The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-08-17
Observations
Use of Atomic
Bomb Results in
Varied Reactions


pride in the atomic bomb.
canno; feel triumphant that We
have invented the greatest de-
struetive force since the beginning
OF mankind.
knowing that such horror exists
makes me feel that am living in
a nightmare with the fear OF evil
forever hanging over me.
Human beings have not succeed
ed too often in proving they are
fit to live. The atomic bomb is the
final push back into the mud.
My friends at the Museum OF
Natural History have frequently
said with calm cynicism:
Man has not shown in any gen.
Grafton that he Is an animal with
the stuff Of survival in him. The
struggles OF man are less than a
flash in the history OF time. Soon
he will be as extinct as the dino
saur. He is not o. the material
that endures."
Smashing the atom may be clever
science. But, so far, Il is wholesale
murder TO me. And see no good
that can possibly come out o. Il.
The silliest talk OF all is that the
invention OF the atomic bomb, the
great, wonderful, superhuman ato-
mic bomb that can and does wipe
out a single city at one blow,
means the end OF war.
How the gods in their heavens
must laugh al US and our crazy
protestationsi How could we have
shown our talk about "a commun-
ity of nations TO outlaw war feeb-
Ter and more insincere than by re-
inforcing the talk with a machine
that destroys a hundred thousand
people and the homes in which they
live BY the click OF a lever?
The atomic bomb turns the Char
ter into a cruel joke. 1t blows the
Charter higher than the splinters
OF the buildings the atomic bomb
wrecked. 1t will be said that II We
hadn't invented the atomic bomb
some other country, probably an
enemy country, would have invent
ed II first Who is there TO say this
Ia true, Who is there 10 say posi-
lively that IL we hadn't loosed this
horror that is so degrading TO Its
users that millions OF Americans
might have been lost?
But we, the United States, the
beautiful humanitarian nation thai
said II was going TO make the
world a kind place in which to live,
had the honor OF inyenting the ex-
quisite instrument of everlasting
peace-the atomic bomb.
We are geniuses. in our efforts
10 promote democracy. at blowing
the world to pieces. But we don't
show the same success In putting
the world together again.
You say I'm reactionary? l am,
indeed. And l hope never pro-
gress.
Speaking further and much more
mildly OF progress which Is the
present synonym for destruction
and murder, the war has undoubt-
edly made the simplest parts OF
every day living a continual strain.
People who have lived In foreign
countries have said in the past:
TT is a Joy to get back to the Unit.
ed States again. This Is the only
country in which everything
works" Everything. meaning the
gadgets OF civilization.
But now so little works. here in
this land OF opportunity. You're
always running against a stone
wall or a sharp snag. And It Is
hard on the nerves. And fatal TO
the placid brow.
And as for the food situation.
81 can't help but believe that many
merchants and restaurateurs are
taking a terrific advantage OF the
war and food shortages TO give
their customers less for their mon
ey than necessary" writes "Emae-
lated"
'1n a shopping rush yesterday
stopped at a large drug stores
lunch counter / asked for a choco-
late matted milk. There was no
chocolate. was handed glass OF
skinned milk favored with syn
thetic vanilla. Cost 20 cents. And
my sandwich was one thin slice
OF tomato. one silver OF lettuce,
half drop OF mayonnaise be-
tween two small slices Of bread.
The price-35 cents-for five cents
worth Of stale provender. That
drug store owners wife is prob
ably picking out her next winters
platinum mink at this very minute
/, my food is a sample OF her hus-
bands daily profit"