I believe there is no creature on earth more cruel, ruthless and terrifying than humans. While other creatures only become aggressive when threatened, humans have waged war for many reasons, primarily ego. Some out of stubbornness, some for the sake of a woman, have not hesitated to disregard the lives of others. Although I could not change this course of events, I did what I could. Even at the cost of never being able to practise my profession again.
I said to Harry Truman many times, ‘Don't do it! Don't kill so many innocent people!’ but he did not listen. This man, who had no trace of good will, would harm not only the living in that region, but almost the entire world and the next 100 years. He was blinded by his ambition, unable to shake the thought of retaliating against Japan as soon as possible. He couldn't forget the aftermath of the ‘Pearl Harbor Attack’. ‘Stop!’ I said, ‘What you are doing is not ending the war, it is slaughtering humanity and innocence.’ Innocent and helpless slaughter. I will never forget that day. The night before he made his decision, I went to see him. Summoning all my courage, I listed everything I wanted to say without forgetting a single thing. He seemed to be listening when I started talking. After a while, he turned his back on me and faced the window. In the end, the fact that he was making the same decision once again devastated me. He and his entire generation will carry the burden of all these lives lost like a shackle on their feet. America's situation is officially a case of power intoxication. Even though I knew these conversations would never appear in historical records, I wanted to have them. It was a period when I was present as a journalist in his office and at other times. After that, he no longer allowed me near him. After that incident, I didn't want to be near him anyway. That night, the following conversation took place between us:
"Mr Harry, think about it one last time! You don't have to do this inhumane thing. Of course, you will say it's because of the Cold War, but no one will forget the genocide that took place. In fact, what you are trying to do is not an effort to end this war; it is sheer barbarism. Everyone may have their own reasons. But there can never be a solution like dropping a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. Only someone heartless and unscrupulous could do such a thing. You are leaving a terrible legacy for the future. This does not seem like a forgivable method, and there is no remedy for it. Moreover, the name given to the bomb, “Little Boy”, is unacceptable. There must be a solution other than slaughter. Do not look for justification here."
He listened to me with his back turned. He didn't even turn to face me. It was as if I was talking to the walls, not the President. I waited for him to respond for a while. He didn't budge. He had the emotionless demeanour of someone whose feelings had been stripped away. I couldn't stay there any longer. I immediately gathered my things and left, never to return.
Editor: Çağlar Didman
The Author's Book
