Obama embraces Hiroshima survivor and reflecting on WWII bombing
Public Group active 3 years, 1 month agoembraced a survivor of Hiroshima today – but stopped short of an apology for the United States dropping an atomic bomb on the city. The U.S. president declared that the world has a ‘shared responsibility’ to review history and ‘curb such suffering’ from happening, as it did on August 6, 1945, when 140,000 residents of Hiroshima died when the town was leveled.’Why do we come to this place, to Hiroshima?’ he asked. ‘We come to ponder a terrible force unleashed in the not so distant past. We come to mourn the dead.’Obama solemnly reflected on the world’s first atomic strike and said, ‘We stand here in the middle of this city and force ourselves to imagine the moment the bomb fell. We force ourselves to feel the dread of children confused by what they see. We listen to a silent cry. We remember all the innocents killed across the arc of that terrible war.’ Scroll down for video After making his speech at the memorial park, President Obama embraced an elderly survivor of the attack on August 6, 1945 President Obama, left, shook hands with Sunao Tsuboi, who survived the attack who expressed gratitude for the historic visit Today Obama became the first sitting US President to visit Hiroshima, site of the world’s first nuclear attack on August 6, 1945 Standing beside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, Obama said the bomb demonstrated ‘mankind had the power to destroy itself’ Prime Minister Abe said President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima today marks a new chapter of reconciliation between Japan and the US President Obama, right, paused briefly and bowed his head as he laid the wreath at the site of the world’s first nuclear attack With his stop today at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park following the conclusion of the G7 summit Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Japanese town that was leveled Allied forces during World War II with this stop today at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.He was careful not to recast President Harry Truman’s decision to authorize the launch of the war-ending ‘Little Boy’ bomb 71 years ago as a mistake and instead focused on the legacy of nuclear weapons.During the emotional speech, which was followed by remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Obama expressed a desire to see the end of nuclear weapons after acknowledging the attack ‘demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself’ At the moving ceremony Obama said, ‘Mere words cannot give voice to such suffering, but we have a shared resp to look directly into the eye of history and ask what we must do differently to curb such suffering again.’ RELATED ARTICLES
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What happened ‘was not fate,’ he said. And every act of aggression between nations, every act of terror and of cruelty ‘shows our work is never done.”We may not be able to eliminate man’s capacity to do evil,’ he said, ‘so nations and the alliances we have formed must possess the means to defend ourselves.’For nations with nuclear stockpiles, ‘We must have the courage to escape the logic of fear, and pursue a world without them,’ Obama stated.Still it is not enough. ‘Even he crudest rifle and barrel bombs can serve up violence on a terrible scale,’ he said. ‘We must change our mind set about war itself, to prevent conflict through diplomacy and strive to end conflicts after they’ve begun,’ the American president said. ‘We must reimagine our connection to one another as members of one human race.’ 71 years after Harry Truman authorized the attack, President Obama was introduced to some of the survivors who witnessed the terror Tsuboi said he never thought the US President would visit Hiroshima during his lifetime and warmly welcomed Obama to the city Shigeaki Mori, a survivor, second right, who created a memorial for American prisoners of war who died at Hiroshima greeted the president HIROSHIMA: BY THE NUMBERS 350,000: Population of Hiroshima before the bombing, of which 40,000 were military personnel.140,000: Estimated death toll, including those who died from radiation-related injuries and illness through Dec. 31, 1945.300,000: Total death toll to date, including those who have died from radiation-related cancers.1.2 million: Population of Hiroshima today.31,500: Height in feet from which the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the ‘Little Boy’ bomb.2,000: Height in feet at which the bomb exploded 43 seconds after it was dropped.3,000-4,000: The estimated temperature in Celsius at ground zero seconds after the detonation.8,900: Approximate weight of the ‘Little Boy’ bomb in pounds.1,600: Radius in feet from ground zero in which the entire population died that day.90: Percent of Hiroshima that was destroyed.45: Minutes after the 8:15 a.m. blast that a ‘black rain’ of highly radioactive particles started falling.3-6: Weeks after the bombing during which most of the victims