Last modified: 2023-07-29 by martin karner
Keywords: hiroshima | dove | origami | political flag | rainbow flag |
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image by João Madureira
Here is a flag that was seen at an anti-nuclear demonstration
in Vienna. The lines on the dove are intentional. I believe that
"NIE WIEDER HIROSHIMA" means "NO MORE HIROSHIMA".
For the original (sent by Phil Nelson) click here.
João Madureira, 16 August 1998
One observation: the dove is origami, from the tradition
of releasing doves at the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.
Also, I think people make the origami doves as well.
John Lindert, 22 August 1998
The origami dove story ... or paper cranes, as they are
sometimes called. Origami, of course, is an old Japanese
tradition, laden culturally with more than just the clever paper-folding
trick that Westerners see in it. The story is told of a little
girl in Hiroshima. Her mother had lived in Hiroshima when the
bomb went off there. Her child was born with defects, crippling,
etc. and died rather painfully. She was trying to make 1000 of
these paper cranes, in response to a Japanese legend that one who
does so will have her problems cured. She died before she
finished 1000, but her classmates made the rest and put them at
the ground-zero memorial site several years ago. The cultural
image includes peace, healing and things of that nature, so the
image of the paper crane carries these ideas. It's fitting that
it is on a flag ... flags are so highly symbolic, too. I suspect
the rainbow idea also echoes the peace image of that flag design.
William E. Dunning, 22 August 1998
My natural reading of the rainbow is the covenant of God with
human race that He will never again allow the world-wide
destruction (Biblical story of Noah). I guess it is appropriate
for the case. I do not know how much the Japanese would
appreciate this explanation, but Austrians should be familiar
with it. (BTW, it is written on the flag "never again"!)
Željko Heimer, 24 August 1998
image located by Paul Bassinson
Flag that commemorates 150 years of friendship between Austria and Thailand (source).
Paul Bassinson, 27 July 2023
