty Frank serve as missionaries with the Near East Mission, assigned to the American Collegiate Institute, Izmir Amerikan Lisesi. Ken is a teacher of math and works in the area of Christian-Muslim Relations. Betty serves as the librarian and also works in the area of Christian-Muslim relations.