Monks walk atomic flame to Trinity Site
By Laura Hunt, Staff Writer
Jul 27, 2005, 12:57 pm
Buddhist monks carrying a lantern lit by embers of the worlds first atomic bomb, which destroyed Hiroshima on the morning of Aug. 6, 1945, are on their way to the birthplace of atomic weapons Trinity Site, New Mexico.
The Japanese monks, joined by other peace protesters and supporters, started walking on July 16, the 60th anniversary of the test at Trinity Site. They have already carried the atomic flame from San Francisco, through southern California and part of Nevada.
After a 25-day, 1,600-mile walk, the flame will be extinguished at the Trinity Site on Aug. 9, the 60th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. The ceremony will take place during a television broadcast calling for world peace and an end to nuclear proliferation, said Matt Taylor, Global Nuclear Disarmament Fund co-executive director.
Some Alamogordo residents were unaware of the monks journey. One resident, William Meadows, was angered by the news.
Im a veteran of World War II, and I dont think that these monks got any business coming over here, he said, because if it hadnt been for the A-bomb, there would have been millions of people killed on both sides over there.
After learning about the monks plan, Meadows immediately called Congressman Steve Pearce and left a message with someone in his office.
Since when are the Japanese allowed to come down to Trinity Site? Thats what Im asking the congressman, if he would stop them, he said to the person on the other line.
However, other residents were supportive of the monks.
I certainly understand the feelings of anybody whos experienced that, like the Japanese, said Walter Miller. Im not really fond of nuclear weapons proliferation myself, and Id like to see them all stopped... Its an admirable thing that theyre making that kind of trip.
James Haynes, Alamogordo resident, said the peace protest falls under freedom of speech.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, he said. You should do what you feel is right, and if these people feel the need to protest, they should be able to.
However, Taylor said the ceremony isnt political, but humanitarian.
Its not an anti-war thing, he said, and its not even an argument as to whether (the atomic bomb) should or shouldnt have been used. Its about ending a cycle and starting a new era.
In Zen culture, 60 years is the end of a cycle, Taylor said.
They believe that everything good and bad happens in circles, he said. The atomic bomb was born at Trinity Site, then used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For 60 years, the world has been living in fear that Nagasaki wouldnt be the last place it was used. Now were living with nuclear terrorism every day, so in order to close this circle in a peaceful way, and not to end it in a destructive way, were walking it back to where it was born.
Buddhist monks have taken the flame on many peace walks around the globe, Taylor said, and now, the monks will finally extinguish the flame and end the cycle that started in 1945.
I think its really wonderful that Trinity Site will finally be connected to all of humanity, Taylor said.
It would be funny if it wasnt such a tragic subject. It makes somewhat more sense when people say that commiting genocide against Japanese civilians is acceptable because it prevented the deaths of US servicemen who would have had to invade. That begs the question: how many Japanese women and children are worth one US soldier? Ten, twenty, a thousand? Is there any limit at all?
