Personal Narrative: The Atomic Bomb

It has been just over seven decades since the destructive atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. These bombs were the first of its kind-weapons of mass destruction. There are many points-of-view or opinions about whether or not the bombs should have been used. As always there are two sides to each story; those who are for a cause and those who are against. In this paper, I will discuss the two opposing points-of-view, as well as my own opinion on which argument I find most compelling.

I stare down at my watch engraved with my name, J. Robert Oppenheimer. It clearly read in bold numerical digits, 0330. I know that in exactly two hours, two billion government dollars would be tested. The result would change the course of history for better and for worse.

I slowly sit up and rest my back against the headboard of my old bed. Closing my eyes and taking everything in that has happen since I’ve woken up. Being in my old room, brings back a lot of memories of when I used to live here as a child. Moments with James, moments with my mum. I let a tear escape my eye, quickly wiping it away. I can’t let it get to me anymore. It was five years ago. A few more tears escape and I go to whip it away again when light bounces off the scars on my arm.

In early August 1945 atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These two bombs quickly yielded the surrender of Japan and the end of American involvement in World War II. By 1946 the two bombs caused the death of perhaps as many as 240,000 Japanese citizens1. The popular, or traditional, view that dominated the 1950s and 60s – put forth by President Harry Truman and Secretary of War Henry Stimson – was that the dropping of the bomb was a diplomatic maneuver aimed at intimating and gaining the upper hand in relations with Russia. Today, fifty-four years after the two bombings, with the advantage of historical hindsight and the advantage of new evidence, a third view, free of obscuring bias and passion,

I’m not exactly sure what I feel at the moment but lying here in my room, utterly alone, I’ve given it some thought and I’ve decided to begin my transition from the stage of grief to experiencing a cleansing. It’s time for a new me. Too long have I sat here in this cold, empty room, drowning in my tears. Too exhausted to function. Dark rings surrounding my eyes and hair resembling someone who’d been dragged through a bush. I refuse to spend any more days in self pity. Arising is arduous but somehow I manage to unravel myself out of the cocoon I had created. Feeling my toes sinking into the feather-soft carpet as I take the first steps as the newly found Evelyn, over towards the curtain. The velvet fabric compliments my skin as I gently tug and they inch open. Suddenly light floods in, filling the room, illuminating lost objects. Dust fills my nostrils as all my little nik-naks come to life. Slipping down my worn in sweats to change into something more presentable, a rush of warmth overcomes me. For the first time in months, to make myself breakfast, I shall go further than the bathroom.

Oppenheimer once said: "Now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds" (recited from the Bhagavad-Gita). That was the day of Trinity, the first test of an atomic bomb's raw, awesome power. It was the beginning of a deadly technology that is ever evolving to reach more dangerous heights: atomic and nuclear weapons. These weapons have only been fired twice, and yet the entire world is on edge when a country threatens to use them. The Atomic bomb was created out of fear and necessity; to be used for such a purpose; but it was still a weapon of mass destruction.

I stand in front the death land Hiroshima and wondering what just happen. It was just a moment ago, I feel with excitement and nervousness to see my beloved grandmother. As I was far away from Hiroshima, my parent and I start to hear a loud rumble surround our car in a violent manner, causing our car to flip over and over. At first, I think the city has been hit by an earthquake, but as the ground keeps shaking harder, the temperature around me is suddenly rising. We then see a giant mushroom cloud is formed at where Hiroshima is. As me and my family get out from the car, my skin starts to burn harshly and for a couple of second, I can see Hiroshima start to disperse into nothing. Houses start to melt and collapse, living things start to char

I do not know how to start because to this very moment my mind still cannot fathom what happened on that dark day. August 6th, 1945 began like any other day, it was a hot summer day, the noisy streets filled with people and kids all rushing to start their day, but then the happy sounds changed the minute the plane hovered above the city.

I wake up slowly, like I am immersed in a weird combination of honey and crunchy peanut butter. I’m in no rush to open my eyes but I do anyway, I have to. Slipping into the same white clothes I wear everyday, I glance into a mirror and my eyes widen at the sight. My blond hair is a tumbleweed on my head and the only good thing about it is it takes attention away from my brownish green eyes that I despise. I rake a brush through my hair furiously, my pale nose scrunching up in pain every time I hit a knot. Giving up halfway through though, I realize that nobody cares. I lay the brush down on the dresser and stride out of my room. Lost in my thoughts, I bump into someone halfway to my destination. I’m about to exclaim my apologies when the victim

One night, a creepy giggle awakened her. Confused, Christina rubbed her eyes. The ominous snicker resounded. Christina slowly sat up. She looked outside her window. No cars were roaming the street. The night was cold and the moon glowed an eerie yellow. It’s probably just the neighbors’ newborn infant, Christina thought, Infants

I thoroughly enjoyed your well-thought out response and I appreciate your clearly stated opinion. I too, wrote that the bomb was necessary not only to bring an end to the catastrophic war but also minimize the casualties of American solider, which you mentioned. I however did not mention the effect of the radiation, which plays a key component in the world after the use of the atomic bomb. Your take on the use and the effects of the atomic bomb brought a new light in the situation, in which I neglected to mention in my response. Your response was a pleasant read and I’m glad I was able to comprehend and ponder a new point of view. Lastly, thank you for your response, you did an excellent job. Have a great day!

The internet is said to be the only thing that would survive a nuclear war. It is the truth, if the world ended, the internet would be the only human creation that survived.

Around the world today there is always a horrible and horrific event taking place, killing many people. Hiroshima was one of these events that resulted in the killings of millions in Japan. John Hersey’s Hiroshima is based off of this historical event, and follows the struggles and sufferings of six people distubed by this event. Hiroshima is a great nonfiction novel written in order to help readers undertand the suffering people went through after the bomb.

On August 6, 1945, in an attempt to bring an end to World War II, the United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a Japanese city and military center. Most of the population stood helpless in the open as the sighting of only three aircraft quickly caused a roaring of air raid warnings. The extraordinary event destroyed nearly two-thirds of the city and immediately killed tens of thousands of people, and tens of thousands more died later from radiation exposure. Sixteen hours after the attack, United States President, Harry S. Truman, broadcasted the report of the event to radio listeners:

When I wake up, I’m still in my trailer. I rub my eyes, and sit up. Stretching, I glance down at myself and I do a double take. I’m wearing an old sea-green dress. It has short sleeves, a hem that goes to my knees, and a fitted middle. On my feet are white canvas shoes that are scuffed at the edges. I stand up, shaky, and walk to my mirror. My hair is parted in the middle, and I find that it’s been dyed a darker red and has been curled as well. Makeup, which makes me look younger, shows on my face, and I spot sand between my fingernails. Confused, I walk as I look down at them until I reach my door. Just as I open the door, a hot and steamy air pulses out at me. I step out, and I find that I’m in a courtyard filled with people. A stone