How impressive is the technology...bigger, more powerful. But to think that we already have a fully operational capability to end civilization as we know it and that it is ready to go at the command "launch" after which all of the fabulous hardware is useless in a destroyed world. I've mentioned before it is only a matter of time, time w…
How impressive is the technology...bigger, more powerful. But to think that we already have a fully operational capability to end civilization as we know it and that it is ready to go at the command "launch" after which all of the fabulous hardware is useless in a destroyed world. I've mentioned before it is only a matter of time, time we will spend ignoring the threat entirely. If there is anything that one can say is inevitable, nuclear destruction is it.
In the book and movie, "On the Beach" a US nuclear sub has nowhere to go and nothing to do in the aftermath of nuclear war. It's final mission is to investigate the source of a mysterious signal that might, but only might, be a sign of life. In the book, no life is found and the sub is scuttled, useless. The same would be true for any remaining ICBM's and bombers with all their supporting infrastructure and maintenance gone, let alone the tightly connected communications networks that support our modern world. Meanwhile, far out in space, weather satellites would continue for some time to record the movement of the atmosphere but with nowhere to send the data, then they would drift, amazingly well preserved relics for thousands of years as back on earth, technology would rust to dust.
The final scenes of On The Beach are heartbreaking when the US submarine goes back to sea while Waltzing Matilda plays. It gives me chills every time I watch it.
I'd bet anyone would find something moving in that film, Tom. For me it was the young couple deciding to give their newborn a pill that had been distributed to all to end their lives before radiation did it for them. The current generation killing the new generation out of mercy, that was the message of that film for me.
I recall The Day After, I think that had Jason Robards in it. My wife and I were about to watch it on TV. My sister-in-law and her husband were visiting and we were told "how can you watch that stuff?!" they refusing to join us. Maybe they were right, what good did it do us? As I recall the only reaction to it was that showing it was unpatriotic.
What is a person to do in the situation that all of humanity finds itself in with this problem? Surely nobody could remain sane if it was thought of every day. How could anyone bear to have children? I know of a few people who have so decided saying that they wouldn't want to bring children into this world, though not singling out the nuclear threat. I'd bet a lot more would not do so because of the expense and personal sacrifice involved for any responsible parent, a reasonable argument.
Middle class Americans are stuck in a comfortable but anxiety filled situation. I feel a terrible guilt for what we are doing to the Palestinians, but at least on that issue I can do something personally if only to appear at protests, write emails and comment everyplace I think my views will be seen. But the nuclear threat? How could we be any more helpless?
I don't buy the idea that a balance of nuclear terror is in any way stable. The historical balance of power in Europe would work for periods, but then it wouldn't and all the build-up that was supposedly maintaining the balance was unleashed. And yet WW2 seems to have shocked Europe into leaving the US to be military-crazy. The US would surely be similarly humbled with a nuclear war, but at what a price! That would be like a drug addict curing himself with a fatal overdose.
And when has any weapon been voluntarily discarded? The time for that would have been after Hiroshima had demonstrated the horror. The Japanese did forswear firearms in the days of the Samurai, but only for a while.
Maybe it is best to eat, drink and be merry, though even there it is easier to do knowing one is mortal, than to do it knowing everyone, all of one's loved ones, are at risk of a sudden, unpredictable event simultaneously sweeping life away.
We've seen individuals who have refused/are refusing to contribute to the Gaza slaughter. It is a bit puzzling that not one of the welders that WJA mentioned, or the many thousands in the MIC are similarly bothered so strongly that they would quit. I suspect it may be because they have swallowed the old "peace is our profession" nonsense to allow them to sleep soundly and, incredibly, be downright proud of what they do.
How impressive is the technology...bigger, more powerful. But to think that we already have a fully operational capability to end civilization as we know it and that it is ready to go at the command "launch" after which all of the fabulous hardware is useless in a destroyed world. I've mentioned before it is only a matter of time, time we will spend ignoring the threat entirely. If there is anything that one can say is inevitable, nuclear destruction is it.
In the book and movie, "On the Beach" a US nuclear sub has nowhere to go and nothing to do in the aftermath of nuclear war. It's final mission is to investigate the source of a mysterious signal that might, but only might, be a sign of life. In the book, no life is found and the sub is scuttled, useless. The same would be true for any remaining ICBM's and bombers with all their supporting infrastructure and maintenance gone, let alone the tightly connected communications networks that support our modern world. Meanwhile, far out in space, weather satellites would continue for some time to record the movement of the atmosphere but with nowhere to send the data, then they would drift, amazingly well preserved relics for thousands of years as back on earth, technology would rust to dust.
Crazy humanity.
The final scenes of On The Beach are heartbreaking when the US submarine goes back to sea while Waltzing Matilda plays. It gives me chills every time I watch it.
I'd bet anyone would find something moving in that film, Tom. For me it was the young couple deciding to give their newborn a pill that had been distributed to all to end their lives before radiation did it for them. The current generation killing the new generation out of mercy, that was the message of that film for me.
I recall The Day After, I think that had Jason Robards in it. My wife and I were about to watch it on TV. My sister-in-law and her husband were visiting and we were told "how can you watch that stuff?!" they refusing to join us. Maybe they were right, what good did it do us? As I recall the only reaction to it was that showing it was unpatriotic.
What is a person to do in the situation that all of humanity finds itself in with this problem? Surely nobody could remain sane if it was thought of every day. How could anyone bear to have children? I know of a few people who have so decided saying that they wouldn't want to bring children into this world, though not singling out the nuclear threat. I'd bet a lot more would not do so because of the expense and personal sacrifice involved for any responsible parent, a reasonable argument.
Middle class Americans are stuck in a comfortable but anxiety filled situation. I feel a terrible guilt for what we are doing to the Palestinians, but at least on that issue I can do something personally if only to appear at protests, write emails and comment everyplace I think my views will be seen. But the nuclear threat? How could we be any more helpless?
I don't buy the idea that a balance of nuclear terror is in any way stable. The historical balance of power in Europe would work for periods, but then it wouldn't and all the build-up that was supposedly maintaining the balance was unleashed. And yet WW2 seems to have shocked Europe into leaving the US to be military-crazy. The US would surely be similarly humbled with a nuclear war, but at what a price! That would be like a drug addict curing himself with a fatal overdose.
And when has any weapon been voluntarily discarded? The time for that would have been after Hiroshima had demonstrated the horror. The Japanese did forswear firearms in the days of the Samurai, but only for a while.
Maybe it is best to eat, drink and be merry, though even there it is easier to do knowing one is mortal, than to do it knowing everyone, all of one's loved ones, are at risk of a sudden, unpredictable event simultaneously sweeping life away.
We've seen individuals who have refused/are refusing to contribute to the Gaza slaughter. It is a bit puzzling that not one of the welders that WJA mentioned, or the many thousands in the MIC are similarly bothered so strongly that they would quit. I suspect it may be because they have swallowed the old "peace is our profession" nonsense to allow them to sleep soundly and, incredibly, be downright proud of what they do.