Does WGN glamorize atomic bomb and justifiy death in "Manhattan" ?

[randys1]

I have just seen the 30 minute description of what the series will be, about Los Alamos and the creation of the bomb, and it is clear this *religously owned media company, WGN, will present a rah rah America, atomic bomb is good, movie.

http://whnt.com/2014/07/21/wgns-manhattan-series-premier-to-wow-viewers-with-science-secrets-sex/


I hope I am wrong and this movie doesnt justify the use of the bomb...



*according to wiki WGN is owned by Tribune, I was certain WGN had a religious connection, maybe not...

the 30 minute show i watched was done by the producer of the series, the creator of the series, describing what his show will be about, this is why I am criticizing it now...



changed the title of the thread, i created this thread because i watched the creator of the show describe how vital the bomb was because of people dying in the war, so for me it is pretty likely this series will justify the use of the bomb, but since the episodes havent aired yet, i will change the title as i did to "does"

[brooklynite]

1. You DO know that there have been several movies and mini-series about the Manhattan project?

Since you're basing your assumptions on a "description", rather than the actual series, should you perhaps reserve judgement?

[randys1]

3. Probably, the way the creator of the series describes the project is why I posted this, but you are

right, maybe we can watch it and comment here about it.

It is crucial we dont teach our young people that the atomic bomb is justified, ever.

so we will see

[randys1]

12. Of course, and not sure why that is relevant here...this show clearly is going to focus

more like a soap opera, on the families that lived there and the impact the life style had on them, based on the interview I saw.

It is clear it will be less focused on the bomb and more on relationships, but what focus there is on the bomb is what matters in the end.

Whether or not a previously produced drama or documentary was pro bomb or not, has nothing to do with what this show will promote or not promote.

It is SO important that future generations understand that under NO circumstances is the use of these weapons OK, because if one is used, many will be used, end of story.

If someone wants to argue about whether we needed to use them in WWII, let them argue, I will never agree with them, but the past is the past, the issue is do we go forward with even the SLIGHTEST inkling that it was justified? If so, maybe we use them again.

[brooklynite]

19. So you want to prevent propagandizing in favor of atomic weapons by propagandizing against them?

From what I understand, this is a soap opera and isn't going to take a position one way or another.

[CBGLuthier]

2. I only give weight to critics who have actually SEEN what they are critiquing.

Your hyperbole is meaningless as you do not know anything about the show. I do not have cable. I will not be watching this. But I sure as fuck do not like making shit up about things I know nothing about.

When you say

'WGN glamorizes atomic bomb and justifies death in "Manhattan"'



you sound like those people who said the Lego Movie demonizes businessmen. But at least SOME of those people bothered to watch the movie before offering an opinion.

[randys1]

4. I have seen the producers 30 minute show about what it is about, so not made up out of

nowhere

His description of how vital it was for us to create this bomb to save american lives, etc.

so yes, I did see the show in the sense that it was an introduction to the series

I hope I am wrong, will be glad to be wrong, but if this show justifies the use of the bomb

AT ALL

then liberals need to speak out against that

I dont have to say if really, I just watched the writer/creator of the show describe the series in a way that justified the bomb, otherwise i wouldnt have made this post...

[lunasun]

5. WGN stands for World's Greatest Newspaper I think but yes Chicago Tribune owned

[randys1]

7. Not sure why I was sure they had a religious connection, maybe not.

Tribune surely doesnt.

[Little Star]

6. History is the baseline but Manhattan's a work of fiction...

There's a lot of that on tv

[MineralMan]

8. Thing is, you got the ownership of WGN wrong to start with.

I read the article, and it gives no indication that this production is going to glorify the Manhattan project in any way. Instead, it's about the people who were involved with the project and appears to be about how that affected them.

I couldn't see any indication that the takeaway from this production will be that nuclear weapons are good. I'm not sure where you got that idea, actually.

Perhaps watching the actual production will be a good way to see what it presents. I might watch it. It's an interesting concept for a film, actually.

I think you've mistaken something for something else in this post.

[randys1]

9. Told you where I got the idea, will tell you again

WGN had a 30 minute preview of the series, including interviews with the creator who described why the bomb was built and made it sound like we really had to do it to prevent further death, maybe he will in the series present both sides, in fact I am sure to some degree he will, but based on the CREATOR of the show and the INTERVIEW he did about the series, I came away with this concern...

MY getting something wrong is NOT important in the big picture if in fact this DOES end up being a full or semi justification of the use of the bomb...

THAT is the important issue here, not whether or not I was mistaken about the ownership of the station or even the interview, if I am wrong, I WILL BE GLAD because that will mean a whole new generation wont be LIED to about the bomb.


You know that ole line about the messenger?

[MineralMan]

11. Until the program airs, there won't be any way to judge it.

The Manhattan Project happened. It is history. There have been books written about it, and more than one film. It is a historical fact. We did built nuclear weapons. Looking at how and why we did that is very worthwhile. I believe you have prejudged this series in a way that suits your own opinions about nuclear weapons. While you have every right to your opinions and I share them in the sense that I wish nuclear weapons had never been created, I do not know, and you do not know, what this television series is going to do.

