Hiroshima Essay, Research Paper

OUTLINE

Thesis: Nuclear proliferation should be banned in order to prevent other countries from

death and destruction like that of Hiroshima.

I. Mankind argues for and against Hershey?s message to ban the bomb. (QUOTE)

A. History leading to Hiroshima

1. Why was book written

2. When was book written

B. Author and name of book

1. Hershey?s message

2. Other information

C. Thesis

II. By giving governments the power to use bombs, many innocent civilians are killed.

A. Proponents of nuclear armament argued that one massive show of force would

result in fewer casualties of civilians compared to ground war, but use of the

bomb is still inhumane.

B. Number of persons killed, injured, and missing due to bomb

C. Radiation over widespread area

1. 20% died from direct exposure to radiation

2. 50% died from other injuries, 25% died from direct burns

D. Although bombs set an example for rest of world……

1. Opposing evidence

2. Opposing evidence

III. Governments have a right to protect their citizens. However, survivors of bombs

are permanently affected.

A. Affects physical health and emotions

Hanson ii

1. example

2. example

B. Affects housing

1. example

2. example

C. Affects food and water supplies

IV. Although nuclear proliferation helps restore peace, it also causes destruction of

many regional economies.

A. People unable to afford medical care

B. Businesses destroyed

1. Japanese building regulations

2. Statistics on destroyed buildings

C. Employers wouldn?t hire bomb victims

1. Quote from novel

2. Constant physical problems

V. In the novel Hiroshima, author John Hershey presents a clear message.

A. Nuclear proliferation should be stopped

B. Bomb does more harm than good

1. Kills innocent civilians

2. Survivors permanently affected

a. mentally/ emotionally

b. physically

3. Economic destruction

C. Bartlett?s quote

D. Sentence comparing quote to nuclear weapons today

HIROSHIMA

?As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their

good becomes indistinguishable from the evil they set out to destroy.?

–Christopher Dawson

In the novel Hiroshima, author John Hershey presents a clear message to ban

the use of nuclear proliferation. This true account was written in 1946 and portrays the

lives of six survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Hershey?s intentions were to

show everyone what kind of destruction can be caused by the atomic bomb. The

bombing of Hiroshima by the United States was retaliation to the Japanese bombing of

Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The U.S. wanted to make an example of Japan, so

they dropped the most powerful bomb they had, not fully knowing what kind of

devastation it would cause. Many people lost their lives and an entire city was

economically devastated. Nuclear proliferation should be banned in order to prevent

other countries from suffering the death and destruction like that of Hiroshima.

Governments around the world have the power to regulate what kind of warfare

is used during battle. However, by permitting the use of the atomic bomb, many

innocent civilians are killed. Proponents of nuclear armament argue that one massive

show of force results in fewer casualties overall compared to prolonged ground war, but

the use of the bomb is still inhumane. In the case of Hiroshima, staticians said that ?at

least 100,000 thousand people had lost their lives? and 37,245 had been injured(81).

The bombing of Hiroshima also produced radiation over a widespread area. Twenty

percent of the victims killed died from radiation exposure. It was reported that 25% died

from direct burns caused by the bomb and 50% died from other bomb related injuries.

Although the use of nuclear proliferation is often used to set an example for the rest of

the world, it causes intense suffering and death to many innocent civilians.

Although many governments use atomic warheads to protect their own citizens

from harm, the survivors of these atomic bombs are permanently affected. The effects

of the bomb cause damage to physical health as well as emotions. Thousands of

people suffered from severe burns which left terrible koloid scars, others had broken

bones, and many thousands more suffered from nausea and fatigue due to extreme

radiation exposure. Many became very bitter as a result of seeing such death and

destruction(72). In addition, thousands of homes located near the hypocenter were

destroyed. Many citizens of Hiroshima were left homeless or living in shelters due to

the bomb. Food and water supplies were also greatly affected. Most people lost

everything they owned and were unable to afford food. The water was also affected by

the radiation and, therefore, was undrinkable. The use of nuclear proliferation most

often cause serious permanent pain and suffering.

Despite the fact that nuclear proliferation helps restore peace, it also causes

destruction of many regional economies. Because many of the victims were unable to

work, medical care could not be afforded. Burns and broken bones were left to be

healed by nature. Despite the strict Japanese building regulations, many businesses

were destroyed. Statistics showed that 62,000 out of 90,000 buildings were destroyed

and 6,000 were damaged beyond repair. Because of the atomic bomb, businesses

were destroyed putting people out of jobs and making them unable to afford everyday

necessities. After businesses were reestablished, employers would not hire bomb

victims because of their physical ailments. In the novel, Hershey states that ?employers

developed a prejudice against the survivors as word got around that they were prone to

all sorts of ailments….? (93). Without money, survivors were unable to obtain medical

attention as well as food, water, and a place to live.

In the novel Hiroshima, author John Hershey presents a clear message. Nuclear

proliferation causes more harm than good and should be stopped. Hundreds of

thousands of innocent civilians have been killed by the inhumane use of the atomic

bomb in both Hiroshima and later in Nagasaki. Survivors are not only affected mentally

and emotionally, but physically as well. Homes and businesses are destroyed and

people are unable to afford proper medical care. This causes economic destruction for

the entire region. Although use of the atomic bomb results in overall world peace, it

causes excessive chaos and destruction within a country. Five-star U.S. general Omar

Bradley said that ?The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. This is a world

of nuclear giants and ethical infants.? In this world today, too much focus is put on the

production of nuclear weapons and not enough on bringing world peace without death

and destruction. Therefore, governments around the world should join together in

banning the atomic bomb.

Bartlett, John. Bartlett?s Familiar Quotations. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company,

1980.

Bradley, Omar. ?Address on Armistice Day.? Bartlett 825:2.

Dawson, Christopher. ?The Judgement of the Nations.? Bartlett 812:11.

Hershey, John. Hiroshima. New York: Random House, Inc., 1985.