I would like to express my deepest condolences to the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. So opened Masao Morihara, a Hibakusha, a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, at Baltimore's 18th annual commemoration of the event. On August 6th he, along with Hiroaki Senda, another survivor, spoke at a gathering of 40 citizens at the American Friends Service Committee in Baltimore. The event, organized by the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee, reminded all those present of the dramatic realities of atomic warfare, cautioned on the precariousness of the present situation, and urged all to work for peace to reduce the dangers of nuclear war in the future.

Mr. Morihara continued, reliving his efforts to help other victims of the bombing by repeatedly returning into the contaminated zone of Hiroshima and offering assistance. Shortly afterward he lost his hair, experienced diarrhea and bleeding of the nose and mouth, all typical symptoms of radiation sickness. Today, he has been diagnosed with liver cancer as a result of his exposure.

As a nurse in the army, Mr. Senda was further from the center of the attack, yet was responsible for taking care of the still living, yet disfigured masses brought into his ward. He recalled the burned and charred humans and the putrid smell that penetrated every corner of the city following the attack. However, since he was not within 1.5 miles of the explosion, he had a great deal more difficulty obtaining recognition as an atomic bomb survivor. This parallels the troubles of America's nuclear workers and citizens downwind from atmospheric testing who have seldom received straight answers regarding their suffering from rare diseases. Americans who survived the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings receive only an annual visit by Japanese doctors, as the US government offers them no form of recognition or compensation.

Most amazingly, while the Japanese guests had, in fact, "hated" America following the bombing, their most resounding sentiment today is to build peace through exchange and dialogue.

At the end of the evening, the participants gathered in a circle to share their impressions of the event and backdrop. One man pointed out that the media almost failed entirely to mention the commemoration, despite the connections with 9-11. Others focused on the current events which have led to increases in the dangers of nuclear war (the famous clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved from 9 minutes before midnight to 7 in February-- see http://www.thebulletin.org). Many apologized to the Japanese guests and reflected on the strength of witness from those in a war zone. Finally, a number of participants, reflecting on a reading done earlier that evening from E. Thomalen's PHAETON's CHARIOT, recalled the struggles and hypocrisy in the US government's decision to use the bomb.

The evening ended with the distribution of origami peace cranes made Mr. Senda and Mr. Morihara. For a few hours on a Tuesday evening, the feelings of human connectedness prevailed over the background of otherwise unpleasant news.

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Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee, 4806 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212 Ph: 410-323-7200 Fax: 410-323-7292 Email: mobuszewski@afsc.org