Pilgrimage by wysiwig

Photography • Historical • posted on Sep 30, 2010

Open full image in new tab Zoom on image

Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.

Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.

Description

Now the sun has come to Earth Shrouded in a mushroom cloud of death Death comes in a blinding flash Of hellish heat and leaves a smear of ash And the sun has come to Earth Now the sun has disappeared All is darkness, anger, pain and fear Twisted, sightless wrecks of men Go groping on their knees and cry in pain And the sun has disappeared ~ Simon and Garfunkel We crossed the Inland Sea for the second time at Matsuyama landing at the port city of Kobe. We then took the train on a pilgrimage that, as Americans, we all felt was our duty. On Monday August 6, 1945 three B-29 bombers of the 393d Bombardment Squadron approached the city of Hiroshima, Japan. The Great Artiste was packed with instruments to measure what was about to happen. Necessary Evil carried photographic equipment to record the event. The third plane, the Enola Gay, dropped the nuclear weapon named "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m. An estimated 70,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed immediately. Over the weeks and months and years following the blast another 70,000 would die of burns, radiation sickness and various cancers. I walked down Aioi Dori, a wide modern boulevard with buildings on either side. To my left the line of buildings suddenly came to an end and as I drew even with the corner of the last building I could see a large open space. And there it was, the ruins of the Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall, or Genbaku, now commonly known as the Atomic Dome. The building had been left as a memorial to the dead of Hiroshima and all wars. The skeletal remains of the dome reminded me of a crown of thorns. If you are curious or brave read Hiroshima by John Hershy. Hershy was a journalist who interviewed six survivors of the blast. I will not recount the events contained in this book but, suffice to say, they are more horrific than anything your can imagine. World War II is often called "the good war". One thing I learned from my father and later my visit to Hiroshima, some wars are necessary but there is no such thing as a "good war".

Comments (12)

)

Faemike55

11:17PM | Thu, 30 September 2010

Very moving and beautiful (in its terror and horror) photo and writing

)

myrrhluz

11:27PM | Thu, 30 September 2010

I read "Hiroshima" when I was a teenager and again before going to Hiroshima. It is a sobering experience. I remember the origami cranes in their thousands over all the statues that were made by school children. This is a beautiful image, dedication, and song. I know the song well, and when I read the first line, chills went down my spine. Excellent post.

)

Iceshark39

11:38PM | Thu, 30 September 2010

A magnificent capture of a truely tragic event. I will certainly have to find this book and read it. The song is (surprisingly) one of Simon and Garfunkle's that I'm NOT familiar with. The shot itself is, truly, chilling and a sobering reminder that, truly, there are no 'good' wars. Thanks for sharing this.

)

psyoshida

11:54PM | Thu, 30 September 2010

Yes, I read "Hiroshima" many years ago. It was quite horrifying and unbearable, I had a hard time finishing it but I did because it happened. This building is a perfect symbol and reminder of that horrible day. I thought I knew all Simon & Garfunkel songs but I can't place this one. Haunting words. Wonderful shot and great reminder.

)

blinkings

2:51AM | Fri, 01 October 2010

Well said. I hope you got the chance to leave a crane or two.

)

durleybeachbum

3:44AM | Fri, 01 October 2010

Such a powerful image. I must read that book.

)

J5ive

7:48AM | Fri, 01 October 2010

Awesome capture!

MrsLubner

8:32AM | Fri, 01 October 2010

Of all the battles and all the lives lost in WWII, the only subject never spoken in our house was about this bomb and it's damage. My father served 7 years in this war, I heard a few stories but he never spoke of the horrors...only the more humorous moments that came between the battles. But I read and this bomb was beyond all rational description. Very interesting shot. One that got my attention and held it.

)

TheBryster

6:16PM | Fri, 01 October 2010

I read this episode in history in my latter years as school, and at one time I knew more about Hiroshima and Nakasaki than any other event in WWII. It's still a sobering thought that even today the effects of these weapons are still being felt by the people of Japan. What is more sobering perhaps is the fact that the weapons used are mere damp squibs when compared to what is available in the arsenal of far too many nations on this tiny planet we call home. An excellent photograph and tribute.

)