00:00:00 The Christophers

00:00:31 Is she asleep?

00:00:34 Yes, ask her.

00:00:36 How do you feel about it now that we're on our way?

00:00:39 Oh, you're right, Dad.

00:00:41 Certain?

00:00:42 I am now.

00:00:44 I suppose I was just keeping her in San Francisco,

00:00:47 hoping against hope that one day the doctors would come up with some miraculous cure.

00:00:52 Oh, she'll love you, Ray, and she'll be happy, dear.

00:00:57 I've got to face it, Dad.

00:00:59 That's all we can do for her now.

00:01:20 You'll have to wait here a while.

00:01:23 It's a better park right over there. Those are your instructions.

00:01:34 What's going on?

00:01:36 You got yourself a front seat to something you're not going to forget so quick.

00:01:40 See that hill?

00:01:41 You'll see it light up like you never saw light before.

00:01:44 Any minute now they're going to test an atomic bomb.

00:01:48 Dad, let's turn back.

00:01:50 Wouldn't get very far.

00:01:52 Ought to go off any minute now.

00:01:54 But what about Vivian? She'll be terrified.

00:01:56 It'll be just like fireworks for her.

00:01:58 She doesn't know what it means.

00:02:00 We'll be the ones who'll be frightened.

00:02:50 Well, it's like you thought it would be.

00:03:15 Of course it is, Grandpa, but much, much better.

00:03:18 Well, there's another surprise for you.

00:03:23 A pony! Grandpa, would you let me ride him?

00:03:26 Well, sure, he's yours. Can you ride?

00:03:29 No, Grandpa, but I can try.

00:03:31 Well, you go on then.

00:03:34 No, I still can't believe it.

00:03:36 Every time she smiles at me, I think, well, it's just impossible.

00:03:41 The days after the doctor told me the diagnosis,

00:03:43 I was certainly called back to say he'd made a mistake, but...

00:03:50 I don't know.

00:03:51 I don't know.

00:03:52 I don't know.

00:03:53 I don't know.

00:03:54 I don't know.

00:03:55 I don't know.

00:03:56 I don't know.

00:03:57 I don't know.

00:03:58 I don't know.

00:03:59 I don't know.

00:04:00 I don't know.

00:04:01 I don't know.

00:04:02 I don't know.

00:04:03 conexion

00:04:04 I don't know.

00:04:06 Touch him gently with your heels.

00:04:13 How long before she'll have to stay in bed?

00:04:16 He couldn't say exactly, but in a few months she'll be too weak to get up.

00:04:21 Mr. Vernon?

00:04:22 Yes.

00:04:23 My name is Ashleigh.

00:04:24 Hello.

00:04:25 I came down to see you last week, but they told me you were in San Francisco.

00:04:28 That's right.

00:04:29 What can I do for you, Mr. Ashleigh?

00:04:31 I wonder if you'd be interested in selling your ranch.

00:04:33 I'm afraid you came at the wrong time.

00:04:36 This place is giving a deal of pleasure to a little girl, and at this moment I wouldn't dream of giving it up.

00:04:41 Well, it isn't a matter of giving immediate possession.

00:04:44 We have options on the land from here all the way down to the river.

00:04:47 But we would like a hold on your place in case of possible expansion later on.

00:04:51 Expansion for what?

00:04:53 Well, I thought you knew.

00:04:55 The whole town's talking of it.

00:04:56 Well, I just got in an hour ago.

00:04:58 I see.

00:04:59 Well, I work for the Atomic Energy Commission.

00:05:01 They're going to build a plant here.

00:05:05 Grandpa, am I doing all right?

00:05:08 Just fine.

00:05:09 Just the little girl I was talking about.

00:05:12 Hello there.

00:05:13 Take them around again.

00:05:15 All right, Grandpa.

00:05:19 Well, since you've been away and this is all new to you, naturally you'll need some time to think it over.

00:05:24 Maybe it'd be better if I called back again in a day or so.

00:05:27 I'm afraid the answer would still be the same.

