The competition for power in the international relations
in the twentieth century resulted in numerous catastrophic events that shocked
the world. The arms race that followed from Hiroshima serves as a most controversial subject. Hiroshima's
consequences appear to be significant and terrible, concerning the world order,
morality and humanity issues. Designed to prevent global evils, the power of
atomic weapons transformed the moral laws, and peace and safety
issues.
The case of the Hiroshima atomic bombing on 6 August 1945 wa
supposed to become the ending point of the World War II. Shock caused by the atomic
bomb caused the Japanese leaders to stop their aspirations for the military
aggression, which may have saved a huge amount of people. It led to the
transformation of Japan into the democratic and economically powerful country. Punishment for terrorizing the world and Japan’s tyranny looked to be rather logical decision
for the U.S authorities in this case. Truman wrote about the Japanese:”The only
language they seem to understand is the one we have been using to bombard them”. British
Prime Minister Attlee was convinced that the invention of the atomic weapon had
become the essential condition for the survival of civilization.
On the other
hand, there are several moral issues of moral outrages like the value of human lives, particularly civilians and the safety of the environment which refer to
the negative sides and consequences of Hiroshima. Atomic
explosions in Hiroshima caused catastrophic changes to the environment and the
health of the Japanese. Because of radioactive contamination of air, water and of the huge
blast ,over 140,000 people died at the same moment and about 80,000 later because
of radiation. The scientists who took part in the atomic bomb’s invention
felt responsible for thousands of deaths. Furthermore, created to prevent Nazi
evil in Germany, the atomic weapon became the trigger for the long-lasting Cold
War. The global efforts for the peace had to be amended in response to the
growing danger of countries with atomic weapons. Events in Hiroshima made
Americans believe that the atomic weapon is able to defeat any enemy, including
Japan and the Soviet Union. In
addition, Japan was supposed at that time to be near defeat. Consequently, some
scientists tend to suggest that Hiroshima was rather a demonstration of
American power relative to the Soviet
Union.
Taking all the mentioned issues into account one can’t
but deny the fact that the atomic age initiated from Hiroshima changed the global
order and humanity's moral principles. Speaking in the language of atomic weapons
became the effective option taken for granted in the name of world safety.
Still, the consequences of just one Hiroshima atomic bombing make the world
community live in the controversy of power, peace, and humanism.
