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| This picture shows Kenji on the left and Haruna on the right. |
Today, persons claiming to be ISIS, uploaded a video of the purported decapitation/execution of Kenji Goto.
Kenji Goto is known to me only as a freelance journalist whose work was shown on NHK News. He worked to show the impact that war and conflict had on children. He has reported on blood diamonds,on HIV afflicted single mothers in Ukraine, child soldiers in Sierra Leone, the education or lack thereof for girls in Afghanistan, and poverty. He also has written an award winning children's book, and had penned four other books. He did not fear the helpless and hopeless places on Earth. This is probably a part of why he was able to risk his own life in October of last year to try to aid his friend, 42 year old Haruna Yukawa, who had already been captured by ISIS in Syria. Today it has been reported that both of them have been have executed by Muslim extremists.
Kenji Goto is one of those rare individuals who knew that our time on Earth is limited and that one man's actions can do great good. He proceeded in his work and in his life with this rare courage and pure focus. If you have a chance, please read or watch videos containing his important reports.
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| www.thingiverse.com |
Kenji, 47, had been an owner of his own media company for many years. He is a Japanese citizen and is a father of three children. (Two children with his wife, Rinko, and a daughter from an earlier relationship.) He converted to Christianity in 1997. Rinko understood well her husband's role in the world, and she is proud of him.
My family and I also send prayers to Kenji's mother, his wife, his three children and his many friends and co-workers. May they feel God with them in these difficult days. Kenji Goto's light by virtue of all of his contributions to Earth will not be forgotten. We also send similar condolences to the family of Haruna Yukawa, who must have been an exceptional human being in order for Kenji to make such a journey on his behalf. We also send condolences to the Japanese people for the loss of this exceptional human being.
We have the power to focus and remember all the achievements, the humanity, and exceptional courage of this man which should dwarf the horrendous action of simple terrorists. Japan and the rest of the world lost a true hero yesterday.
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| teespring.com |
In Kenji's last video to us that was not orchestrated by his captors, he asked that we not hate anyone or that we understand that whatever would befall him in his dangerous journey to rescue Haruna, that he knew he was taking the risks and not to blame the Syrian people. Perhaps this call to "Love One Another" is what we should most remember of him.
This song, "Flowers Will Bloom" was written to remember all of those who were lost following the Great Earthquake and Tsunami of East Japan (2011), however the songs clarity and innocence seems appropriate in remembrance of Kenji Goto as well. Kenji was born in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture which was hit so badly during the earthquake.
This is a link concerning the composers of the song and other information
http://www.nhk.or.jp/japan311/flowers/about.html
The singer is Hayley Westenra of New Zealand who is also of Celtic Woman fame.
This is an approximate English translation of the song:
My heart goes out to you
When the winter snows give way to spring
My heart is longing now
Longing for the town where the happiness had been.
Been a place of hope and of dreaming too
Been a home when my heart always went back to you
But for now I only dream
Of the people who I loved and knew.
Someone is singing I can hear singing now
Someone is weeping I can feel their tears
Someone is smiling showing me why and how to go on living for years and years
Flowers will bloom, yes they will yes they will
For you who are here or yet to be born.
They'll bloom, yes they will and they bloom again until
There's no missing sorrow and no reason left to mourn
My heart goes out to you
Goes out to you
When the morning sun lights up the pale blue sky
The pale blue sky
My heart is heavy now
With the grief I tried so often to deny
I regret mistake that I sometimes made
But I know our love will never fade
And that you'll live on instead of me
Instead of me
And that you will have whatever love can be
Someone is thinking I can read ev'ry thought
Someone is shedding tears for all that was lost
Someone is leading you to love that they sought asking you to love all that you love the most
Flowers will bloom, yes they will yes they will
For you who are here or yet to be born.
They'll bloom, yes they will and they bloom again until
There's no missing sorrow and no reason left to mourn
Flowers will bloom, yes they will yes they will
For you who are here or yet to be born.
They'll bloom, yes they will and they bloom again until
There's no missing sorrow and no reason left to mourn
