Memorable Patient

　　It's terribly cold. Such coldness in January reminds me of a patient who had been under my care for five years. He passed away at the end of the last winter. He was a victim of the atomic bombs. I wrote "bombs" in the plural not in the singular. To tell the truth, he visited both victim cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, just after the bombings, to help take care of live victims and recover bodies from wreckage and the river, where a number of people dived into for water. Ordinary people didn't know the danger of the residual radiation at that time. He wasn't supposed to be exposed to the radiation. His condition suddenly got worse on such a freezing day last January and he didn't come back again.
　　I'd like to write about victims of the atomic bombs. Most people in the world might think that the bombings are something that is done or passed long ago, but it's not true. The cruel influence of the atomic bombs is still continuing. Six months after his death, his wife visited the victim city, Hiroshima, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the first-ever atomic bombing. Her comment and picture were put on the local newspaper and I'm showing it later.
　　I'm angry about the attitude of the U.S. that has never apologized about the bombing. They made the convenient story up to protect themselves, but if you ask me, there is no rational excuse about the bombing. They attacked people who were not resisting, not only in this case, but also in lots of cities in Japan. Kamikaze never attacked the transport ships that didn't have the measures of attacks, following the international laws, but the U.S. did indiscriminately. It should have been the U.S., not Japan, to be judged in the Tokyo tribunal. My heart bleeds recalling his words.
　　At last, I'll post the article of the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the bombing in Hiroshima. The woman in the picture is his wife. I don't want to be bombed again. I insist that Japan should have the nuclear weapons unless all the countries throw the nuclear weapons away altogether. Japan is a single victim country of the nuclear weapons, so only Japan has the right to have the nuclear weapons to protect ourselves.

(Vocabulary)
memorable / unforgettable sight 忘れられない光景
in sb's care  ＜人＞の世話になっている
under sb's care  ＜人＞の世話［治療］を受けている
in the plural  複数形で
the danger of sth/of doing sth  ＜…＞の［＜…＞する］危険性
an indiscriminate attack / random attack 無差別攻撃
commemoration 記念, 記念式典, 記念物［碑］

 
 
 
 
 

Comments

[KUMO]

I appreciate the sincere comment you sent. I think you are a man of integrity. Thanks again for visiting my blog.

[Shiroi Tora]

It is not atomic weapons which unnerve me. It is biological...they are completely indiscriminate and can be easily delivered anonymously. The days of designer genes is already here.

I understand what you are saying. I hate aggression. But not assertiveness.
My mother is from Japan (Kyushu)...My wife is from Japan (Shikoku)...I lived a total of 4 years in Japan. I love Japan. I also love the USA. Please remember...there is no such thing as inherited debt (morally- we know, all too well, the reality of economic inherited debt).

All countries have much to be ashamed of...well, at least of their military leaders whom were unjustifiably aggressive. But, there were great military and political leaders also.

In general, it is not war that is evil...but evil persons' actions (aggression) which sometimes make war necessary (Death rather than enslavement - death to me so my family will be safe...etc.).

I am just glad that Japan became the great nation it is instead of degrading into a nation of victims forever. It did this by looking forward and working together. I say...Honor those who were killed in battle by ensuring it never happens again. By greatly improving the nation and leading others in thought and action. Japan has a great culture and the rest of the world would be bettered by infusing much of what Japan is, into their culture.

You have a very nice and interesting blog. I shall stop by often. I already greatly admire you for what you have done in your life. A surgeon is one of the most highly trained persons in the world. The amount of learning you must have gone through...and continue to do...I cannot even imagine.

I look forward to more of your greatly interesting articles. Till then.
P.S. - You also have extremely good English.

シロイトラ

[Sarah]

The atomic bombs are a terrible piece of our history. When I first got to Japan, I wondered how many people would judge me as a US citizen because of them. I know that there will always be some resentment towards US as a whole, but almost every Japanese person has been kind and accepting towards me. In my first month in Japan, we went to the museum in Ryogoku that gave me a Japanese perspective of the war. It was very interesting and very humbling.

I don't agree that one country should be able to carry the nuclear weapons. I think they should all be destroyed, period. However, I do respect your opinion. (sarah)