A hug for the world, please.

[KillerMuffin]

We just marked the 57th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagaski.

Interestingly enough, so few of us even knew that it had happened 57 years ago yesterday.

There's a lesson in this event, something vitally important. There is also a memory that needs to be kept. Every living person should understand exactly what yesterday meant to the world. It was a loss of innocence and the beginning of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Era.

Take a moment it remember that 240,000 men, women, and children lost their lives in the only use of a weapons of mass destruction in a war situation. Don't concern yourself with the causes, the justifications, or the ramifications. Just think about what man can do to man. And what each of us can do to make sure it never happens again.

The Anniversary of the Bombing isn't about the past, it's about the future and how we learn from the past to shape what will happen. We can repeat it, or we can change it.

At the least, we can always remember it.

So take a moment to remember, think, and hug the world.

 

[Wotan]

Big Hug

I could not agree more KM. It is vital that we learn from the past.
Sadly we seem to be unable. History goes in the books and stays there. No lesson learned.
So sad. All those lives lost. All that potential wasted.
Like Arnie said...Its in our nature to destroy ourselves.
God bless.....

 

[Bug Eyed Monster]

A song for the world.

Well KM, I agree with you. Fortunately many of the countries that do have weapons of mass destruction seem to remember this. Unfortunately there are countries and even regions where War is an accepted part of life. I would love to teach them the following song:

Where have all the flowers gone?
- Peter Paul and Mary (Written by someone else I believe)

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone to young men everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone to soldiers everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them everyone.
When will they ever learn?
Oh when will they ever learn?

....

 

[1sexylady]

...

(((((((((( OUR WORLD )))))))))

 

[mbb308]

Bless your heart, and I fully, absolutely and completely understand and appreciate your sentiments, and most of me agrees. And then I'll run into my Iwo Jima vet friend, who was 17, or talk to my mother, who remembers Pearl Harbor, and the Doolittle raid, and Guadalcanal, the 60th anniversary is also this week....

"Goetterdaemmung without the gods"
Dwight Macdonald, in "Politics" September 1945, 'The Bomb'

"There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all Hell."
Willaim T. Sherman, speech at Columbus, OH, 11 August 1880

"Laws are silent in time of war."
Cicero, "Pro Milone"

 

[KillerMuffin]

I didn't think the political issues revolving around the actual bombing are that important anymore, except for a GB style debate.

I think we were justified and that our President at the time made the best decision he could with what he knew.

Others think that he was a monster and that we did it unnecessarily.

It wasn't my intention to start a debate.

Even though we firmly believe it was necessary, there is isn't a person among compassionate humanity that doesn't regreat that it was done. If we believed it necessary, I'm certain it would be done again. In war, right and wrong are just not the same as they are in peace.

However, it doesn't change the fact that atomic weapons are terrible things to use, no matter how justified. Neither does it change the fact that everyone in the world needs to work toward making sure that they are not needed again. Not just those of us who possess them, but those of us who can incite a justification to use them, too.

Remember that it was done, and then create a global climate that never sees the need to use them again.

 

[mbb308]

In the context of the times, and the moment, use of the bomb was probably right and necessary, based on the information Truman had at the time.

I will concur that some global dialogue, and system for perpetuating it, is required to attempt to insure that nukes aren't used again. I also think that global organizations such as the UN are a band-aid on a compound fracture. One can argue that nukes haven't been used since the UN has been around, but the same is true, that they haven't been used since they were last used....

When We the People start to remember who and what we are, we should then begin to educate ourselves to history and current events, and demand leaders who have done the same and set aside political expediency for the common good, then acting accordingly. I wish I would live long enough to see it.

Until then I shall fly the Gadsden and black flags....

 

[Bug Eyed Monster]

Eduacate, Educate, Educate

One of the best things we can do in this world is educate the next generation.

We need to educate in respect!

We need to educate in love.

We need to educate so that countries won't have ridiculous Population growth rates.

We need to educate so that people will know to respect and appreciate differences.

We need to educate so that we the world can find alternative solutions to conflict without fighting. (Be it on an individual basis or a national level.)

No I do not advise tossing the military out, because there is always someone or some country waiting to exploit a weaker person or contry. All people and nataions must be strong and respectful.

Have a great weekend.

 

[mbb308]

Re: Eduacate, Educate, Educate

One of the best things we can do in this world is educate the next generation.