00:05:29 I'll call anyway.

00:05:31 Goodbye.

00:05:34 The atomic bomb.

00:05:36 Isn't there enough unhappiness in the world without that?

00:05:40 Now they want to bring it here.

00:05:42 I'm sorry, Alice.

00:05:43 I just don't want to be reminded of things like that.

00:05:46 Maybe I'll go into town and see what the other fellas have to think about it.

00:05:50 I suppose I should bring Vivian into a rest.

00:05:52 But I haven't the heart to stop her when she's having so much fun.

00:05:55 Let her enjoy herself while she can.

00:06:00 In three months this place will be a boom town.

00:06:02 Sure, there'll be problems.

00:06:04 But there'll be advantages for every one of us.

00:06:06 How much is your place worth right now?

00:06:08 About $4,000.

00:06:10 Well, in six months I'll be able to get you $12,000 for it.

00:06:12 Maybe $15,000.

00:06:13 If he wants to sell.

00:06:15 I won't be going to sell.

00:06:16 It's my home, Harry.

00:06:18 It's where I was born and raised.

00:06:20 It's where my folks settled when they come out here in covered wagons.

00:06:23 And they looked all over before they picked this as the best spot.

00:06:26 Well, maybe it won't help you so much.

00:06:28 But things haven't been too good here for two or three years.

00:06:31 Plenty of people in town that could use a little more money.

00:06:34 Harry can tell you about that, can't you, Harry?

00:06:37 I'm afraid I can't.

00:06:38 You don't run a bank without knowing the problems people have.

00:06:42 All of us have.

00:06:43 Money-wise, I mean.

00:06:44 And money is what the plant's going to bring to this town.

00:06:48 Of course, I'm not saying that money means happiness.

00:06:51 But it's a lot easier when you're not pinching and skimping and worrying year after year.

00:06:56 So it's just a question of money.

00:06:58 Oh, there's more to it than that.

00:07:00 Now, you fellows got me elected mayor, and I know what this town needs and how much it needs.

00:07:05 A new school building, for one thing.

00:07:07 And, Doctor, how far is it to the nearest hospital?

00:07:12 26 miles.

00:07:14 And a decent water system wouldn't hurt.

00:07:17 Looks like we got along without them so far.

00:07:19 Is that any reason why our children should have to?

00:07:22 That's why I'm glad the plant is coming here.

00:07:24 It'll mean the best schools and hospitals and things like that.

00:07:27 Sure, I'll hate to see the old town change just like anybody else, but I'm darn sure it'll be worth it.

00:07:32 Seems to me you're all ducking the real point.

00:07:34 Now, what's this plant going to make?

00:07:36 Fish and more material, they call it.

00:07:38 Eh, no matter what they call it, it all adds up to one thing.

00:07:41 The atomic bomb.

00:07:42 And that's why this whole idea makes me sick.

00:07:44 There won't be any danger around the plant.

00:07:47 Everything will be carefully controlled.

00:07:49 That's not the point.

00:07:50 I was at Hiroshima, Doc.

00:07:52 Maybe eight or nine days after the bomb was dropped.

00:07:56 I saw what was left.

00:07:59 So they're going to make the atomic bomb here.

00:08:02 While I'm selling my place and leaving town.

00:08:05 I don't want any part of it.

00:08:09 I can understand how he feels.

00:08:11 After that kind of an experience, naturally he's afraid of the whole idea of the bomb.

00:08:15 Let us be honest. We're all afraid.

00:08:17 We're all terrified and so are people all over the world.

00:08:20 But the fact of the matter is the bomb is here.

00:08:23 Now that it's been invented, we just can't stick our heads in the sand and pretend that it doesn't exist.

00:08:29 And say what you like about it.

00:08:31 Having a bomb is pretty good insurance against an attack by an aggressor.

00:08:35 Joan, you've been very quiet. How do you feel about this?

00:08:39 Well, I was listening.

00:08:41 I only heard the news about an hour ago and I don't like to make up my mind in a hurry.

