“The father of the atomic bomb” was in fact an honorable human being
Even though everybody blamed him for creating the worst weapon ever invented, he was an incredible human being. While he had the brain of a genius and the power of God, even before the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he started being caught up in his thoughts, thoughts about ethical and moral dilemmas. This made him say the Sanskritian words because he realized the destructive power he helped unleash—a bomb that will eventually take the lives of millions of people.
He drafted and sent a letter to Secretary of War Henry Stimson while experiencing intense internal anguish, strongly urging the ban of nuclear weapons. The fallout from scientific advancement, coupled with his sense of remorse and responsibility, haunted Robert Oppenheimer.
He was a very calm and persuasive human being, but he was hot-tempered under pressure. Two months after the dropping of the bombs, he had a meeting with President Truman to discuss his future concerns about these weapons. Because he dared to say that he feels like he has blood on his hands, Trumas went mad and ordered his secretary Dean Acheson to get him out of the office.
Such an incredible scientist was forever doomed for what he did, and probably he will never be understood by anybody. He had a choice, but many think that his ego and his dreams were stronger than his empathy for humanity. If you’re curious about the book on which the Oppenheimer movie was based, you can find it on Amazon at a very good price—only $15.99 for the paperback edition.
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer wrap up the story of the father of the atomic bomb incredibly well. With ups and downs, here you’ll find a lot of details we didn’t cover in the article.
One Response
I was under the understanding that Robert Oppenheimer regretted his involvement in making the bomb after it’s use against Japan.