The Atomic Bomb Human Beings and Nature Essay -- Essays Papers

The Atomic Bomb Human Beings and Nature With the surrender of Germany on May 1, 1945, the United States and its allies were well on their way to winning World War II and resuming peace in Europe. Japan was the only country still in their path. American forces soon began capturing islands off the coast of Japan including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Since the Japanese refused to surrender, the United States began planning a ground attack on Japan's mainland. Many casualties for both sides were predicted; therefore, the United States constructed an alternate plan to end the war. Enricho Fermi and Leo Szilard worked on creating an atomic bomb for the United States in the 1930s. This manipulation of nature changed the relationship between human beings and nature forever. Humans were now capable of ending the world if they so desired. Nature was quickly fading into the background of life. The creation and employment of the atomic bomb affected many aspects of human existence. On August 6, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced to the United States and to the world, sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, Japan and destroyed its usefulness to the enemy.(1) After bombing Nagasaki on August 8, Japan surrendered to the United States, ending World War II. The debate about the morality of dropping the bomb is still an issue today. Although the employment of these bombs caused about 200,000 casualties and destroyed over 5.5 square acres of land, the atomic bomb was needed to terminate the war.(2) Despite the major loss of human lives in Japan, using the atomic bomb was the ethically correct decision for the United States. It ultimately saved many American lives through the swift endi... ... http://www.dannen.com/decision/scipanel.tml> (28 February 1999). 16. Rogers, 385. 17. Rogers, 385. 18. Rogers, 384. 19. Rogers, 440. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Source - John Connor, "The US Was Right," and Gar Alperovitz, "The US Was Wrong," in Current Issues and Endearing Questions, eds. Sylvan Barnett and Hugo Bedau (Boston: Bedford Books, 1993), 282-85. These two articles provide opposite opinions and arguments about the morality of dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan. The authors argue the question "Hiroshima: Was the bombing immoral?" The articles discuss the physical damage in Japan not only to humans physically and mentally but also to nature. Both authors present reasonable and well supported evidence for either side of the issue.