00:08:46 Have you made it up now?

00:08:48 Yes, I think I have.

00:08:51 I agree with a lot you fellows have been talking about.

00:08:56 But the bomb's been invented and there's nothing we can do about that.

00:09:00 The point is that we want it here.

00:09:04 Harry says the plant will bring money into the town.

00:09:07 Well, that's fine, of course.

00:09:09 We'll all use a little more money.

00:09:11 I know I can.

00:09:13 Farrell says it'll give us new schools and a hospital and so on.

00:09:18 But where will all this come from?

00:09:21 From the atomic bomb.

00:09:23 And the atomic bomb, no matter how thin you slice it, is simply a machine for killing people.

00:09:28 Yeah.

00:09:31 My folks came here about the same time yours did, Tim.

00:09:34 That's right.

00:09:35 Maybe today it isn't as big a town as they dreamed it would be.

00:09:39 It probably isn't as rich a town.

00:09:41 All we did was grow our crops and raise our cattle.

00:09:46 But at least we never tried to make any money out of other people's unhappiness.

00:09:50 No.

00:09:52 Some of you are worrying that the town will change.

00:09:56 I'm worrying about the people who live in this town.

00:10:00 What sort of people we will be after we grow rich on the atomic bomb.

00:10:05 With our schools and hospitals that we know one day will have to be paid for with other people's lives.

00:10:10 Yeah.

00:10:12 That's the change I'm worrying about.

00:10:15 I don't think it's worth it.

00:10:29 I feel just fine. Really, I do.

00:10:32 No headaches? No dizzy spell?

00:10:35 You must tell me the truth, you know.

00:10:38 If I do, you'll keep me in bed and won't let me go out and play with the pony.

00:10:44 I'm all right.

00:10:45 But my doll, she isn't feeling so well.

00:10:49 She gets tired quicker than she used to.

00:10:53 I see.

00:10:54 What else does your doll tell you?

00:10:57 Well, she's got a pain back here.

00:10:59 And it won't go away, even when I rub it for her.

00:11:02 Mm-hmm.

00:11:04 Well, I'll tell you what we'll do for her.

00:11:07 You take her out in the morning to play with the pony and everything.

00:11:11 But afternoons, I want you both to come back to bed.

00:11:14 How's that?

00:11:16 Okay.

00:11:17 Now both of you get some sleep.

00:11:19 Okay.

00:11:23 God bless you, darling.

00:11:24 Good night, Mommy.

00:11:30 Well, I can't tell you anything you don't know already.

00:11:34 Just following its predicted course.

00:11:37 Will there be much pain?

00:11:38 Not yet. Not for some months.

00:11:41 But the end's inevitable.

00:11:43 Unless...

00:11:45 Unless what?

00:11:46 I suppose they talked to you about the possibilities of an operation.

00:11:50 They said the chance of success would be one in a thousand.

00:11:54 We thought it over very carefully. It was a tough decision to make.

00:11:57 With a gambler like that, what right did we have to cut off what little chance she has left?

00:12:02 Someday the chances will be better.

00:12:05 Someday we'll have learned enough.

00:12:07 It'll be too late for her.

00:12:10 Things like this in the world will make her have to invent the atomic bomb.

00:12:14 I suppose that's why I sounded off so yesterday.

00:12:17 Maybe I shouldn't have.

00:12:19 Oh, I'm glad you did.

00:12:21 I intended coming over here tonight, even if you hadn't called me about Vivian.

00:12:25 You got me thinking. It was good for me.

00:12:28 You know, up to now, I kept thinking that everything science did was good.

00:12:34 My training, I suppose.

00:12:36 Now I'm not so sure.

00:12:39 Other fellas are thinking too.

00:12:41 You know, John, I think if you were to take a vote right now,

00:12:44 the town would be against having the plant come here at all.

00:12:47 Are you certain?

00:12:48 I talked to a lot of people today.

00:12:50 And what are we going to do about it?

00:12:52 Do about it?

00:12:53 Sure. If you think a thing is wrong, then you've got to do something about it.

