They have not forgotten. Seventy two years ago, President Harry Truman deemed the use of atomic bombs imperative to the survival of the United States. In just two days, thousands of Japanese people, innocents, lost their lives and countless more would be affected in the radioactive aftermath. It was justified as a necessary evil to bring the World War II to its end. In an era characterized by fascist regimes, the fear of democracy’s demise was well-known throughout the United States. The attack on Pearl Harbor kindled flames of rage and resentment toward the Japanese and Japanese-Americans, sentiments which often times ran through the veins of the government and into the minds of officials. With these feelings in mind as Japan refused to submit to the Potsdam Declaration, it is undeniable that an attack from the United States was certain. The dropping of the atomic bombs …show more content…
On one end, this idea of mutually assured destruction must be considered. When two opponents compete for world domination in the field of nuclear weaponry, the repeated back and forth attacks guarantee the annihilation of both sides. During World War II, atomic weaponry remained in its infancy. In today’s world, the potential of atomic weaponry is exponential, with weapons thousands times more powerful than those of World War II, making the threat of death seem even more imminent. It is easy to say, “Nuclear weapons must be stopped”. Yet, certainly no individual would halt this technology if he/she knew other countries were producing it. This ever growing fear of vulnerability to other countries is what confines the United States and the world to nuclear weaponry. Uncertain of other countries’ intents and missile arsenals, the United States believes that having these weapons protects its citizens from death. This sustained fear is a major contributor as to why nuclear weaponry remains so