Hiroshima in the twenty-first century 60 years after the nuclear attack, Hiroshima to-day stands tall as a magnificently picturesque, clean and tidy city. The 1.6 million people of Greater Hiroshima live in a city of peace that is almost free from crime when contrasted with cities of comparable size anywhere in the western world, particularly the US. The rejuvenation of Hiroshima is a testimony to the indomitable spirit and the indefatigable zeal of the Japanese people.
The possibility of a nuclear attack in this twenty-first century is not that far fetched. We, particularly as residents of Hiroshima, hope that this never happens again, but it can. Americans contemplated the use of nuclear weapons on many occasions. Policy advisers of the US Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, on various occasions discussed the possibilities of using nuclear weapons. Belligerent warmonger Curtis LeMay, who the Japanese named ‘Demon LeMay’, who became the Chief of the Staff of the United States Air Force, during 1961 insisted on pre-emptive nuclear attacks on the Soviet Union, which President Kennedy did not agree to. In 1969, in the November Ultimatum, the US President Nixon threatened the employment of nuclear weapons against North Viet Nam. Nixon as an ally of Pakistan contemplated the use of nuclear weapons against India, during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Even as recently as 2005/2006 Bush administration contemplated nuclear attack on Iran.
Americans have dropped atom bomb twice, and will not hesitate to attack with nuclear weapons again. During the Falklands war of 1982, British public in street demonstrations in support of their Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, urged her to ‘nuke’ Argentina. Any future confrontations between nuclear powers, or involving a nuclear power, could see the use of nuclear weapons.
Hiroshima Day is observed in Japan, and by the Japanese all over the world. In Dhauligiri that hosts the Shantistupa set up by the Japanese Guru Fuji, in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Orissa, Hiroshima Day was observed in 2007. It was a small and a sombre ceremony of remembrance attended by only a handful of people. We hope in years to come, as India continues to grow as a military superpower armed with nuclear weapons, the observation of Hiroshima Day becomes more widespread, and serves as a reminder of the devastations of nuclear attacks.
The possibility of a nuclear attack in this twenty-first century is not that far fetched. We, particularly as residents of Hiroshima, hope that this never happens again, but it can. Americans contemplated the use of nuclear weapons on many occasions. Policy advisers of the US Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, on various occasions discussed the possibilities of using nuclear weapons. Belligerent warmonger Curtis LeMay, who the Japanese named ‘Demon LeMay’, who became the Chief of the Staff of the United States Air Force, during 1961 insisted on pre-emptive nuclear attacks on the Soviet Union, which President Kennedy did not agree to. In 1969, in the November Ultimatum, the US President Nixon threatened the employment of nuclear weapons against North Viet Nam. Nixon as an ally of Pakistan contemplated the use of nuclear weapons against India, during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Even as recently as 2005/2006 Bush administration contemplated nuclear attack on Iran.
Americans have dropped atom bomb twice, and will not hesitate to attack with nuclear weapons again. During the Falklands war of 1982, British public in street demonstrations in support of their Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, urged her to ‘nuke’ Argentina. Any future confrontations between nuclear powers, or involving a nuclear power, could see the use of nuclear weapons.
Hiroshima Day is observed in Japan, and by the Japanese all over the world. In Dhauligiri that hosts the Shantistupa set up by the Japanese Guru Fuji, in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Orissa, Hiroshima Day was observed in 2007. It was a small and a sombre ceremony of remembrance attended by only a handful of people. We hope in years to come, as India continues to grow as a military superpower armed with nuclear weapons, the observation of Hiroshima Day becomes more widespread, and serves as a reminder of the devastations of nuclear attacks.
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