00:12:56 Well, what can we do about it?

00:12:58 I don't know.

00:13:00 But that's what we're going to find out.

00:13:14 Well, now, we've heard most everybody's point of view,

00:13:17 and it seems to me mostly against the bomb,

00:13:19 so if somebody'll just move a motion deploring it,

00:13:22 we'll take a vote on it and go home.

00:13:24 What good would that do?

00:13:25 Well, it leaves our consciences a little, I guess,

00:13:28 and make us feel better about the whole business.

00:13:30 Well, that's not the point of this meeting.

00:13:32 The point is to keep the plant from coming here.

00:13:34 Well, that's a kind of a tough proposition, isn't it?

00:13:37 You just can't argue with something like the Atomic Energy Commission.

00:13:40 Why not?

00:13:41 The Atomic Energy Commission is part of the government.

00:13:44 The government is elected to work for us.

00:13:46 Seems to me it's our duty as citizens to speak out

00:13:49 when they do something we disagree with.

00:13:52 You think that'll get you?

00:13:55 I don't know.

00:13:56 But I'm still going to argue.

00:13:58 Maybe it will at that.

00:14:00 We're not telling them how to run their business.

00:14:03 We're not saying don't make any more bombs.

00:14:06 All we're saying is don't bring your plant here.

00:14:09 There must be hundreds of places where they could build.

00:14:12 If they knew that this whole town was against it,

00:14:15 do you think they'd insist on putting it here?

00:14:20 Mr. Chairman, I'd like to move a resolution.

00:14:23 Go ahead, Harry.

00:14:25 I want to be the one to move it because at first I was all for the plant.

00:14:30 But what I've heard has made me change my mind.

00:14:34 I move that it is the unanimous wish of this council

00:14:37 that the Atomic Energy Commission

00:14:39 abandon all plans for building a plant in this township.

00:14:43 And we call on our representative in Congress

00:14:46 to use every endeavor to see that this is done.

00:14:53 Afraid I can't help you.

00:14:55 They might listen to me on nuclear physics,

00:14:57 but this is an administrative matter.

00:14:59 That's not the way I want you to help.

00:15:01 I'm not going to take this up with the AEC just yet.

00:15:04 Even if your constituents tell you to?

00:15:07 I don't think a congressman's job is to do just what he's told.

00:15:11 His job is to do what he thinks is right.

00:15:14 I don't think this is right.

00:15:16 And if my friends back home had known the whole picture,

00:15:19 I don't believe they'd have drawn up this resolution.

00:15:22 That's why I need your help.

00:15:24 How?

00:15:25 I'm flying down there tonight on the 9 o'clock plane.

00:15:28 Can you come with me?

00:15:29 Well, you know I can't. I've got classes all day tomorrow.

00:15:31 You won't be on that plane

00:15:33 because you believe in this as much as I do.

00:15:37 Have you talked with any of the other fellows, Congressman?

00:15:40 No, I came to you first because I gather you had most to do with the resolution.

00:15:44 They also told me that you're a very stubborn man,

00:15:47 which only means, I suppose,

00:15:49 that when you've finally made up your mind, you stick to it.

00:15:51 Naturally.

00:15:52 But you'll agree that to make up your mind fairly,

00:15:54 you have to know all the facts.

00:15:56 See, I don't think you know all the facts.

00:15:59 I used to feel the same way you do about atomic energy

00:16:02 until colors straightened me out.

00:16:04 To me, it was just a bomb, and so I hated it.

00:16:07 Well, Mr. Cullors, isn't that about what it is?

00:16:11 It's mostly what you read about, I grant you that.

00:16:13 It's mostly what it's been used for so far.

00:16:17 That's the tragedy of nuclear energy.

00:16:19 It had to begin at Hiroshima.

00:16:22 No wonder the world is confused.

00:16:25 Many of us are afraid.

00:16:28 Mr. Vernon,

00:16:30 think about primitive man thousands of years ago

00:16:32 before he learned the use of fire.