with severe radiation symptoms died.10 million: Origami cranes that decorate the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima each year.Obama advocated on behalf of the ‘radical and necessary notion that we are a part of a single human family.”That is the story that we all must tell. That is why we come to Hiroshima. So that we might think of people we love. The first smile from our children in the morning. The gentle touch from a spouse over the kitchen table, the comforting embrace of a parent. We can think of those things and know that those same precious moments took place here, 71 years ago. Those who died, they were like us,’ he stated.The 54-year-old U.S.politician who has dedicated his time in office to achieving nuclear non-proliferation said the scientific evolution of the past century must be accompanied by a ‘moral revolution.”For this too is what makes our species unique. We’re not bound by genetic code to repeat the mistakes of the past. We can learn. We can choose. We can tell our children a different story. One that describes a common humanity. One that makes war less likely and cruelty less easily accepted,’ he said. ‘Ordinary people understand this I think, they do not want more war. They would rather that the wonders of science be focused on improving life and not eliminating it.Continuing, he said, ‘When the choices made by nations, when the choices made by leaders reflect this simple wisdom, then the lesson of Hiroshima is done.’ Obama stressed the events of August 6, 1945 should never be allowed to fade from public consciousness.’The world was forever changed here. But today, the children of this city will go through their day in peace. What a precious thing that is. It is worth protecting, and then extending to every child. That is a future we can choose.’A future in which Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known not at the dawn of atomic warfare, but as the start of our own moral awakening.’Abe said Obama’s visit to Hiroshima opened a new chapter of reconciliation for US and Japan.After his speech, Obama was greeted by two survivors of the devastating attack which destroyed 90 percent of the coastal city, Sunao Tsuboi, Chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organization, and Shigeaki Mori, the creator of a memorial for American POWs killed at Hiroshima.Obama held Tsuboi’s hand and gave Mori a hug. He then signed the guestbook inside the memorial park and wrote: ‘We have known the agony of war. Let us now find the courage, together, to spread peace, and pursue a world without nuclear weapons.’ Hiroshima survivor Toshiyuki Kawamoto said, ‘We welcome President Obama. The 80-year-old added: ‘I hope this historic visit to Hiroshima will push for the movement of abolishing nuclear weapons in the world.’ Speaking earlier at Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station just south of the port city, Obama addressed some of the 3,000 personnel at the base as well as their Japanese counterparts. He then traveled by helicopter to the site where laid a wreath to those who died in the attack on August 6, 1945 and the second strike on Nagasaki three days later. In his speech he called for the reduction in the number of nuclear weapons held by countries across the globe. He said he wanted a ‘world without nuclear arms’ but admitted it was unlikely to happen within his lifetime. Obama said: ‘It’s a chance to reaffirm our commitment to pursuing the peace and security of a war where nuclear weapons would no longer be necessary.’Addressing the historic nature of today’s events, he said they were ‘a testament to how even the most painful divides can be bridged, how our two nations, former adversaries, can not just become partners, but become the best of friends, and the strongest of allies. Former US President Jimmy Carter considered visiting Hiroshima while in office but found it politically impossible During his historic speech in Hiroshima today, President Obama addressed the issue of the use of ‘barrel bombs’ in the Syrian conflict Obama and Abe speak at the cenotaph for the memorial of victims of the world’s first nuclear attack on August 6, 1945 President Obama did not apologize for Harry Truman’s decision to authorize the attack which claimed some 140,000 lives President Obama, center, stepped from Marine Force One has he arrived earlier today in Hiroshima, site of the attack in August 1945’We see the strength of our alliance on display right here,’ he said. ‘This base is a powerful example of the trust and the cooperation and the friendship between the United states and Japan.’Speaking to US Marines and members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence force, he added: ‘Your service right here is rooted in the shared values of today’s Japan and today’s United States.’ Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed Obama’s visit claiming it would provide a ‘big boost’ to efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world.Among those commemorated were 12 US prisoners of war who were being held in the city at the time of the attack. The victims are believed to have been mostly airmen. Japan surrendered six days after the second attack, which has been credited at bringing the war to an end. However, some historians question this theory.Speaking before his arrival, Obama said: ‘I’m coming, first and foremost, to remember and honor the tens of millions of lives lost during the Second World War. Hiroshima reminds us that war, no matter the cause or countries involved, results in tremendous suffering and loss, especially for innocent civilians.’ more videos
