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Burlington Atomic Energy Week, 1947

1947-10-27 Atomic Energy Program Page 2

ATOMIC ENERGY PGM --2 

Stop and think of what atomic energy means to you. You are being alerted to a creeping danger. [hand written (2)] it is creeping up on you... a creeping danger to people who live, .... to parents who want their children to grow up with the opportunities and freedom Americans always have had... and more. If you believe life is worth living.. if you believe that man has a greater destiny than to become a slave to his own machine. then you are in danger. 
You ask, "How can I protect myself from this creeping danger?"
This is a very natural question, but it is not easily answered. IF you ask yourself a few more questions, however, you'll come to one answer which will tell you the first step to take towards protecting yourself, your family, your community (this Burlington of ours) and your country. Ask yourself these questions:
Do I understand WHY atomic energy is not just another explosive like TNT, only more powerful?
Do I understand HOW an atomic bomb may continue to kill, long after it has burst and blown down a city? [hand written (3)]
Do I understand in a general way just what an atomic bomb is.. well enough to see myself that other countries can make atomic bombs too?
Do I know enough about atomic energy to understand why we have to spend Five Billion Dollars a year on it? That's a lot of tax money. 
Do I know enough about atomic energy to figure out for myself that it's worth developing for peaceful purposes?
Do I know enough about atomic energy to make up my own mind that it must be controlled internationally? [hand written (30)]
Do I know enough about atomic energy to realize what changes it may bring to the world in which my children and grandchildren will live?
If your answer to these questions is "Yes" then you know full well the creeping danger. If you can't answer "Yes" to these questions, then the answer to "What can I do about it?" should be clear. [hand written (4)]

Saving...

ATOMIC ENERGY PGM --2 Stop and think of what atomic energy means to you. You are being alerted to a creeping danger. [hand written (2)] it is creeping up on you... a creeping danger to people who live, .... to parents who want their children to grow up with the opportunities and freedom Americans always have had... and more. If you believe life is worth living.. if you believe that man has a greater destiny than to become a slave to his own machine. then you are in danger. You ask, "How can I protect myself from this creeping danger?" This is a very natural question, but it is not easily answered. IF you ask yourself a few more questions, however, you'll come to one answer which will tell you the first step to take towards protecting yourself, your family, your community (this Burlington of ours) and your country. Ask yourself these questions: Do I understand WHY atomic energy is not just another explosive like TNT, only more powerful? Do I understand HOW an atomic bomb may continue to kill, long after it has burst and blown down a city? [hand written (3)] Do I understand in a general way just what an atomic bomb is.. well enough to see myself that other countries can make atomic bombs too? Do I know enough about atomic energy to understand why we have to spend Five Billion Dollars a year on it? That's a lot of tax money. Do I know enough about atomic energy to figure out for myself that it's worth developing for peaceful purposes? Do I know enough about atomic energy to make up my own mind that it must be controlled internationally? [hand written (30)] Do I know enough about atomic energy to realize what changes it may bring to the world in which my children and grandchildren will live? If your answer to these questions is "Yes" then you know full well the creeping danger. If you can't answer "Yes" to these questions, then the answer to "What can I do about it?" should be clear. [hand written (4)]