Discussion Question #1
Why do you think Harry Gold provided sensitive information to the Russians? Could there be spies in Crawford County collecting sensitive information for another country's benefit?
Why do you think Harry Gold provided sensitive information to the Russians? Could there be spies in Crawford County collecting sensitive information for another country's benefit?
Discussion Question #2
The chapter, “Quiet Fellow,” ends with the following statement: “It was a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life.” What is the meaning of the word haunt as it is used in the previous sentence? Why do you think Sheinkin used this statement at this point in the book? What could he be telling his audience?
Discussion Question #3
On page 113, we learn that twenty-six Norwegian civilians were killed when Knut Haukelid and his commandos sank the ferry carrying the German heavy water. What are your thoughts and feelings about loss of innocent lives during any war?
Discussion Question #4
Why is it important that you understand the different perspectives regarding the use of weapons of mass destruction?
Blog #1 Group #11
ReplyDeleteKeagan, Bailey, Craig, Paige, and I would all like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to look at what we have written. We are excited to read what you think about the topic and what we have written regarding it. Once again, thank you!
Question #1
Harry Gold provided sensitive information to the Russians in order to repay a debt, but was soon blackmailed into continuing his job as an enemy of the U.S. government...as a spy. There could have even been a chance he was doing such rash things in order to help his family out of poverty. It explicitly states in the book, Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin, on page twenty-three, “‘I was grateful to Tom Black,’ he later said, ‘very much so,’” He also states on page twenty-six, “Should Gold ever get the idea of walking away from the Soviets, Fred assured Gold that his boss would get an anonymous note all about Gold’s illegal activities.” This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving why Harry Gold felt he had to repay Black for providing him with a job when he desperately needed one; yet, once getting drawn in, Gold had no choice but to continue his spying ways. We can infer that because of Gold’s financial hardships, as well as his family’s, this gave him even more of an urge to betray his own country. Despite him explaining he only did what he did to repay Black, he still remained guilty in the eyes of loyal Americans.
Question #2
To an outsider, Crawford County may look like an average small town, but how do we know that there are no spies collecting information for another country? Say one went underneath the surface and revealed the dirt beneath the towns in Crawford County. What could one find? He/she could find the following: two energy resource refineries, food industries, transportation accesses, international auto facilities, or maybe even the Flying S Inc. These companies may have spies hiding in the nooks and crannies of their companies! Security is tight at big industries such as Marathon, an oil refinery and Hershey, which is a major food industry that makes millions and/or billions a year on their delectable treats. There are major transportation accesses, such as highways, interstates, railroads, and water routes too. There is also the Flying S Inc., which is a facility that is known to make drones for the government and numerous supplies for NASA. Thus, based on the various important corporations, it is highly likely that Crawford County may at least have a small number of spies, from other industries looking to cash in on the competition’s success, countries wanting to gain economic secrets, and the like.
Paige, Keagan, Bailey, Craig, and I look forward to reading your response.
Great responses! I am glad to be working on this assignment with all of you! Unemployment pay only began in the midst of the Great Depression nor were there many government agencies to assist, so if you were not employed a person had few backup resources, therefore my thinking would be Harry was so grateful he felt obligated to do some form of 'repayment'. Perhaps in his haste to return the favor, he did not see the effects his choice would have beyond returning the favor. It is easy to see why he was guilty in the eyes of loyal Americans, but seeing both sides of the story we also know the extent of his loyalty to his family which shows us the level of his character. It is so easy for us to judge others, but seldom do we know the complete story.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2
Many of our local businesses utilize manufacturing processes which greatly reduce the cost and labor to produce the end product and increases the profit margin. Since it appears that making larger profits is a top goal, using those processes can help them reach it more easily. In short, it is possible to have spies so close to our home to search for those processes utilized here that could increase their profits elsewhere. I could see that in another local business as well which has government contracts~Flying S in Palestine. I concur with you all spies locally could be highly probable.
Keagan, Bailey, Paige, Craig, and I would like to thank you for reading and responding to our post. Thanks to your response, we now see Harry Gold in a different light. He was not just a one-dimensional criminal, but a family-oriented man. Also, we are glad to know you agree with us in regards to there being spies, or at least a possibility of spies in Crawford County.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, thank you, and we are looking forward to your response on our second blog.
Blog #2
ReplyDeleteThe word ‘haunt’ as used in the following sentence, “It was a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life.” means that Oppenheimer’s decision will have repercussions that will stick with him for the remainder of his life. Steve Sheinkin, the author of Bomb: The Race to Build -and Steal -The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, explicitly states on page forty-nine, “Thanks to the report from the FBI, army intelligence officers knew all about Oppenheimer’s past associations with Communists.” This shows that Oppie has had shady associates which has gotten him into serious trouble. As if it were a spirit of the dead looking for revenge, his past has risen once again to haunt him. Perhaps by making the statement, “It was a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life.” Steve Sheinkin is trying to hint at something in the future occuring because of Oppenheimer’s past interest in Communism. Now that Oppenheimer’s mysterious past has come to light, who knows what else might happen to him as a side effect of his past actions.
We look forward to your response.