00:16:34 All fire meant to him was forest fire

00:16:37 that might burn him to death,

00:16:39 fire from volcanoes.

00:16:41 He was afraid of it.

00:16:43 He hated it.

00:16:45 Naturally, he never thought that fire

00:16:48 would become man's servant instead of his master.

00:16:51 And you think atomic energy will be?

00:16:54 Oh, yes.

00:16:56 In spite of Hiroshima,

00:16:58 if we control it rightly,

00:17:00 as fire has to be controlled rightly,

00:17:02 it'll be one of the greatest blessings

00:17:04 we've ever received.

00:17:06 I'm not asking you to take his word for it,

00:17:09 as you obviously have no intention of doing.

00:17:12 None whatsoever.

00:17:14 Neither did I at first.

00:17:16 But Cullors convinced me by showing me

00:17:18 a little film they made in Washington.

00:17:20 Now, before I act on your resolution,

00:17:22 I'd like him to have the chance

00:17:24 of doing the same for you fellows here.

00:17:26 Is that fair?

00:17:28 Yes.

00:17:30 That's fair enough, Congressman.

00:17:32 So far in this film,

00:17:34 you've seen demonstrations of atomic energy

00:17:36 at work as a force for good

00:17:38 in industry and agriculture.

00:17:40 Now we go on to a more dramatic use

00:17:42 of this God-given force.

00:17:44 This girl is suffering from

00:17:46 one of mankind's most dread diseases,

00:17:48 cancer.

00:17:50 She has cancer of the thyroid gland.

00:17:52 A few years ago,

00:17:54 this would have meant

00:17:56 her case was hopeless.

00:17:58 Now she has a chance.

00:18:00 That glass looks like it has

00:18:02 plain water in it, but actually,

00:18:04 it contains hope.

00:18:06 Hope in the form of a radioactive iodine solution.

00:18:08 Most people know

00:18:10 that iodine is used

00:18:12 in treating thyroid,

00:18:14 but let's explain where this radioactive business

00:18:16 comes in.

00:18:18 Here we see the young lady

00:18:20 on the examination table.

00:18:22 Suppose instead of the radioactive solution,

00:18:24 she'd swallowed a tiny wristwatch.

00:18:26 Then, if you could listen closely enough,

00:18:28 you could hear a ticking in her throat.

00:18:30 In the same way,

00:18:32 a little bit of atomic energy

00:18:34 in the solution she drank is now

00:18:36 sending out signals from her throat.

00:18:38 These signals are being picked up

00:18:40 by the apparatus suspended over her neck

00:18:42 and so provide

00:18:44 a new and tremendously valuable

00:18:46 guide to the doctor in his efforts

00:18:48 to help the girl.

00:18:50 Now take a look at this instrument.

00:18:52 It doesn't seem very interesting,

00:18:54 but believe it or not, you're seeing a bunch of atoms

00:18:56 drawing their own picture.

00:18:58 Every tick of a radioactive atom

00:19:00 causes a pin in the instrument

00:19:02 to jiggle as it passes over the chart.

00:19:04 Let's see it in action.

00:19:06 This gentleman may have cancer

00:19:08 of the thyroid gland.

00:19:10 He's drinking the same kind of iodine solution

00:19:12 the young lady drank.

00:19:14 And just as it did in her case,

00:19:16 the iodine concentrates in the cancer tissue.

00:19:18 Then the atoms go to work

00:19:20 and draw their own picture.

00:19:22 And so the doctor has a record

00:19:24 of the exact location of the cancer

00:19:26 which he could obtain in no other way.

00:19:30 Another use of atomic energy

00:19:32 as a tracer is in brain surgery.

00:19:34 Work is being done

00:19:36 on the use of radio-phosphorus

00:19:38 for the detection and exact location

00:19:40 of brain tumors.

00:19:42 And the accuracy of the information

00:19:44 that this new method supplies

00:19:46 is leading to revolutionary results.

