8.06.2008

We Remember

63 years ago today (August 6, 1945), on the Feast of the Transfiguration, a US bomber dropped an atomic bomb called "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. "Little Boy" had an estimated equivalent explosive force of 12,500 tons of TNT. It is estimated that 140,000 people died. Hiroshima became the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack.

On August 9, 1945, a second atomic bomb called "Fat Boy" was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The original target city, Kokura, could not be reached because of weather problems and Nagasaki was selected as the alternative target. Estimates generally put the number of deaths around 80,000. "Fat Boy" was more powerful than "Little Boy," but was accidentally dropped on the outskirts of the city, lessening the amount of deaths.

It is estimated that out of every 6 deaths in the bombings, 5 were civilians and 1 was military.

On a visit to Hiroshima in 1981, Pope John Paul II said: "To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future. To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war. To remember Hiroshima is to commit oneself to peace."

And so I urge you to remember on this 63rd Anniversary:

Loving God. You have loved us into being. Help us in turn to love all our brothers and sisters. We remember especially today all those members of our global family who have died in conflict and war. Grant us the strength and wisdom to use our gifts, so that together we may transform our world through the bonds of peace and the love that comes from you.

Amen. Shalom. Amen.

3 comments:

yarnslinger said...

What a beautiful prayer - may I post it on my blog? Thank you for the reminder. It is good to pause and remember.

Susan Rose Francois, CSJP said...

Certainly you may share the prayer.

Garpu said...

It's sad reading people on other blogs stick up for dropping the bombs. (Haven't been around much...dealing with massive cleaning projects by my place.)