Tinian Peace Ceremony on the 75th anniversary of bombing of Nagasaki

Last Friday Aug. 9, 2019, on the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki from Tinian island, a peace ceremony was held in San Jose village on Tinian in the Gandhi-King-Ikeda Peace Garden. There were remarks by Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, Councilman Patrick Manglona, and historic commentary by Miho Evangelista, a member of the Tinian Japanese community. There was a presentation of flower wreaths, the sounding of the Sirens of Peace, a moment of silence, and Tinian leadership tree planting. I wrote and read two sonnets for the occasion based on the writings of Daisaku Ikeda:
 
Goodness in One’s Self and Others

“The key to the flowering of humanity, of which Buddhism speaks, is steadfast belief in people’s goodness and dedication to cultivating this goodness in one’s self and others.”
—Daisaku Ikeda, born 1928
 
These wise words by Ikeda, Daisaku
may remind us of the frog jumping in the water
the frog jumps into the water in a famous haiku
bringing reality to father, mother, son, and daughter
 
The frog is gone but ripples from his dive remain
ever widening across the water of the old pond
like goodness in others Dr. Ikeda tries to explain
ripples grow respect for humanity like a magic wand
 
We saw the frog sitting and then it quickly jumped in
we heard the splash and in an instant the frog was gone
belief in others goodness is a sure place we can begin
dedication to growing it in self and others begins at dawn
 
A peaceful way we can diminish wars and insanity
cultivating the flowering of goodness in humanity.
 
Bonds of Trust and Friendship

“In the end, peace will not be realized by politicians signing treaties. True and lasting peace will only be realized by forging life-to-life ‘bonds of trust and friendship’ among the world’s people. Human solidarity is built by opening our hearts to each other. This is the power of dialogue.”
—Daisaku Ikeda
 
In dialogue we talk frequently of bonds of trust
and their connection with bonds of friendship
in any relationship both are an absolute must
for lasting peace as we go through life’s trip
 
We must find among all peoples around the world
a respect for and absolute need for human solidarity
regardless language spoken or under what flag unfurled
respect sought for and worked towards with absolute clarity
 
It begins with Ikeda’s “opening our hearts to each other”
not with a focus on self like in Hamlet’s monologue
but a focus on every man, woman, sister, and brother
that my friends is Ikeda’s “ power of dialogue”.
 
Ikeda’s 2018 peace proposal was “Toward an Era of
Human Rights – Building a People’s Movement”
with your recognition of and respect for the dignity
of others on a daily basis you will make improvement.”