Godzilla vs. The Atomic Bomb
It may seem that Godzilla and the Atomic Bomb have very little in common, but they are in fact wildly similar. The original Godzilla film was produced in Japan 1954, and was named "Gojira". The film was later "Americanized" in 2004 when it was brought to the big screen in the US. The original film focuses on the presence of a monster, created from the nuclear destruction caused by the United States. The characters involved try to find a way to stop the rampaging beast, and eventually use a highly destructive form of science to destroy it. However, throughout the film the characters struggle with the morality of killing the beast and whether or not to introduce a dangerous weapon to the world. The second controversy is the most intriguing and concerning. Humanity has long struggled with the creation of its own demise. We build great machines that can change the world, but in the wrong hands they can often destroy us. It comes down to a question of whether or not you are willing to risk the danger for the benefits.
The film "Fat Man and Little Boy", produced in the US in 1989, also focuses on this moral issue. In the movie, a group of scientists are gathered to create a weapon that could end World War II and win the war; in the end they create the Atomic Bomb. The scientists and other individuals involved struggle throughout the movie with the idea that they are building a weapon of mass destruction. There are a whole range of reactions, including individuals who believe such a weapon is necessary to save more lives, others believe the scale of destruction such a bomb would create is inhuman and should be prohibited. These scientists fall into the eternal debate of good versus evil, and if the ends justify the means.
In both films the struggle between the various positions can be boiled down into three main categories: those who believe the weapon is necessary, those who believe the weapon should never have been created, and those who believe the weapon can be created but not used.
The first position, in which the individuals support the creation and use of the weapon (be it an Oxygen Destroyer or Atomic Bomb), includes many people who wish to prevent the loss of lives that are important to them. In the film Gojira, a few characters who supported the use of the Oxygen Destroyer wished to prevent the death of more citizens of Japan. In the film Fat Man and Little Boy, the characters who supported the use of the Atomic Bomb did so to end a terrible war and make sure US soldiers did not lose their lives in an invasion of Japan. In both cases the characters were not concerned with the death of the enemy or any other fallout because their countrymen's lives were more important. By choosing this form of action they believed they would prevent more deaths and suffering.
The second position, in which the individuals did not support the creation of the weapon includes people who wish to prevent the death and destruction such an event would bring. In the film Gojira, the scientist who created the Oxygen Destroyer does not want it to be used because he knows that once it is introduced to the world others will seek to use it for their own gain and to cause destruction. In the film Fat Man and Little Boy, the scientists who created the Atomic Bomb do not want it to be used because they know it will be used to kill others and further the interests of any government that has posses it. They know once it is created any country, government, or organization can create it and then use it however they like. An idea can not kill thousands, but a created, physical weapon can. In order to prevent this the scientists, in both films, wish for it to never be introduced to the world at all.
The third position, in which the individuals wish to create the weapon but not use it include those people who are stuck between the two aforementioned sides. In both films, these are the people who believe the weapon should be created because it means an advancement in scientific discovery and other possible applications of such tremendous power, but do not wish to see it used for destruction. These indecisive characters are constantly struggling between the morality of either option, to create or not to create. They understand the need for a weapon that could save other lives, but they also know it will be used to destroy and kill. This is the category that many people to this day fall under, and are constantly asking themselves if the ends justify the means.
In the end it is up to each individual what their position is on the topic of creating a weapon of such destruction. Some believe it is necessary, others believe it will only lead the world in the wrong direction. All sides of the argument have some moral defense to back it up, thus making the eternal struggle more difficult. It is common knowledge that once something is created and put forth into the world it can be used for either good or evil, and it is no longer up to the creator on which way it will go. Thus it is important to remember that our actions have consequences, and if you are ever faced with a difficult decision you must look at all sides of the argument, but understand that not everyone will agree. The world is not made up of black and white, but consists of varying shades of grey. Decide for yourself what hue you will be.
The film "Fat Man and Little Boy", produced in the US in 1989, also focuses on this moral issue. In the movie, a group of scientists are gathered to create a weapon that could end World War II and win the war; in the end they create the Atomic Bomb. The scientists and other individuals involved struggle throughout the movie with the idea that they are building a weapon of mass destruction. There are a whole range of reactions, including individuals who believe such a weapon is necessary to save more lives, others believe the scale of destruction such a bomb would create is inhuman and should be prohibited. These scientists fall into the eternal debate of good versus evil, and if the ends justify the means.
In both films the struggle between the various positions can be boiled down into three main categories: those who believe the weapon is necessary, those who believe the weapon should never have been created, and those who believe the weapon can be created but not used.
The first position, in which the individuals support the creation and use of the weapon (be it an Oxygen Destroyer or Atomic Bomb), includes many people who wish to prevent the loss of lives that are important to them. In the film Gojira, a few characters who supported the use of the Oxygen Destroyer wished to prevent the death of more citizens of Japan. In the film Fat Man and Little Boy, the characters who supported the use of the Atomic Bomb did so to end a terrible war and make sure US soldiers did not lose their lives in an invasion of Japan. In both cases the characters were not concerned with the death of the enemy or any other fallout because their countrymen's lives were more important. By choosing this form of action they believed they would prevent more deaths and suffering.
The second position, in which the individuals did not support the creation of the weapon includes people who wish to prevent the death and destruction such an event would bring. In the film Gojira, the scientist who created the Oxygen Destroyer does not want it to be used because he knows that once it is introduced to the world others will seek to use it for their own gain and to cause destruction. In the film Fat Man and Little Boy, the scientists who created the Atomic Bomb do not want it to be used because they know it will be used to kill others and further the interests of any government that has posses it. They know once it is created any country, government, or organization can create it and then use it however they like. An idea can not kill thousands, but a created, physical weapon can. In order to prevent this the scientists, in both films, wish for it to never be introduced to the world at all.
The third position, in which the individuals wish to create the weapon but not use it include those people who are stuck between the two aforementioned sides. In both films, these are the people who believe the weapon should be created because it means an advancement in scientific discovery and other possible applications of such tremendous power, but do not wish to see it used for destruction. These indecisive characters are constantly struggling between the morality of either option, to create or not to create. They understand the need for a weapon that could save other lives, but they also know it will be used to destroy and kill. This is the category that many people to this day fall under, and are constantly asking themselves if the ends justify the means.
In the end it is up to each individual what their position is on the topic of creating a weapon of such destruction. Some believe it is necessary, others believe it will only lead the world in the wrong direction. All sides of the argument have some moral defense to back it up, thus making the eternal struggle more difficult. It is common knowledge that once something is created and put forth into the world it can be used for either good or evil, and it is no longer up to the creator on which way it will go. Thus it is important to remember that our actions have consequences, and if you are ever faced with a difficult decision you must look at all sides of the argument, but understand that not everyone will agree. The world is not made up of black and white, but consists of varying shades of grey. Decide for yourself what hue you will be.
I'm going with a nice shade of regal purple!
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