00:19:48 Already several cases of brain tumor

00:19:50 and the other two considered hopeless

00:19:52 have been successfully operated on

00:19:54 with the aid of this great new tool

00:19:56 of medicine.

00:19:58 Medical research is just one of the many uses

00:20:00 of atomic energy as a benefit.

00:20:02 Before we review

00:20:04 the other beneficial uses,

00:20:06 let's look at the many places

00:20:08 in America where for many years

00:20:10 thousands have worked in the field

00:20:12 of atomic energy.

00:20:14 Well, you've given us plenty to think about.

00:20:16 Of course, it's mainly in the future.

00:20:18 Don't you want to contribute to the future?

00:20:20 Now you're needling me about the resolution.

00:20:22 Of course I am. That's what I'm here for.

00:20:24 Good night, Congressman. Good night.

00:20:26 Good night, Tim. When's the next meeting of the council?

00:20:28 Tomorrow. I think I'll stop over.

00:20:30 Maybe you fellows will consider it again.

00:20:32 Maybe.

00:20:34 Radio-phosphorus is a tracer.

00:20:36 Tell me more about that.

00:20:38 Well, there's a surgeon in Boston using it

00:20:40 with some kind of a Geiger counter to locate

00:20:42 the spot of the brain tumor.

00:20:44 Has it been successful? Of course, it's all very new.

00:20:46 But he's already had results

00:20:48 in cases that seem to be hopeless.

00:20:50 Mr. Vernon, do you have some personal

00:20:52 interest in this? Yes, my

00:20:54 grandchild. The little girl you saw

00:20:56 this afternoon. She's dying of a brain tumor.

00:20:58 Do you have the surgeon's address?

00:21:00 Sure.

00:21:02 Let's go to your house.

00:21:04 We'll get him on the phone.

00:21:06 Yes?

00:21:08 Dr. Cooper?

00:21:10 This is Congressman Maynard.

00:21:12 Forgive me for calling you at this hour,

00:21:14 but Professor Cullors gave me your name,

00:21:16 and this is pretty important.

00:21:18 A constituent of mine,

00:21:20 Dr. Peterson, would like to talk to you.

00:21:22 Yes. Here he is.

00:21:26 Dr. Cooper?

00:21:28 I'm calling about a young child,

00:21:30 a patient of mine.

00:21:32 Yes.

00:21:34 Well,

00:21:36 the symptoms seem to indicate

00:21:38 growth in the lower region of the cerebellum.

00:21:42 He's on the phone now.

00:21:46 Dr. Peterson's going to suggest

00:21:48 we fly her to Boston for examination tomorrow.

00:21:54 Of course, you realize it's only a chance.

00:21:58 I know.

00:22:00 But this morning there was no chance at all.

00:22:02 There goes her plane.

00:22:04 Let's hope he finds it possible to operate.

00:22:06 Don't mind saying

00:22:08 I've done a deal of praying that he will.

00:22:10 Well, let's get going.

00:22:12 If you fellas agree,

00:22:14 Maynard and Cullors are going to sit in with us and listen.

00:22:16 Why, sure.

00:22:18 Warms my heart to see a congressman listening for a change.

00:22:24 Is everybody here?

00:22:26 How about Dr. Peterson?

00:22:28 He went to Boston with them.

00:22:30 John, I thought you were going back with her.

00:22:32 I was, but I changed my mind.

00:22:34 I'm going to take the other plane tonight.

00:22:36 You know,

00:22:38 I had some sort of share in passing this resolution.

00:22:40 I didn't think it was right for me to walk out on it now.

00:22:42 Well, let's start by hearing what John has to say.

00:22:46 No, Mike, this is a personal thing with me.

00:22:50 Because just now I can only think of my own granddaughter.

00:22:52 It isn't fair for me to try and influence you other fellas.

00:22:56 You've got to make up your own mind.

00:22:58 You've got to make up your own minds on the whole picture.

00:23:02 But I've got this to say.

00:23:04 Because of atomic research,

00:23:06 there's a chance now for my granddaughter.

