WHAT is a PILGRIM?The dictionary defines PILGRIM as, “A person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.”
I believe it is certainly a person who travels a long distance, making it a journey if not to somewhere, then perhaps in search for some (spiritual) place or knowledge. WHY is the most common question asked of a pilgrim along his or her journey. It is unanswerable because the true WHY is a surprise to be discovered along the way. CLICK HERE to view interview with Nisei Veterans Memorial Center in observance of Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day. |
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WAYMAKERS for PEACE:
Hiroshima & Nagasaki Survivors Speak
by Melinda Clarke
Excerpts from "WAYMAKERS for PEACE"
…. “of the 9,600 seventh and eighth grade students in Hiroshima at that time, 8,050 were killed instantly. Only 550 students survived. For me that is the most unforgettable event of that day."
…"There is no time for anger. No room for anger. If we want Human Kind to survive we must seek another direction. ….I believe that the ultimate poser to stop the arms race, to crate a nuclear free world…is the non-violent power of the grass-root peace movement.”
“….a man ran up to me and asked me to grab a shovel and help him rescue his neighbor’s wife who was trapped under a collapsed house. I went the short distance with him and saw a small boy, perhaps three or four years old who was standing there trying to get help to save his mother. …..the fire was coming fast. ….after digging a few moments we realized we had no time to help. We ran away, The small boy begged us to try longer, but we ran. ….when I think of that day and those scenes….I feel very sad and wonder what became of them. …I don’t blame America for bombing. The issue, it seems to me, isn’t That Day. The real question is war. War is the unpardonable crime against heaven and humanity. WAR IS A DISGRACE TO CIVILIZATION.”
Click Here for recent KAOI Radio interview with Cindy Palos and Melinda Clarke
…. “of the 9,600 seventh and eighth grade students in Hiroshima at that time, 8,050 were killed instantly. Only 550 students survived. For me that is the most unforgettable event of that day."
…"There is no time for anger. No room for anger. If we want Human Kind to survive we must seek another direction. ….I believe that the ultimate poser to stop the arms race, to crate a nuclear free world…is the non-violent power of the grass-root peace movement.”
“….a man ran up to me and asked me to grab a shovel and help him rescue his neighbor’s wife who was trapped under a collapsed house. I went the short distance with him and saw a small boy, perhaps three or four years old who was standing there trying to get help to save his mother. …..the fire was coming fast. ….after digging a few moments we realized we had no time to help. We ran away, The small boy begged us to try longer, but we ran. ….when I think of that day and those scenes….I feel very sad and wonder what became of them. …I don’t blame America for bombing. The issue, it seems to me, isn’t That Day. The real question is war. War is the unpardonable crime against heaven and humanity. WAR IS A DISGRACE TO CIVILIZATION.”
Click Here for recent KAOI Radio interview with Cindy Palos and Melinda Clarke
FOLLOW ME ON A PEACE JOURNEY
Melinda began sharing her "Peace Journey" story at various locations in the summer of 2018 starting in Maui, Hawaii. Ms. Clarke's talk includes a screening of the documentary "Lost Generation" as well as interviews she conducted in the early 1980s with Hibakusha (A-bomb survivors) from Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“Lost Generation” contains footage taken by the U.S. Occupation Forces after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The enactment of the Freedom of Information Act in 1976 allowed for the movie footage and photographs to become available for purchase and in 1980 Messrs. Tsutomu Iwakura and Kazumitsu Aihara formed the “10 Feet Movement”. With the help of NHK and a civil campaign of citizens from all over Japan sending in 3,000YEN per person, the men purchased 100,000 feet of footage and photos that were later used in three different movies. Ms. Clarke was gifted those films while she was conducting interviews of A-bomb survivors in Japan in the early 1980s.
Watch "Lost Generation" HERE
(Photo Above: Melinda Clarke speaking at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center in Maui Hawaii, August 4, 2018 for
"Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance Days")
Peace Cards 2024
My thanks to all and any of you who followed my trip around the world. I had a few money problems along the way, when my card was compromised in Hong Kong over the long Easter holiday, so I didn’t do as much as I intended. That was a bummer. But one thing I did do was even better than I ever imagined, and I want to share it here on my website.