I read the article. It appears to be a series about the impact of working on the Manhattan Project on the people who did work on it and their families. Given the secrecy of the project and the isolated nature of the Los Alamos site, that's an interesting area to explore, I think. The Manhattan Project happened. Nuclear weapons were created. Those are simple facts. That a television series is being made about the people involved with that project is not necessarily a judgement for or against the project or the nuclear weapons. From my reading, it appears to be a series about the people involved, with the project and the nuclear weapons as a background fact that affects those people.

I may watch the series or I may not.

[randys1]

13. Agreed, and clearly it will be more soap opera/relationships than anything else

but any comment or promotion or validating the use of the bomb, to me sends a signal that we cant send

so we will see...

[MineralMan]

14. So, what is it that you're suggesting?

Do you want this series not to air? Whose decision would that be, do you suppose? The Manhattan Project happened. The bombs were created. That's history. Should we not examine history? Should this series not be allowed to air? I'm not sure what you're suggesting here.

Why do you assume that some "signal" will be sent? I imagine everyone who bothers to watch this will form his or her own opinion about the series, partly based on personal opinion.

I'm just not understanding why you posted in the first place. Once the series airs, we can all discuss it, if we've seen it. I'm not really big on judging things before I experience them. It smacks of something I don't like very much.

Here's what I expect: A series about people. Some of them will probably be in favor of creating the bomb. Others will probably be skeptical of the project. We'll hear from both sides. Then, we will judge the series on its merits or lack of merits. It's examining something that is part of our history. I think that's a good idea.

You started off with a claim that WGN is a religion based network. You were wrong about that. Perhaps you're also wrong about what this series will present. Think about it. I believe your review of something you haven't seen is premature. Watch the series, and then we can talk about it.

[el_bryanto]

10. I suppose there's a larger question here

Is the judgement of history that the use of the Atomic Bomb was definitely not justified? I haven't seen the show - so don't know whether it will present the use of the bomb as a complex decision or a simple jingoistic one - if it's the former, well I'd agree with that assessment.

This is one of those moments when I'm not sure I should step into it. While I can understand the arguement against dropping the bomb on Hiroshima, I can also understand the argument in favor of dropping the bomb - and I'm not sure which one is correct. I do think the bomb dropped on Nagasaki was not necessary and shouldn't have been dropped, but Hiroshima is a gray area.

So I wouldn't be interested in a movie that argued "of course we were right to drop the bomb - this is America," I also wouldn't be interested in a movie that presented the bomb makers and the people who dropped the bomb as simple villains either.

Bryan

[stevenleser]

15. I can see it both ways and have changed my mind several times over time. The thing people should

always remember when debating that subject is that in wartime, knowing what the right decision is seems much more complicated when you are the person making the decision at that time than it does afterwards. Afterwards you have the benefit of a lot more information too.

We didnt know at the time that the "Mokusatsu" comment, for instance, really meant that a number of the Japanese wanted another offer and weren't just killing the Potsdam declaration with contemptuous silence.

We didnt know that there was a huge rift in the Japanese government between those who wanted to surrender and those who wanted the war to continue.

I don't think the bombs actually helped get the Japanese to surrender sooner. But I could see why in the moment it was thought that they might, and I can certainly see the desire not to have to invade the mainland. Even though the potential casualty figures on the US side are a topic of hot debate, what is not up for debate is how many Japanese would have died, particularly given the campaigns at places like Okinawa. We are pretty sure that 40-80% of Japanese including civilians would have fought to the death or committed suicide. The Japanese may have ceased to exist as a people after that invasion took place, if it had.

[MineralMan]

16. Did you watch "The West Wing?" Same director for this.

I expect it will carefully present the conflict over nuclear weapons. Consider the source.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Attacking flims and books as yet unseen is a trait of the American Conservative movement's

most hard line and hateful segments. No liberal should ever, ever do that. You claim 'it is clear' that this program will claim the atomic bomb is good. You also claim WGN is religiously owned when it is not. This film is made by reputable people and companies, and the promotional materials I have seen indicate that it will be a character driven drama focusing on the tensions and conflicts brought to personal relationships in a context of great secrecy and important, dangerous work. The bomb itself, in the poster for the show, is depicted as larger than life, looming over and casting dark shadow across the small town.
But I have not seen the product itself. I'd be utterly shocked if the things you think are 'clear' are true in the slightest.
This is one of the most disturbing posts I have ever read on DU. Also one of the most conservative.

[randys1]

21. oh lord, attack me all you want but dont call me a conservative because

i have a fear that propaganda may exist promoting the value of nuclear bombs

that is just ridiculous

I am guilty of over reacting and posting this too son, absolutely, I did it based on the comments I heard from the creator of the show and I may have even misinterpreted them, but to call me or my actions conservative is nonsense.

[MohRokTah]

18. J. Robert Openheimer, the guy in charge of the Manhattan Project, ...

thought of two separate quotes from the Bhagavad Gita while watching the Trinity test:

'If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one ...'

and

'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.'

I've never seen any portrayal of the Manhattan project that does not bring this up.

[Throd]

20. So what if it does appear to justify use of the atomic bomb? It is a debatable point.

This is a few weeks early for DU's annual "Atomic Bomb: Right or Wrong?" poo-fest.