He was the only person making his way into the city; he met hundreds and hundreds who were fleeing, and every one of them seemed to be hurt in some way. The eyebrows of some were burned off and skin hung from their faces and hands. Others, because of pain, held their arms up as […]
Entries from November 30th, 2011
Flash Burns – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy
November 30th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Hiroshima, History, Japan, Nuclear Weapons, War, WW2
Doctors in Crisis – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy
November 30th, 2011 · Comments Off on Doctors in Crisis – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy · Hiroshima, History, Japan, Nuclear Weapons, War, WW2
In a city of two hundred and forty-five thousand, nearly a hundred thousand people had been killed or doomed at one blow; a hundred thousand more were hurt. At least ten thousand of the wounded made their way to the best hospital in town, which was altogether unequal to such a trampling, since it had […]
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The Consequences of an Attack on a Civilian Population – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy
November 30th, 2011 · Comments Off on The Consequences of an Attack on a Civilian Population – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy · Hiroshima, History, Japan, Nuclear Weapons, War, WW2
The lot of Drs. Fujii, Kanda, and Machii right after the explosion—and, as these three were typical, that of the majority of the physicians and surgeons of Hiroshima—with their offices and hospitals destroyed, their equipment scattered, their own bodies incapacitated in varying degrees, explained why so many citizens who were hurt went untended and why […]
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Tags:Hiroshima·Nuclear Weapons·WW2
Children’s Questions – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy
November 29th, 2011 · Comments Off on Children’s Questions – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy · Hiroshima, History, Japan, Nuclear Weapons, War, WW2
The children were silent, except for the five-year-old, Myeko, who kept asking questions: “Why is it night already? Why did our house fall down? What happened?” Mrs. Nakamura, who did not know what had happened (had not the all-clear sounded?), looked around and saw through the darkness that all the houses in her neighbourhood had […]
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Tags:Hiroshima·Nuclear Weapons·WW2
Introducing “Hiroshima” – John Heresy
November 29th, 2011 · Comments Off on Introducing “Hiroshima” – John Heresy · Ethics, Hiroshima, History, Japan, Journalism, Nuclear Weapons, The Media, WW2
The following note appeared in the NEW YORKER of 31 August, 1946. as an introduction to John Hersey’s article: The NEW YORKER this week devotes its entire editorial space to an article on the almost complete obliteration of a city by one atomic bomb, and what happened to the people of that city. It does […]
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Influential Journalism – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy
November 29th, 2011 · Comments Off on Influential Journalism – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy · Hiroshima, History, Japan, Journalism, Nuclear Weapons, The Media, War, WW2
It created a first-order sensation in American journalistic history: a few hours after publication the issue was sold out. Applications poured in for permission to serialise the story in other American journals, among them the New York Herald Tribune, Washington Post, Chicago Sun, and Boston Globe. A condensed version—the cuts personally approved by Hersey—was broadcast […]
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Picnicking at Hiroshima – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy
November 28th, 2011 · Comments Off on Picnicking at Hiroshima – “Hiroshima” – John Heresy · Hiroshima, History, Japan, Journalism, Nuclear Weapons, The Media, WW2
From the Foreword: On August 31st, 1946, Hersey’s story was made public. For the first time in The New Yorker’s career an issue appeared which, within the familiar covers, bearing—for such covers are prepared long in advance—a picnic scene, carried no satire, no cartoons, no fiction, no verse or smart quips or shopping notes: nothing […]
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Tags:Hiroshima·journalism·The New Yorker
You’re All the Same – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre
November 28th, 2011 · Comments Off on You’re All the Same – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre · Communism, Electoralism, Ideology, Means and Ends, Politics
“It makes you the same,” Liz continued; “the same as Mundt and all the rest… . I should know, I was the one who was kicked about, wasn’t I? By them, by you because you don’t care. Only Fiedler didn’t. But the rest of you… you all treated me as if I was… nothing… just […]
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Contempt – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre
November 28th, 2011 · Comments Off on Contempt – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre · Communism, Means and Ends, Politics, Religion, Spy Thriller
“You’re wrong,” Liz declared hopelessly; “they’re more wicked than all of us.” “Because I made love to you when you thought I was a tramp?” Leamas asked savagely. “Because of their contempt,” Liz replied; “contempt for what is real and good; contempt for love, contempt for…” “Yes,” Leamas agreed, suddenly weary. “That is the price […]
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Tags:means and ends
Casual Homophobia – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre
November 26th, 2011 · Comments Off on Casual Homophobia – “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold” – John LeCarre · Description, Spy Thriller
Tall, with rather curly brown hair; orange tie and pale green shirt; a little bit petulant, a little bit of a pansy, thought Leamas. Could be a schoolmaster, ex London School of Economics and runs a suburban drama club. Weak-eyed. Hey! I’m ex- LSE – I didn’t realise it used to be a by-word for […]
Tags:homophobia