Sadako at peace

[struggle4progress]

Saturday, August 07, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

Restoration of the Sadako Sasaki peace statue in Seattle is testament to the decency and goodness of many people in the face of some sorry soul's misguidedness.

With an outpouring of support from around the world, sculptor Daryl Smith has repaired the arm and ankle of the life-sized bronze figure of Sadako, the 12-year-old Hiroshima survivor who subsequently died from leukemia. The young girl believed, according to Japanese legend, that if she folded 1,000 origami cranes, she would be granted her wish of becoming well. She folded hundreds before dying in 1955 from the atom bomb's effects. Her statue embodies the search for peace, and has drawn many visitors, especially children, who leave their own paper cranes in unity.

Late last year, a vandal hacked off the statue's right arm, which held aloft a crane; and also damaged an ankle on the sculpture.
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Let's hope, wherever Sadako is located, that her message of peace long will prevail over any single act of violence.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2001998939_sadakoed07.html


Friday was the 59th anniversary of the Hiroshima attack ...