Moral Orientation of Mass Destructive Weapons

Moral Orientation(s) of Mass Destructive Weapons

By: Maverick Raymundo

    Many people have recently shifted opinions on the necessary utilization of nuclear weaponry during wartime. Was the development of the atomic bombs justified? After the devastating debut of the infamous bombs, both left an unbridgeable relation between the feuding countries. The moral responsibilities carried by scientists who developed these technologies were indeed heavy and had many reflective consequences immediately after the use. Americans would inherently adopt a certain stance that would motivate or discourage the future development of more atomic bombs.

   Most people would like to view the accomplishments attached to this action as a reasonable justification for developing catastrophic explosives. They would see it as an opportunity to avenge fallen soldiers and citizens that were lost and this strategy was constructed as a direct message. It did serve its purpose in creating an unconditional term as Japan issued their surrender. Crafting this weapon meant a quick end to the war that would have initially cost more American troops in the invading effort. As a result it also gave US the uncontested dominance over the world stage for a short while successfully living up to the big stick decree until the threat brought by the Cold War. The legacy of these weapons took the notice of every country and brought forth balance since deployment. Postponing the development of the atom bomb would only invest more destructive power and create more casualty on both ends.

   I believe that developing these weapons was a cowardly act and would only inspire an era of competing nuclear power. Since we chose this timeline, the effect of the nuclear bombs have left each country under an umbrella of fear and paranoia. In reality, Japan was under a naval blockade, cities under air attacks, and a destroyed navy was showing signs of a near white flag. All the while the United States had enough manpower to restrict the country's source of food and raw materials. This showed that the military was willing to expend more resources to fulfill desires of maximum devastation in order to see its power and aftermath. However, there was little information regarding radiation and the lethal effects it has on humans. So the Japanese civilians that survived suffered due to exposure to high level of radiation, ultimately was added to the hundred thousands death toll. The development of the atomic bomb was quickly followed with other countries, especially the USSR, demanding construction of their own attributing to the potential of a nuclear apocalypse. The Soviets' rapid progress in creating atom bombs were revealed from spies passing US blueprints. 

   This nuclear demonstration gave an incentive for the Soviets to retaliate in equal or greater force if this weapon was used again as tension only enlarged as a result. Now it was only a matter of time when the use of the same bomb would turn against the country that started it all. Many scientists have come to realize that the power of the bomb would disintegrate everything near its blast radius disregarding to those who deserve it or not. This would mean women, children, schools and hospitals altogether would be erased due to their presence of a cultural difference Americans found abhorrent. People across many ages were randomly selected to be tested upon without a fair chance or warning. The 1989 film, Fat Man and Little Boy, portrays one of the scientist negatively affected by the radiation causing the matrix of his anatomy to go awry. The end of the film shows no clear winner, because there was none.

What would it be like if we didn't reinforce the idea of a nuclear bomb?

   The price of developing atomic bombs is too high for a nation to compensate in unleashing the calamitous power of a weapon. The major consequences for testing weapons of these scale only harms the geology/natural environment (possibly permanently) and health for those exposed to the radiation. Instead of taking a toll on its economy, the research and resources consumed to make these weapons can be used on other aspects to improve society and improve standard of living. However, instead of promoting peace the arms race emerged causing a more divide within the world shaping the modern age. Also the creation of these weapons were fueled by revenge and not logical reasoning and damages can be easily turned around on the user like every weapon manifested.

• "Mankind invented the atomic bomb, but no mouse would ever construct a mousetrap. Had I known that the Germans would not succeed in producing an atomic bomb, I would not have lifted a finger." -Albert Einstein

• "The use of the atomic bomb, with its indiscriminate killing of women and children, revolts my soul." -Herbert Hoover