Perpetuating History

I was really struck by some of the ideas and questions Matthew Penney points out in his article "Nuclear Nationalism and Fukushima." Why is it that safety is the first thing to go when it comes to cutting costs? It is in that moment that destruction  becomes inevitable. The lack of communication from the Japanese nuclear companies to the mass public calls into question: why does a country that faced devastating atomic bombings lack transparency? Especially in this age where Japan is often seen as a highly technological society and the majority of the population devoted to a work ethic that demands humility and countless hours, it seems both puzzling and troubling.

In Barefoot Gen and A Pale View of Hills, we get the sense of a story within a story with Mr. Pak and Etsuko. Contrasting that now with Japan's history of nuclear development and the Fukushima disaster, that is another story within a story to decode. In all three of these cases, we are given but fragmented stories to piece together. However, in regards to the Fukushima disaster, which is more recent, does that mean it holds more immediacy in the public eye? Maybe it does in some ways, because it conjures up memories of the power of nuclear energy. In light of this disaster and the reboot of Godzilla, perhaps this is a question we can all think about.

In one of our class discussions, Christine said we are coextensive of what is being presented. I think this relates to what we have been talking about regarding the notion of time before destruction. The time before destruction holds a feeling of suspension, or inevitability. Instead of thinking about the tragedy that may come, maybe it is better to take a step back from the memories that have gone through sublimation and possessed by war; and learn to understand how to destroy the veils that blind the judgments of those who have forgotten what is living death or death in living.