A morality question?

[Logical]

If you were ordered to unleash a Nuclear Bomb on an enemy could you do it?

Could you as an individual take on the responsibility of killing potentially millions? When I was younger I felt the answer was an easy yes. As I grow in wisdom my moral compass says it might not be easy to do. In fact I doubt I could do it. Could you?


Additional info at the request of posters. You don't know who is targeted. Your area has not been hit by a Nuke but it was hit by a large bombing incident where 100s died. You will not be directly protecting your family.

[Logical]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Yes, unless by "[y]ou don't know who is targeted" you really mean that this would be a randomly targeted nuke which would make my answer no.

Interesting literalist view of my statement, I see your point. I think you can assume it would be on enemy territory.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by milkman

You and you're family had a dime to spend?

Lucky rich bastard!!!!

Christmas, we splurged.
I did have to walk 5 miles to school, up hill in the snow, both ways.

All kidding aside, I remember taking those cars apart as a little kid. Jagged edged stamped tin, very dangerous, probably never cleaned from their previous use.

What would our protectionest beurocrats think about them now?

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Donger

A demonstration, eh?

Well, for one, what would happen if it were a dud? Giving the Japanese a physics package would have been a bad idea.

Two, I assume that you'd be willing to fly that mission? "Okay, Japanese. We are going to show you our new weapon. The plane carrying it will arrive over Tokyo Bay at 0700 hours on Thursday. Please don't shoot at it."

Can we assume that you are also opposed to the firebombing of Tokyo, too?

That's not the point. Just seeing it without even detonation, right here in America, coulda brought about surrender too, especially with the mind set they were already in. I'd at least do that first. Still, there is much debate about the whole surrender point.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Christmas, we splurged.
I did have to walk 5 miles to school, up hill in the snow, both ways.

All kidding aside, I remember taking those cars apart as a little kid. Jagged edged stamped tin, very dangerous, probably never cleaned from their previous use.

What would our protectionest beurocrats think about them now?

How the hell did we ever grow up?

Everything we came into contact with should have killed us.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

That's not the point. Just seeing it without even detonation, right here in America, coulda brought about surrender too, especially with the mind set they were already in. I'd at least do that first. Still, there is much debate about the whole surrender point.

Seeing what? The bombs themselves?

Anyway, I'm sure that the Japanese would probably not have been stupid enough to accept. Do you know the history of the Pacific Theater? Saipan, and the civilians throwing themselves off cliffs rather than surrender? Kamikazes?

Is this just because nuclear weapons were used?

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by milkman

How the hell did we ever grow up?

Everything we came into contact with should have killed us.

Amazing, isn't it?
The strong survive! It has worked in nature for a while.

I laughed pretty hard the other day, when I saw a group of 20 somethings, adult bikers (pedal type) wearing helmets.

Nothing wrong with it, just struck me funny.

But then, the more I thought about it, they have probably never ridden a bike without a helmet. I am guessing they probably played soccer as a kid, as well.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Amazing, isn't it?
The strong survive! It has worked in nature for a while.

I laughed pretty hard the other day, when I saw a group of 20 somethings, adult bikers (pedal type) wearing helmets.

Nothing wrong with it, just struck me funny.

But then, the more I thought about it, they have probably never ridden a bike without a helmet. I am guessing they probably played soccer as a kid, as well.

It is funny, and sad, at the same time.

If some dumbass can't ride a bike without getting run over, or falling off and hitting his head at 20 something, dumbass deserves to have his head cracked.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

That's not the point. Just seeing it without even detonation, right here in America, coulda brought about surrender too, especially with the mind set they were already in. I'd at least do that first. Still, there is much debate about the whole surrender point.

The reality of it, Americans were dying every day and barely holding on in certain places. The war needed to end and end right away. We had the tool to do it and it got used. End of story, no second guessing.

If they would have had it, they would have used it on us without hesitation. War is not nice.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by milkman

It is funny, and sad, at the same time.

If some dumbass can't ride a bike without getting run over, or falling off and hitting his head at 20 something, dumbass deserves to have his head cracked.

Well, those were my initial thoughts.