Before I left Maui to fly to Japan and the start of my world tour via bus, train, ferry and plane, I printed a batch of blank, self-addressed cards. The idea was that I would give people, along the way, a blank card and three questions. They were to choose one of the questions and write their response on the back of the card, put a stamp on it from their country, and mail it to Maui. If people would respond, there would be peace messages from around the world with different stamps.
I gave my first handful out in Japan. Then, I handed them out in Hong Kong, Istanbul, Quatar, on the overnight train to Bulgaria over the Bosporus, in bus to Serbia and Budapest, Turkey, the train to Vienna, flight to Portugal, and finally home to USA- New York, Las Vegas, bus to LA and home to Maui.
I didn’t know people, and felt rather silly before I got into the swing of it. It happened in Hong Kong at the airport. There was a delay and it had been a long day. The older couple in front of me said my knapsack looked heavy, so I opened it and pulled out my packet of cards. They wanted more than one. A few other people in line wanted to join in the international peace card message. One gentleman spoke English. He worked for Interpol. He promised to send his card to Maui. He did.
On the overnight train from Istanbul to Bulgaria, I met a journalist couple from London, who were traveling Europe by train. We had long conversations, they took cards, and mailed them.
On the train to Vienna my seat partner was from Russia. She took several and gave one to her daughter. They both answered. On the plane to Portugal, upon landing, I was accompanied to my hotel lobby where a number of people in the lobby asked for the cards, as I opened my knapsack. Some of those cards have arrived.
Through my travels, I was happily surprised that people wanted to be part of this Peace Project. I intend to head back out and finish my trip, passing out more cards.
If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, please email me and I will send you a card(s). My email is [email protected]
Here are the three questions. CHOSE ONE (or a combination):
1.How can we stop war? (Even a small idea for a first step)
2. How can we cure the disease of violence?
3. Anything at all that you want to say that might pertain to peace, life, etc.
Before I left Maui to fly to Japan and the start of my world tour via bus, train, ferry and plane, I printed a batch of blank, self-addressed cards. The idea was that I would give people, along the way, a blank card and three questions. They were to choose one of the questions and write their response on the back of the card, put a stamp on it from their country, and mail it to Maui. If people would respond, there would be peace messages from around the world with different stamps.
I gave my first handful out in Japan. Then, I handed them out in Hong Kong, Istanbul, Quatar, on the overnight train to Bulgaria over the Bosporus, in bus to Serbia and Budapest, Turkey, the train to Vienna, flight to Portugal, and finally home to USA- New York, Las Vegas, bus to LA and home to Maui.
I didn’t know people, and felt rather silly before I got into the swing of it. It happened in Hong Kong at the airport. There was a delay and it had been a long day. The older couple in front of me said my knapsack looked heavy, so I opened it and pulled out my packet of cards. They wanted more than one. A few other people in line wanted to join in the international peace card message. One gentleman spoke English. He worked for Interpol. He promised to send his card to Maui. He did.
On the overnight train from Istanbul to Bulgaria, I met a journalist couple from London, who were traveling Europe by train. We had long conversations, they took cards, and mailed them.
On the train to Vienna my seat partner was from Russia. She took several and gave one to her daughter. They both answered. On the plane to Portugal, upon landing, I was accompanied to my hotel lobby where a number of people in the lobby asked for the cards, as I opened my knapsack. Some of those cards have arrived.
Through my travels, I was happily surprised that people wanted to be part of this Peace Project. I intend to head back out and finish my trip, passing out more cards.
If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, please email me and I will send you a card(s). My email is [email protected]
Here are the three questions. CHOSE ONE (or a combination):
1.How can we stop war? (Even a small idea for a first step)
2. How can we cure the disease of violence?
3. Anything at all that you want to say that might pertain to peace, life, etc.
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“It is really just a thought that built….a war establishment, and a thought shall also melt it away."
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