It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East.(Although there's no direct evidence easily gleaned on the Web, the naming of the sun's source of power seems pointed at the Japanese emperor's status as a descendent of the goddess of the sun.)
Compare this to Dr. Morbius from Forbidden Planet (1956)
Ethically and technologically they were a million years ahead of humankind, for in unlocking the meaning of nature they had conquered even their baser selves, and when in the course of eons they had abolished sickness and insanity, crime and all injustice, they turned, still in high benevolence, upwards towards space.The tone suggests either it was based on the same text, or that the writer was attempting to invoke similar emotions. In both cases, the idea of success over fundamental building blocks is important, of an incredible success over the natural world.
There are a number of aspects of the post-War First Turning that actually began in 1945 as the war was ending. For example, while the United Nations is considered a success of the post-War era, the United Nations Charter took effect in October 1945, after being signed in June while fighting continued in the Pacific. With one Japanese city annihilated, another atomic bomb to follow a few days later - and further bombings scheduled if needed - victory over Japan was perhaps a given, and a feeling of triumph was perhaps already starting. The victory over the atom itself might similarly inspire an attitude of invincibility, which could lead people into that triumphalism that characterizes the First Turning. In this speech, it is easy to see this superiority - over Japan, over the atom, over those others who contributed to the final victory - starting to take shape, and potentially leading to both the triumphs and excesses of the United States over the next twenty years.
No comments:
Post a Comment