Ways of the World Chapter 22: Nuclear Standoff

The United States was able to gain an authoritative advance on the other nations because it was the only country that had nuclear weapons. The soviet union was not happy with this advancement so they focused much of their attention on the production of a nuclear weapon, and were successful in 1949. The amount of nuclear weapons in the world and the countries that obtained them increased exponentially creating a worldly threat and changing the way warfare was carried out. There were no need for simple battles when a nation could be destroyed at the touch of a button. This is the concept that grabs my attention the most, because the thought of this even being possible is absolutely horrifying to me. To think that the entire world could be destroyed over one wrong move. That is why there was the cold war, because there was a cold front. Countries feared fighting any battles because it might possibly result in a bombing that leads to the destruction of earth. The concept that the earth could be destroyed seems so distant but so possible. If a country or psycho leader decides to release a bomb on us, the whole world will break out into a nuclear war, destroying everything and nothing but cockroaches would be left to walk our planet. That is a scary thought, I wish the weapons would just be destroyed and then we could be more peaceful of a place.
I watched a science special on nuclear weapons a couple years ago, where the scientist that invented the nuclear bomb was interviewed and he said he hated what has become of his invention. He made the weapon to keep the peace and after it was released he was sorry he ever did it, because all it did was create more problems. He feels guilty for the lives it took and for the destruction it has already caused. I found this extremely interesting because this man recieved so much honor and praise for his discovery and he doesnt want it because he is not happy with the discovery. I understand his guilt and I feel sorry for him, cause there is no way to really end it. I hope the nations that have these weapons know what they are caring for and do so wisely, cause like the scientist, they will probably regret the aftermath, if there is enough time for the thought to run through their mind.