Cuban Missile Crisis: How Was Nuclear War Avoided?

 Many people believe that war cannot be avoided. However, this event in history proved that humans themselves are able to prevent human-made conflict: by keeping rational thought. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, John F. Kennedy and his group of advisors made every decision after carefully examining the consequences, and did not act upon anger and impulse. Most wars are started without the realization that there are more peaceful ways in solving conflict. It was all because of the persistence JFK and certain members of his group had held during these two weeks, while many objected and insisted on war due to impulse. Having communicated carefully with the Russians, who also had certain members of the equivalent persistence, a peaceful negotiation was able to take place, preventing nuclear war and preserving world peace.

Fat Man and Little Boy: Justified?

The nuclear bombs that were used during the Second World War had been a very controversial topic since the time it was used. The damages to the Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were devastating. There was an estimated loss of 200,000 lives. Many think the attack was immoral, and that the US didn't thoroughly consider the consequences. Some, however, think that such a damaging attack was the only way to end the war, as it caused the Japanese to finally surrender. There is no exact answer to whether or not the bombing was the "right" and "justified" decision. Regardless, it was destined for countries and societies to discover the power of nuclear science and atomic energy. The usage of the atomic bomb was inevitable. The fact that it was used during a large scale, world-wide war, may have actually cushioned the blow, and helped justify its use. 

The catastrophic damages are undeniable, but it is also an undeniable fact that both US and Japan played major parts in the world wide war, where nations are destined to attempt to destroy and tear each other apart because of their differences. Many people blame the United States for their attack, but at the time, there were many other atomic projects going on in countries like Russia and Canada. An atomic bomb was destined to be created, and it was destined to be used, just like conflict is unpreventable when separate powers exist in the world. We can also compare this to the First World War. Many historians today look back at the causes for that war, and also the ways it was ended (specifically the Treaty of Versailles), and consider those decisions to be mistakes. Just like the atomic bombs, those events were inevitable, and it was only through those events did the world learn not to repeat the mistakes. After the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings, the world sure has learned a lesson on being cautious with unpredictable weapons. Yet, many of us continue to blame the US for the immoral event.