I look back at my skinny self of 57 years ago sitting in the cockpit of a Navy jet. I was ordered to learn how to load nuclear bombs on our aircraft. “Yes, Sir.” I would follow the checklist and push buttons in the cockpit. It was practice loading in case the president ordered the nation to respond to a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. If so, my hands would be the last ones to check the button to arm the bomb until the pilot did. It was routine practice, probably never to occur for real. I didn’t think much about my actions possibly leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. After all, weren’t the Soviets doing the same work? Surely, they would never actually start a nuclear war (but they almost did).
That is less sure today in a world of threatened military conflict. War has always afflicted nations since antiquity; only the means of doing it have changed. Warfare is more lethal than ever to modern societies. But militaries are set up for orders to be followed, even for nuclear war. Today the risk is much more complex as we face such threats by several hostile countries. I think of President Harry Truman deciding to bomb Japan with nukes, his quandary of thousands of lives at risk whatever he decided. What a profound decision to be considered by any nation’s leaders, including ours. He ordered a response and it happened.
One becomes more circumspect as one grows older, and today I do think of the consequences of using such devastating weapons, which are city killers. In the current national climate of uncertainty and fear we all should pray to the Lord for guidance to our leaders, for our hopes of safety, and desire for peace even in the face of today’s threats. Because orders given by leaders will likely be followed. I have no direct way to influence our leaders to avoid war except by personal appeals, opinion letters, and eventually my vote. God’s plan for humanity is unclear, but I have faith that he loves us all despite our inclination toward violence. May he keep us from approaching the brink of war with risky policies.
