By Christine Sheller
Approximately 50 persons gathered for the annual Hiroshima/
Nagasaki observance on the anniversary of the bombings August 9, 2024 . “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” was the theme
for the evening, a quote by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. August 9 is the anniversary date of the Nagasaki
bombing.
Several peace groups organized and planned the service over
the span of a few months. It was held at
the Japanese Bell of Peace and Friendship, and the sunset was perfect for the
event.
Close-up of the Japanese Bell (Krieg/ AFSC)
Pastor Edgar and David Solis provided gathering music with
guitar and singing. It was very
beautiful. Caleb Stewart, Catholic Peace
Ministry intern, welcomed everyone and gave greeting. Mack Swenson read the story of the Japanese
Bell. Always moving to hear. We were reminded that the traditional Japanese
Bell was given to the state of Iowa in thanks for the help Iowa sent to their Japanese
community in a time of need. It is
unique to other bells.
Dr. David Drake gave some opening remarks. His talk was entitled, “Maintaining Some
Sanity in a Time of Existential Threats.”
Moving as well. Next was the main
speaker: Ann Suellentrop, with Physicians
for Social Responsibility out of Kansas City.
Her talk, entitled, “What You Can Do to Stop Nuclear Weapons,” focused
on action taken in the past and potential for the future. She has had a career in nursing, and came
upon the work of abolishing nuclear with Physicians for Social Responsibility. Her stories were captivating, and she shared
literature, and more, at a table off to the side, to browse before and after
the event.
Ann Suellentrop speaking (Krieg/ AFSC)
Erika Abusharkh read excerpts from the Peace Proclamation by
the Hiroshima mayor. The Mayor’s remarks
are always published online, given on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. She shared a quote by a friend in reflection
of war in general: “they did not only
take our lives, they took our dreams.”
The excerpts from the Mayor of Hiroshima’s speech were memorable as
well.
Mary Ann Koch then shared a poem. It was entitled “Umoja: Each One of Us Counts,”
by Rita Dove. It was printed in the
program, and “Umoja” was explained as well: it is the Swahili word for unity
for a vision of each one of us sharing the same humanity.
(Krieg/ AFSC)
The closing of the service included Caleb Stewart explaining
the ringing of the bell, and laying on of flowers on the Bell. Pastor Edgar and David Solis shared a closing
song. Persons then processed up to the
bell with flowers in hand, ready to ring the bell.
Ringing the bell (Krieg/ AFSC)
Many organizations cosponsored this event. Iowa Peace Network was one of the
organizations which helped plan and also cosponsor this event. Cosponsors were: AFSC, Midwest Region; Catholic Peace
Ministry; Community of Christ (Des Moines); Community of Christ (Lamoni); DM
Faith Committee for Peace; DM Intentional Eucharistic Community; DM Valley Friends
Meeting; Downtown Disciples; Faith Committee for Peace; First Unitarian Church;
First United Methodist Church Mission and Social Concerns; Iowa Peace Network;
Methodist Federation for Social Action- Iowa; Middle East Peace Education
Coalition; Physicians for Social Responsibility; Plymouth Peace and Justice
Committee; and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
See more photos here from Jon Krieg of AFSC:
https://photos.afsc.org/?c=4043&k=25f67e7ef7
Christine Sheller is editor and coordinator at Iowa Peace
Network, based in Des Moines, IA.
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