Mushrooms taste good, but...

It's everywhere these days. The non-existant WMD's in Iraq. Iran's new energy program. North Korea's missile test. Nuclear technology is useful---It can produce enough energy to power millions of homes and businesses. But always, the threat of the most deadly weapon in existance hangs over the world. With the potential to kill millions of people in a single blast and millions more in the aftermath, whoever is backed with nuclear technology is feared. It is this fear that makes so many so desperate to get their hands on nukes. As the president of Iran is doing, one can use the mere implication of a peaceful energy program to draw the international community out in a frenzy. The most powerful countries in the world are falling over each other to offer Ahmedinejiad help with energy production, as long as his country doesn't make a bomb. The president is now free to pick the best treaty he can, and get billions of dollars to aid Iran's energy production. North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Il has said that his country has the bombs, which is why so many countries are terrified that the long-range Taepodong missile tests may give North Korea a means to deliver them.

Of course, this all started with WWII. The strikes by the US on Hiroshima, Japan showed the world exactly how devastating nuclear bombs can be. Since then, the international community has feared and been jealous of any country in possession of nukes. What bugs me is that the US is the main opponent to other people's nuclear technology, even though we're the ones packing the most heat. If nobody else deserves to have it, why should we? Maybe because the States are supposed to be trustworthy. Or nobody wants to mess with us because we have such advanced military tech. Perhaps other world leaders don't want to lose the possibility of an alliance. Whatever the reason is, the reality is unfair. If people want nuclear energy, fine. Be my guest. But for the love of all things good, can we get rid of the bombs already? Calling them a peacekeeping tool is a terrible misrepresentation. Bombs have a single purpose: to kill lots of people at once. The threat of nuclear attack by the United States is an empty one, because after Hiroshima, nobody wants to have so much death on their hands. If some terrorist group decides to pull off another 9-11, a nuke isn't going to stop them. And so many innocents would be killed and maimed, so many children yet unborn would be mutilated, that nothing would ever be worth it. Everyone in the world would suffer. The brewing crisis in Asia highlights the horrible mess the human race has gotten itself into. Doom, doom, death and destruction everywhere; And it won't stop, until it all ends in the smoke of a mushroom cloud.