A sad day in History... I wonder how many Singaporeans know it.

Got up this morning, watched some cartoons, surfed some internet, then popped by to Orchard to go for the Kinokuniya sale before walking down Orchard to see the students busking & raising funds for MINDS. Got home, took out the stuff I bought at Kino, switched on the TV and kicked back to relax on this Saturday afternoon. Surfed around the TV channels before stopping at CNA as I noticed something about Atomic bombs being reported (must be the physics teacher in me). It was then that I realised that today was the 60th anniversary of the release of the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima.

As I watched the report about the memorial ceremonies going on in Hiroshima, I wondered how many people in Singapore actually realized that today was the day when more than 140,000 people in Hiroshima perished at 8.15am. I, for one, had forgotten. I mean, to be frank, I don't really think about it every year. But as global citizens, I think such a date would be quite signifiant wouldn't it? I mean, in a flash, the temperature in Hiroshima city went up as high as 4000 degrees celsius. I don't think we can comprehend how hot that really is. We are already complaining like mad when temperatures in Singapore hit 30 degrees.

Quite a few years ago(I'm thinking around 8 to 10 years?), when I made my first visit to Japan, I made it a point to start my journey at Hiroshima because I wanted to see how the city had survived the A-bomb. It was quite an experience, being at the A-bomb memorial park. There was an air of solemnity and calmness in the park. I visited the A-bomb museum where I saw the horrors of the A-bomb detonation and how there were people who are still suffering from it today. It was a visit I never regretted. I strongly encourage those of you who are even remotely interested in Japan to make a trip to Hiroshima. You will not regret it.

As I watched the news report over CNA, I think that maybe we ought to make it a point to remember dates like this. I think the dropping of the A-bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki are definitive moments in history. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in a flash. World War II ended. A whole nation was changed. The whole world was affected. It does make my cartoons, shopping, strolling seem just a little insignificant today eh?

For those who would like to take a look at the Peace Park and Memorial Museum, here's the link.