A World in Pictures

This picture shows a survivor looking at the ruins that were once his home, destroyed by an atomic bomb. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought horror to hundreds of thousands of people. Even those who were lucky enough to be survivors had to go on living without those they loved. The pain evoked by this picture is unthinkable to everyone but those who lived through it. 

Nonetheless, this image captures emotions of devastation and sorrow so strong that it is painful for anyone to look at. Looking at it makes me imagine myself as that man- standing there, unable to move, staring at the ruins of my once-beautiful home and knowing that I will never again see it as it once was- not the people, not the place. 

Placing yourself into that image really can change how you look at everything. At the time, it seemed to some that the bombs were justified, but looking at it now there is nothing that could possibly justify intentionally creating a scene such as this one. It forces you to think about the other side of every argument, and how each and every decision you make can affect others.