Journal 7-Aaron Jacoby

Aaron Jacoby
English 2367 at 1:30
11/04/2017

Part 1: One of the biggest takeaways that I got from this book was just how bad it was like for people who went through the atomic bombing. I always figured it wasn't pleasant but I never looked into the details or heard what it was like directly from people who witnessed it first-hand. I also took away a big lesson about selflessness. Many of the people who were subjects in this book helped people so much after the bombing and showed such kindness that it really touched me. One person who particularly came to my mind was Reverend Tanimoto. He helped so many people in Hiroshima and continued to help until he couldn't anymore. On page 75, it says, "On his back with a fever of 104, Mr. Tanimoto worried about all the funerals he ought to be conducting for the deceased of his church." This really goes to show how much Mr. Tanimoto cared about other people. He really taught me a great lesson of selflessness.

Part 2: I previously did not know about the Tokyo fire bombings before listening to this podcast. I didn't realize that there was bombing going on before the atomic bombs that was just as bad, if not worse, than when the atomic bombs were dropped. In the podcast, Carlin stated how the planes and pilots that returned from the fire bombings smelled like burning flesh and that the bottom of the planes were scorched from the flames. This really helped to better understand people's justification of using the atomic bombs, in that the fire bombings could be ended.

Part 3: Hopefully bombing of the magnitude that it became in WW2 never happens again. But sadly it possibly could. Maybe not with the same weapons, but with the same results of mass death and viciousness. If it ever does happen again, I think more people should speak their voice. Many times, civilians of countries involved in wars were too afraid to show their displeasure of the war. I feel like that was because not enough people came together and voiced their opinions together. If everyone who disagrees with their country/leaders would stand together and tell them that they don't want to be in the war, maybe those countries will come to senses and get out of the war. It would be a far shot, but it is possible. I think we should also ban nuclear weapons everywhere. I know this would be very hard, as countries would want to keep theirs, even if it was secretly. But I see no good in having atomic weapons on this planet. If we could successfully get rid of them all, then that would get rid of a huge possibility of death.