I remember Hiroshima

by Stephen Kelen

78 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Peter Felice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short book, more a narrative of Stephen’s observations on what unfolded in the aftermath of this horrific event. I understand the argument that the bomb may have prevented many more deaths, but the pain and destruction it caused is heartbreaking—and you really feel that in these pages. I’m very grateful to Stephen Kelen for writing this book.

Sometimes history doesn’t feel real. It can seem like a distant story. We can’t truly imagine something as horrific as the Holocaust, or the killing of hundreds of thousands of people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This is the darkest side of humanity.

What I found beautiful in this book is the way the Japanese people responded. Their culture is unlike anything else I’ve ever known—so positive, respectful, and deeply considerate. Perhaps the bomb did prevent even greater loss of life, but the lives it destroyed must be honoured. This book goes a long way towards doing just that.