Your response sounds right on track. Do you think Oppenheimer wanted to be a part of the project so much that he would say or not say whatever he needed to remain on the project? It appears to me he was thinking more of himself than the security of his country. I believe very strongly in 'gut instincts' and by following them you will make the best choice of any situation. Oppenheimer knew he was withholding information, yet he chose to anyway so it is fair to assume he carried a lot of guilt with his decision.
ReplyDeleteHaunt can be a very strong word and Sheinken used it well in the statement. You all are spot on when you state it foreshadows which retains the reader. Actually the statement is pretty open ended because you know this portion of the story is definitely not over and leaves the reader curious of the outcome. The statement also makes us think and start putting different conclusions in our minds.
Blog #2 Response
DeleteThank you for your response! Craig, Keagan, Bailey, Paige and I all think that, originally, Oppenheimer wasn’t planning on telling anyone solely so he could stay on the project. Oppenheimer seems to have been a very smart man, but some of his actions prove otherwise, as he didn’t tell anyone when he was confronted by Haakon Chevalier about leaking information to the Soviets. We also believe that Oppenheimer did not tell anyone about this interaction, as he and Chevalier were friends, and perhaps he wanted to protect him. Oppenheimer carried a lot of guilt with this decision, despite him informing Colonel Pash about the conversation he had with Chevalier. However, it seems Oppenheimer only did this for himself, as he did it after he found out he was being watched by the government for his relations with Communists.
By Sheinkin using the word haunt, he not only leaves the statement open ended (as you said) and foreshadows future events, but he also keeps the reader intrigued in the story. This is truly a smart decision on his part.
Thank you for responding, and we are eager to see what you have to offer on our third blog!
Blog #3
ReplyDeleteThe loss of innocent lives during war is saddening; therefore, all options should be explored before choosing to sacrifice others. In the case of Knut Haukelid and the sinking of the Hydro, we believe that the single choice saved thousands more lives than those lives lost on the ferry that solemn day. In the book, Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - The World's Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin, on page 110, “Haukelid relayed the details to British Intelligence in London, saying that the job would be tricky and might result in the loss of civilian lives. ‘Case considered,’ came the immediate reply from London. ‘Very urgent that heavy water be destroyed. Hope this can be done without too serious consequences. Send our best wishes for good luck in the work.’” This scene portrays our feelings well, as both Haukelid and British military personnel both knew that in order to save the lives of those around the world, civilians would have to lose their lives. If Haukelid or British intelligence had decided not to continue the mission for that reason alone, perhaps those civilians would have perished anyway, and, sadly, even more people would have died as well. We all agree that losing one valuable life is better than losing one-hundred valuable lives.
What are your thoughts?
Your thoughts are quite mature. I concur with your reasoning and viewpoint, although for discussion's sake it may hinder our conversation somewhat since we are all in agreement. When London responded "done without too serious consequences" they were basically telling them what to do knowing innocent lives would be lost but it would be for the betterment of all to sacrifice them. In a Utopian world no one would have to die to save others and we clearly do not live in a perfect world especially in the present. It saddens me and weighs heavily on my heart and I am thankful not to have to make decisions as Haukelid did. The only rationalization to follow through with his plan was that many, many more lives would be saved than lost. I believe that is hte only way conscientiously Haukelid could follow through. Common sense and your gut instinct will get you through many decisions in life.
ReplyDeleteKeagan, Bailey, Paige, Craig, our new group member, Emily, and I are pleased to know we all share the same opinion regarding the loss of innocent lives during war time. We also agree that, sadly, the loss of innocent lives during any war is inevitable and would only be unlikely to happen in a Utopian type world. Our teachers and parents have talked to us about listening to our gut instincts in different situations. Thank you for responding, and we look forward to see how you feel regarding our next blog post.
DeleteBlog #4, Part One
ReplyDeleteIt is important that we understand the different perspectives regarding the use of weapons of mass destruction because in order to understand a situation or topic in depth, we must know all the sides of the story. In the book Bomb: The Race to Build -And Steal-The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, Steve Sheinkin identifies the following four perspectives: scientific, military, political, and the Japanese civilians.
To begin, scientists who share similar beliefs as Robert Oppenheimer initially believed that the ability to create a weapon such as the atomic bomb was a huge scientific discovery. However, taking part in creating said weapon caused great pain for many, including Oppenheimer, knowing they had produced such disastrous weaponry. In the book Bomb: The Race To Build-And Steal-The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, Steve Sheinkin explicitly states on page 200, “Almost everyone was feeling that same strange mix of pride and horror.” This supports our claim by expressing how shocked the scientists were regarding the horrifying results of the weapon that they had created. However, knowing that the device they had spent so long working on had worked successfully filled them with a sense of pride, but their dread still lingered in their minds. In order to understand the topic at hand, it is imperative that we know the opinions of the minds behind the weapons that are being produced. This shows that the scientists were passionate about science, but they were also compassionate about the lives of other human beings.