00:23:10 What's even more important

00:23:12 is a better chance for children like her in the future.

00:23:16 That is, if we don't put obstacles in the way of atomic research.

00:23:20 That's why, for my own part,

00:23:22 I've got to withdraw my vote on the resolution.

00:23:24 I understand how you feel, Mr. Byrne.

00:23:26 But as you say, we have to take the whole picture.

00:23:30 Now, is it worth it?

00:23:32 As far as I'm concerned, that isn't the point.

00:23:34 I voted against atomic energy

00:23:36 because I thought it was the work of the devil.

00:23:38 Now I know I was wrong.

00:23:42 You see, God made the atom.

00:23:44 I see that now.

00:23:48 He made it just as surely as He made the hills and the seas

00:23:50 and life itself.

00:23:52 And God never made anything

00:23:54 that was of itself, either.

00:23:56 I can't argue that, Tim.

00:23:58 But what about Hiroshima?

00:24:00 Oh, you can't blame the energy

00:24:02 that God put in the atom for that.

00:24:04 No, we've got ourselves to blame.

00:24:06 Mankind.

00:24:08 For fighting wars

00:24:10 and using what God has given us

00:24:12 for destruction.

00:24:14 We've got ourselves to blame.

00:24:16 And using what God has given us

00:24:18 for destruction.

00:24:20 Yes, but it happened.

00:24:22 And maybe it'll happen again, and much worse next time.

00:24:24 So is it worth it?

00:24:26 Men being

00:24:28 what they are, wouldn't it really have been

00:24:30 better if this thing hadn't been invented?

00:24:34 May I say something?

00:24:36 Go ahead.

00:24:38 I can only answer, Mr. Benson,

00:24:40 by telling him why colors and I came down here yesterday.

00:24:42 You know,

00:24:44 I don't leave Washington every time

00:24:46 a city council passes a resolution.

00:24:48 But this is something

00:24:50 about which every town in America

00:24:52 has to think clearly.

00:24:54 And let's hope every town in the world.

00:24:58 Of course you're right, Mr. Benson.

00:25:00 The energy in the atom

00:25:02 is the most destructive force the world

00:25:04 has ever seen.

00:25:06 But as colors has shown us,

00:25:08 it can also be one of the greatest blessings

00:25:10 God has ever given us.

00:25:14 Which is it to be?

00:25:16 Because on that depends

00:25:18 the future of mankind.

00:25:20 Sure, we sometimes wish it hadn't been invented.

00:25:22 We're afraid of the responsibility

00:25:24 because the results will be so terrible

00:25:26 if we misuse it.

00:25:28 But it has been invented, and we have to take the responsibility.

00:25:30 We can't just shut our eyes to it.

00:25:34 You, Mr. Benson,

00:25:36 you saw the destructive side of Hiroshima.

00:25:40 And now all of you,

00:25:42 with the hope that's been given to John Vernon,

00:25:44 you've seen a little

00:25:46 of the good it can bring

00:25:48 and its promise for the future of the world.

00:25:50 That's how high the stakes are,

00:25:52 for good

00:25:54 or for evil.

00:25:56 And that's the challenge you've accepted,

00:25:58 to do your part

00:26:00 in making atomic energy

00:26:02 not a curse, but a blessing

00:26:04 to mankind.

00:26:06 Of course, this is just

00:26:08 one town, and there are only a few of us in this room.

00:26:10 But all over America,

00:26:12 and all over the whole world, too,

00:26:14 people must sooner

00:26:16 or later face this same challenge.

00:26:18 And I pray

00:26:20 that they, too, make the right choice.

00:26:22 Oh, we've

00:26:24 muddled, and we've made mistakes.

00:26:26 But this time,

00:26:28 God has entrusted us

00:26:30 with a physical force bigger

00:26:32 than we've ever had before.

00:26:34 One that can destroy us

00:26:36 or can lead us on

00:26:38 to new horizons.

00:26:40 And with this choice before us, God willing,

00:26:42 we shall not fail.

00:27:06 © BF-WATCH TV 2021