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President Obama, left, greeted US troops and their families at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, south of Hiroshima before making the historic visit to the site of the first atomic attack on August 6, 1945 where 140,000 died when a , former US ambassador for the United Nations John Bolton wrote that Obama’s ‘penchant for apologizing is central to his legacy’.’He may not often say, ‘I apologize’ explicitly, but his meaning is always clear, especially since he often bends his knee overseas, where he knows the foreign audiences will get his meaning,’ he said.He added: ‘It is, in fact, Obama’s subtlety that makes his effort to reduce America’s influence in the world so dangerous.’Like Romney, Bolton said that Obama’s ‘apology tour’ started in Cairo in 2009, and has continued on throughout his presidency.He said: ‘In Europe, saved three times by America in the last century, Obama apologized because “there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive”. ‘And in this hemisphere, Obama said, “We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms”, culminating in his recent fawning visits with the Castros in Cuba.He said that Obama’s ‘zeal for photo opportunities’ often comes before the interests of the United States and that he ‘puts his vanity before our nation’s pride’. The White House debated whether the time was right for Obama to break a decades-old taboo on presidential visits to Hiroshima, jeepininmidwest.com especially in an election year.But Obama’s aides defused most negative reaction from military veterans’ groups by insisting he would not second-guess the decision to drop the bombs.The U.S. president said, ‘I will not revisit the decision to use atomic weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but I will point out that Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe and I coming to Hiroshima together shows the world the possibility of reconciliation – that even former adversaries can become the strongest of allies.’ Bomb survivor Kinuyo Ikegami, 82, paid her own respects at the cenotaph on Friday morning, well before Obama arrived, lighting incense and chanting a prayer.Tears ran down her face as she described the immediate aftermath of the bomb.She said: ‘I could hear schoolchildren screaming: ‘Help me! Help me!’ ‘It was too pitiful, too horrible. Even now it fills me with emotion.’ Bomb survivor Kinuyo Ikegami, left, prays in advance of President Obama’s historic arrival later this morning to HiroshimaAttack survivor Sunao Tsuboi, who met with Obama today, said he does not believe the American president needs to apologize for the bombing. Instead he said he wanted to express his ‘gratitude’ for the historic visit. He said: ‘I never imagined [the President] would come while I am alive. We do not need apologies. I hope that he will present in Hiroshima what is good for the happiness of humankind. ‘I would like to join hands with each other through the power of reason and beyond hatred.’ Retiree Tsuguo Yoshikawa took a walk in the park, and said it’s time for the U.S. and Japanese people to move forward without grudges.Tokyo actor Kanji Shimizu says he wishes a U.S. president would have come earlier. But he’s glad that the time has come. He’s hoping Obama’s visit will help promote world peace.Obama touched down in Hiroshima on Friday after completing talks with world leaders at the international G7 summit in Shima, Japan. Han Jeong-soon, the 58-year-old daughter of a Korean survivor, was also at the park.’The suffering, such as illness, gets carried on over the generations – that is what I want President Obama to know. I want him to understand our sufferings.’Obama’s visit is a moment 71 years in the making. Other American presidents considered it, but the politics were still too sensitive, the emotions too raw. Jimmy Carter visited as a former president in 1984.A poll found that 70 percent of Japanese people supported Obama’s decision to visit to Hiroshima. Another survey of just survivors discovered that 80 percent were not seeking an apology.However, North Korea attacked today’s visit branding Obama ‘a nuclear war maniac’ describing the historic event as ‘childish political calculation’. The hermit state’s official KCNA news agency added: ‘Obama is seized with the wild ambition to dominate the world by dint of the US nuclear edge.’ At a news conference on Thursday Obama was asked about North Korea’s own nuclear aspirations and the outgoing president, due to retire in January, admitted he has ‘not seen the kind of progress that I would have liked to have seen,’ although the U.S. has at least been successful at mobilizing the international community ‘so that their proliferation activities are scrutinized much more carefully.’And they have far fewer countries that are tolerant of potential actions by North Korea outside of their own program,’ Obama observed. ‘Having said that, North Korea is a big worry for all of us. They’re not at the point right now where they can effectively hit U.S. targets, but each time that they test — even if those tests fail — they learn something. And it is clear that ideologically they are still convinced that — and Kim Jong-un in particular seems to be convinced that his own legitimacy is tied up with developing nuclear weapons.’CHINA DOWNPLAYS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S HISTORIC VISIT INSISTING JAPAN GOT WHAT IT DESERVED IN 1945 The Chinese government today attacked President Obama’s historic government claiming Japanese war crimes in Nanjing in 1937 were more worthy of mention than those who died in Hiroshima.Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said that the massacre of civilians by Japanese troops in the city of Nanjing deserved greater reflection.He said: ‘Hiroshima is worthy of attention. But even more so Nanjing should not be forgotten. ‘Victims deserve sympathy, but perpetrators should never shirk their responsibility.’China says 300,000 people died in a six-week spree of killing, rape and destruction after the Japanese military entered Nanjing in 1937, although some respected academics put the number lower.China historian Jonathan Spence, for example, estimates that 42,000 soldiers and citizens were killed and 20,000 women raped, many of whom later died.The state-run China Daily newspaper declared in an editorial on Thursday that the ‘atomic bombings of Japan were of its own making’.It accused present-day Japanese officials of ‘trying to portray Japan as the victim of World War II rather than one of its major perpetrators’. Today’s visit to the attack site is planned to help reinvigorate attempts to encourage international nuclear disarmament HOW AUGUST 6, 1945 CHANGED THE WORLD AFTER ENOLA GAY DROPPED ‘LITTLE BOY’ ON HIROSHIMAWith a blinding flash of light and an ear-splitting roar, the age of nuclear conflict arrived with terrifying and awe-inspiring force on August 6, 1945, changing the course of history, and killing 140,000 people.The morning was a run-of-the-mill one for most Hiroshima residents. Housewives made breakfast for their families, children played in the sticky summer heat, and men hurried to get ready for work.Few could have known the dangers above them as a US B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay pierced the sky, loaded with deadly cargo in its belly, the single most fearsome weapon the world had ever seen. On August 6, 1945 a US B-29 bomber, Enola Gay, dropped Little Boy, a uranium bomb on Hiroshima killing an estimated 140,000 peopleAt 8:15 am, the pilot released Little Boy, a uranium bomb with a destructive force equivalent to 16 kilotons of TNT.After the initial searing fireball, gusts of around one mile a second roared outwards, carrying with them shattered debris, and packing enough force to rip limbs from bodies.The air pressure suddenly dropped, crushing those on the ground, and an ominous mushroom cloud rose, towering ten miles above the city.The smell of burning flesh filled the air as scores of badly injured survivors tried to escape the inferno by diving into the rivers that criss-crossed Hiroshima.Countless hundreds never emerged, pushed under the surface by the mass of desperate humanity; their charred bodies left bobbing in the brackish water. more videos
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Many died of their terrible injuries over the following hours and days; lying where they fell, desperate for help that would never come, or even just for a sip of water.For those who survived, there was the terrifying unknown of radiation sickness still to come.Gums bled, teeth fell out, hair came off in clumps; there were cancers, premature births, malformed babies and sudden deaths.Seven decades later, some stone buildings that survived the supersonic blast still bear the shadows of anything — or anyone — that was incinerated in front of them.The mangled skeleton of a domed exhibition hall — the only structure left standing near the epicentre — stands as a grim reminder of the power of the world’s first atomic bombing, a sight that Barack Obama will see Friday when he becomes the first sitting US president to visit the city.The Hiroshima attack was followed three days later by the Nagasaki bombing. In the wake of the overpowering twin bombs, Japan surrendered less than a week later, ending the Second World War. This file photo taken in 1945 shows the devastated city of Hiroshima in the days after the first atomic bomb was dropped by the US
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