“Strike a bell in Hiroshima park
You know that we can’t see in the dark
We try and we try and we try…”
– Midnight Oil, Hercules
As the world remembers the most terrible day in Japan’s history, and one of the most terrible days in our planet’s history, it is just unbelievable that the world is closer to nuclear armageddon today than during the Cold War. And the other problem is that no one is talking about it.
The attack on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 showed the world that, for the first time in human history, we knew we had the ability to destroy ourselves. Today that ability is closer than ever. In October 1962 we came incredibly close, but with relations today between Russia and the West as they are, the Doomsday Clock has been closer to midnight only once in its history.
The late Ross Langmead used to sing a song simply called Love One Another, in which the opening lines were,
Some trust in nations, some trust in war
But trust in my love
For I am the Lord
Stop all the fighting
Let the wars cease
For I am your God
The Fountain of Peace
During this solemn day, I am reminded of another song, Peace on Earth by U2, or John Mellencamp’s Now More Than Ever (“the world needs love”). Most of all though, I am reminded of the Prince of Peace, the source of love. As Ross Langmead goes on to sing in the above-mentioned song, the great hope of Christian faith is that war will one day be over forever, fighting will cease, and the kingdom of peace will reign forevermore.
May Hiroshima never happen again. The world must not forget. Life on this planet depends on it.
Leave a Reply