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Robert Oppenheimer's Arguments Against The First Use Of The Atomic Bomb

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Robert Oppenheimer's Arguments Against The First Use Of The Atomic Bomb
Those who are considered outliers in today’s society are those who challenged what they knew to grow, and eventually leave their mark on the world. The father of the atomic bomb and head of the Manhattan Project was no exception. Robert Oppenheimer challenged his upbringing and the society around him to become his own person. He supported the first use of the atomic bomb on an actual target, despite the possible moral concerns with that, as well as opposing the development of the hydrogen bomb. Lastly, Oppenheimer had relations with multiple members of the Communist Party, despite the high tensions during the Cold War, which was going on at the time. However, the first case of controversy Oppenheimer was involved with occurred during the Manhattan Project, when it was being decided whether the first use of the atomic bomb should be used on a real target, or as a demonstration. …show more content…
Despite it being a weapon of mass destruction, Robert Oppenheimer supported the first use of the atomic bomb being on an actual target rather than being a demonstration, opposing those with an unsure ethical standing. Oppenheimer had multiple arguments against having a demonstration, one of which was that POW’s may be moved to any area for where warning was given ahead of time. Another of Oppenheimer’s arguments was that it would be of greater benefit to use the bomb against populated cities, which the military called “built-up areas.” After the Manhattan Project, the Atomic Energy Commission was formed to oversee American atomic affairs, and Oppenheimer became was chosen to be be chairman of the General Advisory Committee. But his concerns were long from over, starting with accusations springing from a resistance to the development of the hydrogen
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