Touching moment

All political opinions aside, surely this was a touching moment for all.

Perhaps understanding the photo before commenting is best, that is not a secret service agent that is the translator for Shigeaki Mori whom Obama spoke to.

wait ffor it, some will certainly criticize. For them, they must.

but this picture is beautiful.

Erm, guess you dint read Badsey's comment? No, it is not only me. The American right will not ever praise Obama for one single, solitary thing. And it is quite sad.

A very touching moment

One of the many positive highlights of Obama's presidency. He knows he didn't need to apologize and he also knows that nuclear weapons are absolutely crazy.

That gentleman was the translator, and not a Secret Service Agent . It's the reason why he was close. I watched it LIVE, and it was a very king gesture. I bet Mr. Shigeaki Mori would never figure he would have an opportunity to hug a POTUS in his lifetime. He had the biggest smile on his face, and he looked very honored.

seeing the picture, cheers my day. wonder why people did not see the beauty of it but the negative side.

All political opinions aside, surely this was a touching moment for all.

I will second that.

All political opinions aside, surely this was a touching moment for all.

Agree 100%. Wow. What a show of humanity. A pic literally does say a thousand words.

Although I'm a supporter of the Republican party, Obama did alright on his Hiroshima visit. Just hoped he could've squeezed Gov. Onaga into his itinerary while in Japan.

Looks like an awkward reach-around.

Many man-to-man hugs look awkward like this. Especially in a non-hugging culture.

C Harald Hansen wrote:

Looks kinda awkward with the Secret Service agent pushing up against them, but I guess even in a situation like that they don't take chances. :/

I watched this live on TV. That was not a secret service agent; it was the elderly gentleman's translator. They were next to each other during the entire ceremony..

Certainly,the photo is touching but the speech that President Obama made was positive and moving too.There are certainly events that Obama is forced into by virtue of his office but we won't know know how his sensibilities have contrasted with political expediency until he pens his memoirs....

The picture is doubly touching because of who he is hugging , for many Japanese that counts more than any Apology.

Nice photo...

takeda Shingen: "wait ffor it, some will certainly criticize. For them, they must."

Actually, only YOU are doing that, and it's a shame you felt the need to jump on here and invite it when no one else seems to want to do it. Shame.

This is indeed a touching moment, and I hope that these people and other victims, of the bombings and otherwise, can find a measure of peace in the fact that such a speech was made and former enemies can embrace and hope it never happens again.

It took a Big Man representing a Big Country to do what Obama did. There is power in public acknowledgment. PM Abe is a little man representing a little country.

Props Mr President. Mr Abe could never have a human moment like this unless it was pre-scripted.

, guess you dint read Badsey's comment? No, it is not only me. The American right will not ever praise Obama for one single, solitary thing. And it is quite sad.

This is what happens when you try to give someone a hug -Some people will only see hate. This moment was not really for Obama.

Japan vs Nuclear will always be precarious one. I hope after this hug Abe will think long and hard about his Nuclear decisions. =The people see the picture clearly, but does Abe?

If you include drone strikes -Obama may be doing many more "hugs" in the future, but this is what politicians should be doing. Maybe Abe will think twice about his pro-nuclear and pro-armament agenda after this.

US dropped the A-bomb in HIroshima knowing American POWs were there. They didn't even care their own people.

Looks kinda awkward with the Secret Service agent pushing up against them, but I guess even in a situation like that they don't take chances. :/