Introductory Letter
A committee of scholars, veterans, clergy, activists, students, and other interested individuals is now forming to challenge the Smithsonian's plans to exhibit the Enola Gay solely as a "magnificent technological achievement." The planned exhibit is devoid not only of historical context and discussion of the ongoing controversy surrounding the bombings, but even of basic information regarding the number of casualties.
We have formulated a statement of principles, which we plan to circulate widely. The statement makes clear that we are not opposed to exhibiting the plane in a fair and responsible manner, but that we fear that such a celebratory exhibit both legitimizes what happened in 1945 and helps build support for dangerous new nuclear policies.
We intend to use this exhibit, the presidential elections, and the upcoming 60th anniversary of the atomic bombings to stimulate a national discussion of U.S. nuclear history and current policy.
Statement of Principles
Gen. John "Jack" Dailey, director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, has announced plans to display the Enola Gay as the centerpiece of the museum's new facility. That August 6, 1945 attack resulted in over 140,000 deaths. A second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki caused an estimated 70,000 deaths.
Recognizing the momentous implications of the onset of the nuclear age, in 1999 a national panel of distinguished journalists and scholars voted the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the most significant news event of the 20th century.
We call upon the Smithsonian Institution to jointly plan a balanced exhibit that places the bombings in their historical context, educates viewers about the consequences of past nuclear weapons use, and explains the controversy surrounding the use of the atomic bombs.
Partial List of Signers
- Kosuzu Abe, Professor University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa
- Elaine S. Abelson, Professor of History, New School University
- Hafsat Abiola, Founder of KIND
- Frank Ackerman, Professor, Tufts University
- Rev. George Addison, Chaplain, Brock University
- Jean-Christophe Agnew, Professor of American Studies, Yale
- Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor, City of Hiroshima
- Gar Alperovitz, Author, The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb
- Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor, MIT
- John W. Dower, Professor of History, MIT
- Daniel Ellsberg, Author, The Pentagon Papers
- Howard Zinn, Professor Emeritus, Boston University
- Kurt Vonnegut, Author
- Martin Sheen, Actor
- Oliver Stone, Filmmaker
- Gore Vidal, Author
- Pete Seeger, Musician
- Peter Yarrow, Musician
- And hundreds more...
Contact Information
Committee for a National Discussion of Nuclear History and Current Policy
P.O. Box 21827
Washington, D.C. 20009-1827