Fury at use of word 'atrocity' misplaced

David Hardcastle seemed furious about the editorial titled “Living in the shadow of a nuclear atrocity”. Unfortunately, he has misunderstood the headline, perhaps viewing it from the stance of an American patriot. In fact the editorial levied no criticism against America at all.  

The text and the headline were factual. The editorial’s message concerned our fear of living in the shadow of a nuclear monstrosity, (or “atrocity”). No one was blamed for America’s bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Only after the second bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, did the declaration of surrender on August 15 by Emperor Hirohito eventually end the Second World War.

It is difficult to imagine the agony of decision-making undergone by President Harry Truman unless one reads his biography, “Where the Buck Stops”. However, in the Korean War, that great president declined to use the “atrocious” bomb again and sacked the more gung-ho General Douglas MacArthur. 

The editorial was meant to remind us, “lest we forget”. 

Speaking of his key role in developing theories that lay the groundwork for the atom bomb, Albert Einstein said, “If only I had known, I would have become a watchmaker”. 

Songdej Praditsmanont