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Revealed: A Workable Moral World-Peace Plan

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It has become clear that nuclear weapons are only a symptom of an all-pervasive malignancy of the spirit of the world and of humankind. Some Japanese have an expression for this period of human history in which we find ourselves; they call it "the era of nuclear madness."

Since 1945 there have been no world conflicts which could have justified the use of nuclear weapons. Are there any American politicians, any "decision makers" or "deciders" that you would trust with the responsibility of using nuclear weapons? Could you trust anyone in the world with this responsibility? Is there anyone qualified to make such a decision? It might be best to remove from human minds the necessity for such decisions.

The physical aspect of the Hiroshima aftermath.
The physical aspect of the Hiroshima aftermath.
(Image by Raymond G. Wilson)
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There are people who consider nuclear bombs to be useable weapons of war; after all, in 1945 the Allies actually used two, which many believe ended that war. Sure, they're usable! During the 1946 Bikini nuclear tests in the South Pacific, U.S. congressmen, invited to witness the tests, were located so far away (for their safety) that many came away naively expressive. "Like a giant firecracker," said one. Another, "In the next war I hope we don't have to throw atomic baseballs..." And in Nevada, American G. I.'s advanced under the fallout of mushroom clouds to immediately test themselves near radioactive ground zero. Later, a team of American congressional investigators concluded, "The greatest irony of our atmospheric nuclear testing program is that the only victims of United States nuclear arms since World War II have been our own people."

Constant Conflict, "There will be no peace. At any given moment for the rest of our lifetimes, there will be multiple conflicts in mutating forms around the globe. Violent conflict will dominate the headlines, but cultural and economic struggles will be steadier and ultimately more decisive. The de facto role of the US armed forces will be to keep the world safe for our economy and open to our cultural assault. To those ends, we will do a fair amount of killing." (Major (P) Ralph Peters of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, 1997, where he was responsible for future warfare (retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1998).

Dwight D. Eisenhower: "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can; only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."

The people of the world plead for peace, plead for an end to the killing and suffering, the destruction and displacement, and their leaders cannot achieve it, don't even seriously try. If it were not so damned serious it would be laughable; that the great majority of all people of the earth want peace and a better life so badly, and their leaders seem powerless and sufficiently witless to obtain it for us. What I wish to ask of all members of the United Nations is, "How many more centuries are you going to continue to allow the 'stupidity' and atrocities of wars? Do we need to find minds wiser? Look at the 'Purposes of the UN.' Read what you all signed onto."

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Raymond G. Wilson is an emeritus associate professor of physics at Illinois Wesleyan University who has taught about nuclear war issues since 1959. He is co-director of the Hiroshima Panorama Project in the United States and is associated with the (more...)
 
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