Rockridge High School
Taylor Ridge, Illinois
Teacher: Barb Downey
By: Amber Andress
12th grade
After eight hours of uneventful flight, the view from the window of a B-29 had changed from tranquil waters to a densely populated landscape. “Do we all agree that this is Hiroshima?” asked the young pilot. After a brief pause on each of the crew to ensure their affirmation, his gaze traveled to the lighted green numbers on the control board that gleamed 8:15:15 A.M. Two seconds later the most catastrophic weapon in the history of human conflict descended into infamy, ending the world’s largest chronicled war. The legacy of this event was an unforgettable mushroom cloud and the conviction that peace must be the theme of the future. But has mankind finally reached the level of military destructiveness that will prevent war, or will stubborn pride prevail over good sense and the possibility of self-destruction?
Throughout history kings and nations believed that commanding the most military strength would bring victory and peace. In fact, the Roman Empire’s longevity was almost solely dependent upon its Legions. In the ages since the fall of Rome, nations have amassed weapons with the conviction that if they were powerful, they would not be attacked. At the turn of the 19th century, most influential people of the world continued to uphold militarism.
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish industrialist who traveled to France, Russia, and the United States and became fluent in five languages. He is most famous for the establishment of the peace prize in his name, but only slightly less well known for the invention of dynamite. Although warfare was not its intended use, Nobel could not ignore the influence dynamite would have on human conflicts. His view, however, was optimistic: “my dynamite will sooner lead to peace than a thousand world conventions. As soon as men will find that in one instant whole armies can be utterly destroyed, they surely will abide by golden peace.” Clearly, he thought that fear of the destructive power of dynamite was enough to prevent men from provoking the use of it.
Even during the decade of increasing political tensions before World War I, men clung to the hope that others would not start a war. The sentiments of such men as Charles Robert Richet echoed those of Nobel. Richet was a professor at the University of Paris, as well as a Nobel Laureate. In addition to his discoveries in the medical field, he was a dedicated pacifist and wrote several books to demonstrate the malevolent effects of war. In 1913 he said, “quick-firing rifles, monstrous artillery, improved shells, smokeless and noiseless gunpowder—these are so destructive that a great battle could cause the deaths of 300,000 men in a few hours. It is evident that the nations, no matter how unconcerned they may be at times when driven by a false pride, will draw back [in the twentieth century] from this fearful vision.” Although the military leaders of France were signing ententes and perfecting war plans, Richet still maintained that fear would inspire peace.
In spite of their immersion in global affairs, Richet and Nobel did not accurately predict the actions of men. The outbreak of the World Wars demonstrated that military strength did not prevent war. And yet, were they completely wrong? It was the power of the United States that ended both wars. Ironically, the atom bomb, impossible to detonate without dynamite, was almost entirely responsible for ending the fighting in the Pacific Theater. Japan did indeed “draw back from [the] fearful vision” of ten Hiroshimas. Unfortunately, this terrible new weapon only brought five years of “golden peace.” Not even nuclear power prevented the Korean, Vietnam, or Gulf Wars.
The atom bomb produced an uncharitable attitude toward modern weapons. Albert Einstein was a great thinker and pacifist, and is best known for his Theory of Relativity. His theories had as much influence on the Manhattan Project as Nobel’s dynamite. However, he had a pessimistic view of the impact his discoveries would have on war. In the 1950's he said, “I don’t know what kind of weapons will be used in the third world war, assuming there will be a third world war. But I can tell you what the fourth world war will be fought with—stone clubs.” Not only did Einstein believe that men would use any means available to carry out conflicts, but he also predicted that such a use would cause the destruction of all that mankind has built in the last 4,000 years. This statement reflected the growing realization that the world can no longer rely on displays of military strength to preserve peace.
World leaders saw this potential for self-destruction and made an effort to ensure that posterity would not be conceived in caves. In June of 1945, fifty countries signed the charter that established a new peacekeeping organization, the United Nations. In the last fifty-seven years, the United Nations has helped millions of people as well as brought peace to many countries at a much lower human cost than explosives. Furthermore, members of the UN have signed several treaties in an attempt to reduce nuclear power. Although the author is unknown, the quote, “to preserve peace, we need weapons of smaller and men of larger caliber,” could be the official motto of the UN’s operations in the twentieth century.
Indeed, it is not fear but diplomacy that will bring peace in the new millennium. The attacks of September 11, 2001, confirmed the fact that there will always be those who will not let even the threat of self-destruction hinder their attempts to carry out their purpose. If peace is to be the theme of the future, we must put our energies toward the development of a more tolerant and compassionate world. United we stand.
“A-Bomb WWW Museum.” On-line. Internet. 10 Jan 2002. Available WWW:
“Charles Robert Richet.” On-line. Internet. 10 Jan. 2002. Available WWW:
http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/410.html
“Nuclear Disarmament, Safe Disposal of Nuclear Materials or New Weapons
Developments?” On-line. Internet. 10 Jan. 2002. Available WWW: http://www.unesco.org/science/wcs/meetings/eur_cernobio_como_98.htm