August 6th is a memorial day for Hiroshima. August 9th is a memorial day for Nagasaki.
In both cities, after two 'drops' of the atomic bombs, over 200,000 were killed and wounded with one of the most brutal way.
There were books at home about the war and colonisation focusing on Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Nanjing Massacre, Unit 731, Kamikaze troops, Okinawa....thanks to my mother who was a librarian. I also was taken to an exhibition of Toshi and Iri Maruki's Genbaku Paintings. All I read and saw were overwhelmingly sad for the little girl however they planted a seed in the little heart that any form of violence, wars and conflicts, was nothing but brutal and harmful to all living beings.
Then August 15th is a day that the World War II was over.
For my country, it was a day that the nation lost the war. For other countries which were colonised by the Japanese military government, it was a day of liberation, which did not come easily as chaos and traumas left behind lead to a dictatorship or war.
How many wars and conflicts we have witnessed and are witnessing at this moment after August 15 1945?Don't humans know enough about pain and sorrow that wars bring among us for generations?
August for me is to feel remorse and pray for lost souls in wish that a true reconciliation and peace comes to this world.
I vision we all walk together in silent to the Peace Tree.
Note: This tree exist in real. It is a tree called Peace Tree in Haje Village, Gunsan, South Korea.
" It is now the Pentagon's land, and it can be passed over to the U.S. military at any time. That would expand the U.S. military base. The U.S. military base in Gunsan is still increasing weapons and construction is underway. " Info from my Korean friend, who is a social and peace activist.
People gather around this tree to sing and dance, an act of a peaceful protest against expansion of the military base.
