On Saturday, I saw the acclaimed movie, “Oppenheimer”. It is yet another anti-war and anti-nuclear statement that reflects the sentiment of many people across the globe.  

Why did Oppenheimer, a pacifist and an alleged communist, take on the job of inventing a new weapon of mass destruction for the US? Was it scientific curiosity, perhaps? Was it the challenge afforded to a man who wanted to be on top of the scientific world beside Albert Einstein, perhaps? Was Oppenheimer so consumed that the Nazis and the Soviet Union would have a distinct advantage in the weapons race? I think it was a little of all of these things.  

Arms races that have clearly dominated our political decisions since World War II, are becoming more hazardous every year. Only the USSR and the US had the scientific and technological capabilities to harness the atom and create a weapon that could alter mankind in just a few hours during the war. Are the costs of development and deployment of nuclear weapons only fundable by the wealthiest countries in the world? No.  

Irresponsible and radical regimes now have access to nuclear weapons in part because they have the money to acquire ready to use weapons. And, they believe their power and influence is enhanced by using a nuclear threat against their enemies and others that they compete with economically. North Korea and rich Arab nations are perfect examples of this phenomenon. To this point, the threat of nuclear attacks is worth more than actually owning the weapons. I hope.  

In earlier days, the threat of mutual destruction prevented nuclear nations from using atomic or hydrogen bombs. Although the US and Soviet Union produced many nuclear missiles that could destroy mankind, no one expected these leaders to press the button and commit nuclear mass genocide.

These days nuclear weapons are in play for many countries, and there is a distinct risk that a deranged leader would use the ultimate weapon regionally and set off worldwide Armageddon.   What are we doing in response? Spending billions to be armed against our enemies? Threatening each other? Diverting our energies from climate change and pandemic to killing other human beings?  

Oppenheimer was truly concerned about an arms race, proliferation of nuclear weapons and misuse of weapons for political gains. At least that was what the movie implied. Is Oppenheimer a hero, or did he make it possible for demented egomaniacs to destroy the world?