An apology to Sadako

My son was taken to see the play "Sadako and the Thousand Cranes" yesterday. I had vaguely heard about it before, but while talking to him about it, I could not stop my mind from wandering about this atrocity.

How is it that we make such a fuss about apologies by nations on various scales but the most horrific of atrocities to mankind has never been the subject of this discussion? How is it that we are able to justify this in our minds and not think there is an apology due? It is the most horrific war crime ever.

This true story, in it's simplicity, is a reflection of the beauty of the culture that produced it. One that we have been unable to fully appreciate due to our successful efforts to demonise it.

It was wonderful to observe my son grapple with a complex set of emotions that were taking over him that he didn't fully understand. He said he hated America!! - a temporary feeling, I'm sure.

 

Well, Sadako I unreservedly apologise to you and the very many other beautiful children, women and men of your people, who represent one of the most exquisite cultures in our world. I hope your dad’s story and your magical response resonate in our minds forever.

Hi all!!

this is my very first BLOG entry. So now I am officially a “blogger”!

Someone please red card that boof head Gallen! Cos the refs did not have the ooomph to do it yesterday.

NSW obviously went to the game wanting to bash-up it's opposition not win the game. You appoint a boof head as skipper and then take a team of thugs with names of feathered animals on to the field - what do you expect. Was anyone surprised that the thug was involved in two of the incidents of thuggery on the field (His feathered friend, not Gallen)?!!!

As for the refs, when are they going to take control of the game. Gallon should have been red carded for his total disrespect for the game the spectators let alone the referees and suspended for 4 weeks preventing him from taking any further part in the series. He should be given the rule book and told to get someone to read it for him and explain the fact that there are rules and the meaning of them. I hope the totally NSW biased beaurocracy has the decency to do that.

I was watching the game with my 10 year old and was appalled at the language and gestures being used by both him and Robby Farrer. Fortunately he plays a different code of the game where such loutish behaviour will not be tollerated.

One bit of advise to the coach - get rid of the louts and get some intelligence in the team. That is the only way NSW will win the game. We have the better players, we just let politics get in the way.