The Story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
August is a bittersweet
month. It is the month in which we mournfully remember the atomic
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August 9 during the final
stages of World War II. The nuclear weapons, developed and deployed by the
United States, brought complete obliteration to the two cities and killed approximately
200,000 Japanese from both immediate and long-term effects. Most of the
Japanese who fell victim to the nuclear weapons were innocent civilians. The laws of war and ethical standards were
shattered, and the United States set a precedent of nuclear proliferation. Yet, although
August is the month in which we reflect on the horrors of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, it is also the month in which worldwide peace efforts that stemmed
from such tragedy are celebrated. The story of Sadako Sasaki is one story that
has inspired generations to pursue a peaceful and just world.
