The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-05-02
Just Among Ourselves
Posing Comment Considered or Ineonsidersfe

Why have we had so much fuss about the atom
bomb? For what reason was the top secret in con-
strueton given top publicity in performance? What
explains the presence OF so many radio and TV
nouncers the Nevada flats, and how we're the
broadcasting companies able to secure speakers so
evenly matched in the matter of hesitancy in speech
and apparent stagnation of thought? Here are mys-
teres to ponder when preconvention statistics grow
wearisome
The spectacle of an A-bomb exploding over the
desert must, by all reports, have been impressive
to the lads who viewed 1t directly through weders'
goggles. II was certainty not so by teevsion Nor
can it be made impressive by constantly repeated
statements that the TV men had an almost impos-
sibe task to perform in bringing the picture to the
American people.
The buIdup was terrific. We were told that
intrepid newsmen, certified again and again as to
sound citizenship were up and about at four o'clock
IN the morning the day of the great blast; that
they had to show their Identification tags over and
over as they neared the dark and gloomy ground
that they read signs all along the way urging them
to silence especially in the presence Of Mr. Stain
Yet they were going out to talk and afterwards to
write, and they were going to view great spectacle
and report it by ether to all and sundry. 1t was
probably the most secretve publicity stunt in our
The newsmen on the scene were largely restrict.
ed to "er's" and "ahs' in their offhand report of
what was going on. Later,-by eleven that night
few of them had had time to compose
some particularly purple prose for broadcast
ing and telecasting out of the larger cit
les within air-jump OF the field of the fuss Both
on location and in the studios, the announcers
spoke in deep and solemn tones of doom No Amer.
can was left in doubt about the attitude expected
Of him. He was TO take the thing grmly. He was to
feel upon him the burden of nameless dread. He
to view Tor had viewed if he got the reports by
night broadcasD most awesome event.
Now, this atmosphere, carefully sustained de-
spite the disappointment of the spectacle itself, is
something of mystery. Why all this grmness and
sense of dread? II have to face the mad destruct-
veness of science there is surely no profit in fac
ing II with despair. If we are in for atomic warfare
IT looks like poor policy to prepare for it by
mere wall of woe.
Viewers of the event by Tv we're given more
anxious moments by the shifting and ndistnct i'm
age and by the constantly repeated intervals when
there was no image at all than by the explosion Of
the bomb when il finally came There was a flash,
not large particularly bright there was the APP
pearance of round sun-like body in the midst
of widening black mass; there was the cloud
ascending its twisting pillar of smoke And then
came the sound, plainly audible, but neither fear
somely loud viciousIy sharp. And then one of
the doomsday boys cried That's it,, and the show
was over.
Just before the bomb was dropped, an announc
er allowed himself some broken and throaty com
ments this terrific power created by man"
This is, manfestly perfectly silly expression
Man cannot create anything To create is to make
out of nothing Man can only take what he finds in
the world and it, or misuse it. Man has not
created the power OF the atom; he has merely learn
ed how to release it,--and this to wholly de-
sructve end
II is marvellous beyond expressing that the ere
ator of the atom has set tremendous energy harm
lessy and usefully within its tiny compass. II is not
so, marvellous admirable that has contrved
to break out atomic energy with devastating effects
Even If man should contrive to control the release
of atomic power, and to turn II to his in pacific
ways he would still have no claim to the title of
creator
God put man into wonder world Ito work and
keep it," Work was mans earthly destiny from
the first IL became also burden and curse when
ii was made penance for sin. Man was 10 work in the
world discovering more and more of the useful
things the Creator had put there for him TO find
and use and apply in his proper task of study, in
vestigaiion, and invention. Only the blindness of
pride-the first and worst and most enduring of
sins,-can make a man feel that he creates when
he discovers things already created in his universe
But we come back to the question with which
we started why all the fuss about the great Nevada
adventure which proved, on TV to be such dud7
II is easy to understand that experiments must be
made We must explode bombs If only to find out
how to make better Tor worse) ones But il is mol
easy to understand the publicity attaching to the
most recent experiment. 1t such odd and con
Trajectory sort Of publicity. II was composed o.
look look and also hush, hushn II was every
body look, but don't let anyone know" And owe
all was layer upon layer of gloom. Why? To wha
purpose?