We need to educate in respect!

We need to educate in love.

We need to educate so that countries won't have ridiculous Population growth rates.

We need to educate so that people will know to respect and appreciate differences.

We need to educate so that we the world can find alternative solutions to conflict without fighting. (Be it on an individual basis or a national level.)

No I do not advise tossing the military out, because there is always someone or some country waiting to exploit a weaker person or contry. All people and nataions must be strong and respectful.

Have a great weekend.

It has been my experience that many people are unwilling to set aside their traditions and notions and prejudices....I, for one, have had a hard time doing this on a personal level, so imagine hte enormity of this at a global level....and who says what is to be taught?....much of what passes for history these days is politically correct pabulum....don't get me wrong, I support solution oriented thinking - I only say there are many questions to be answered, and I'm not sure the most qualified are asking/answering....but education is indeed crucial!!!

 

[tigerjen]

What happened at Hiroshima should not be forgotten.

I recall seeing photos of the aftermath, and it was
very upsetting, very sad, and very disturbing........


{{{{{{{{{{{Our World}}}}}}}}}}}


Peave, Love, and Happiness

 

[Bug Eyed Monster]

Re: Re: Eduacate, Educate, Educate

It has been my experience that many people are unwilling to set aside their traditions and notions and prejudices....I, for one, have had a hard time doing this on a personal level, so imagine hte enormity of this at a global level....and who says what is to be taught?....much of what passes for history these days is politically correct pabulum....don't get me wrong, I support solution oriented thinking - I only say there are many questions to be answered, and I'm not sure the most qualified are asking/answering....but education is indeed crucial!!!

The journey of a 1,000 miles starts with a single footstep. - Not sure who.

I agree it is hard to set aside old traditions, notions and prejudices, but I do know that there was a town in South Africa that one day decided they did not like Aparthide and they ended it in their town, so it can be done.

I honestly believe starting with respect and/or love is the first start. Respect/Love yourself and Respect/Love life. Now if you Respect/Love yourself and life, do you really want to end somone elses? After all what if someone ended your or somone you love's life. Not good. You end somone else's life what will their friends and loved ones do? Attach you or your friends? That must also be not good.

I agree there is no simple answer, no silver bullet. I just know that for me because I love and respect myself it is easier for me to love and respect someone else, even if they disagree with my beliefs.

What do you teach? I would obviously start with Respect and Love, but also include the basic 3 R Reading Writing and Arithmetic. Let's get everyone up to that point and then we can figure out where to go. Probably the people being taught will be able to teach us what's next.

Hugs to the world, it still needs it.

 

[1sexylady]

Re: Re: Re: Eduacate, Educate, Educate

The journey of a 1,000 miles starts with a single footstep. - Not sure who.

I agree it is hard to set aside old traditions, notions and prejudices, but I do know that there was a town in South Africa that one day decided they did not like Aparthide and they ended it in their town, so it can be done.

I honestly believe starting with respect and/or love is the first start. Respect/Love yourself and Respect/Love life. Now if you Respect/Love yourself and life, do you really want to end somone elses? After all what if someone ended your or somone you love's life. Not good. You end somone else's life what will their friends and loved ones do? Attach you or your friends? That must also be not good.

I agree there is no simple answer, no silver bullet. I just know that for me because I love and respect myself it is easier for me to love and respect someone else, even if they disagree with my beliefs.

What do you teach? I would obviously start with Respect and Love, but also include the basic 3 R Reading Writing and Arithmetic. Let's get everyone up to that point and then we can figure out where to go. Probably the people being taught will be able to teach us what's next.

Hugs to the world, it still needs it.

Well said....

 

[Wotan]

The journey... quote was by Mao I think, after the long march.
Here's one from Russia thats quite apt;
To keep one eye on the past is to be blind in one eye.
To keep no eyes on the past is to be blind in both.

Education? It depends on your stand point. Some would say that its too much education that has brought us to this. I'm fairly sure Enrico Firmy, Openhiemer and the rest would never have done what they did If they had been born in a rain forest somewhere.
And there are dark clouds on the horizon. The West gobbles up the worlds asset's at a frightening rate. Globalisation threatens the independance of smaller countries. The Western powers (especially the USA) are digging a very deep hole for us.

 

[MissTaken]

Good thread.