Leslie Groves held the common belief among many military officials that the use and creation of weapons of mass destruction could benefit the country greatly. In the book, Steve Sheinkin wrote about a conversation between Leslie Groves and General Thomas Farrell which takes place after the successful test of an atomic weapon. He states on page 184,“‘The war is over,’ Farrell said. ‘Yes,’ Groves agreed, ‘as soon as we drop one or two on Japan.’” This shows that Groves is of the belief that the only way the war could end, would be to, “‘drop one or two on Japan.’” We must understand beliefs such as these, as this is the common belief of the top military leaders for our country. The military’s job is to protect and serve our country, and it makes perfect sense as to why they would feel an atomic bomb would benefit our country.
Blog #4, Part 2
ReplyDeleteThose who run our country - i.e. the president - or political leaders like Harry Truman believed that in order to maintain the safety of our country, the usage of catastrophic weapons is necessary. Not only to protect the country, but for political gain. This is demonstrated in the book Bomb: The Race To Build -And Steal- The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon on page 232, “If the Soviets got the hydrogen bomb first, American voters might blame the President who let it happen.” This shows that Truman was on the side which believed the usage of weapons is necessary - for both political gain and the safety of his country. Truman may have felt guilty for allowing such weapons to slaughter innocent Japanese civilians, but shared with many the view that without the weapons, our country would be in considerable danger. We cannot imagine the enormous amount of pressure that Truman must have felt. We need to understand whoever we elect to be president needs to take this responsibility seriously and make the best decision for our country.
The Japanese civilian perspective is perhaps the most important of all; that these weapons were monstrous. In the book Bomb: The Race To Build - And Steal- The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon on page 196, it explicitly states, “‘I cannot describe the countless tragic things I saw,’ he said.” This short line of text speaks volumes. This man, as a child, that would bring a grown man to tears. He was one of many who saw the aftermath of chaos itself. Perhaps, the things seen by these civilians is the greatest proof of the disastrous power displayed by atomic weapons. These victims felt pain and devastation brought on by the atomic bomb.
Overall, Sheinkin included these perspectives so that those who have never experienced such tragedy can try and comprehend it. So that, instead of the book simply being a one-sided story about the disastrous outcome, the science behind the bomb, or the war itself; we are shown a book that expresses all sides to the story, so that we can, hopefully, in some way, understand how such dangerous weapons came to be, and form our own conclusions from there. Being knowledgeable in these matters will help our country in the future.
You have all done a great job of looking at the different perspectives from many of those who were involved. Yes, it is very important to look at all angles and that holds especially true for life. I always say there are three sides to every story~his, her's and the truth. What is especially important is to take the time to look at each person's side in the situation and reflecting on it BEFORE we react. Do you think you have included all the perspectives though? What about the people in the neighboring countries of Japan? Can you imagine how terrified they had to be? Or the actual pilot who dropped the bomb? The American people at home knowing we created this weapon of mass destruction and actually used it on others. While you have hit upon the major players in this story, there were many other people affected by the atomic bomb. In my opinion it is a lot easier to read about a situation than to actually see it, hear it and smell it. I can not even begin to imagine what it had to be like for the residents of Hiroshima experiencing such horror or what it has to be like for the people living through these attacks that we see way too many times on the news. Which is exactly why we need to look at all the perspectives of a situation and make an educated and informed decision~this is particularly true in the case of our elected officials. Hopefully that will begin to improve. Great job on this blog! I have enjoyed communicating with all of you.
ReplyDeleteYes, our elected leaders carry a huge responsibility for public safety. We can only hope they are making informed and educated decisions which do the most good for the most people. Sheinken did a great job with this book trying to help us understand and comprehend the magnitude of the creation of the atomic bomb and the affects it would have for generations to come. Which is a great lesson I hope you will all take them this project. Always stop, look, listen and think about your words and actions BEFORE you react and I will guarantee it will make a profound difference in your life and our world. Good luck to all of you!
We find the points you made very interesting. We didn’t think about the pilot, the Americans at home, the neighboring countries, or how we will never truly feel, smell, or see what the survivors brutally saw. After we discussed we all agreed the points you made were very valuable to our Great Debate. We thank you for responding to our blog, and we look forward to what you have to say about blog #5!
ReplyDeleteThe summary Steve Sheinkin used at the end of the book on page 236 means that though those involved prevailed under the pressure of building such a weapon, we now have to live in fear of them. As the saying goes, “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.” Because of the creation of the atomic bomb, we have created the possibility of ultimate destruction.
ReplyDeleteOn page 236 of Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal-The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, Sheinkin explicitly states, “And like it or not, you’re in it.” This shows that humans managed to create weapons that have the ability to be rid of our entire species. Therefore, we have the ability to spread our opinions and protest. It is a human right. It would be naive of people to think that we do not live in a society with weapons of mass destruction. We must be proactive and be aware of not only the weapons our country has, but other countries as well.
The summary by Steve Sheinkin at the end of the book, Bomb: The Race to Build-And Steal-The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, points out that because of the creation of disastrous weapons like the atom bomb, the entire world and everyone that lives here is at risk of death and injury. Like it or not, we are all just as involved as the scientists, the military personnel, and the political leaders from the 1940s. Since we are involved, we must vote for leaders who will choose to use such weapons wisely.
It seems like we are ending this on a rather sad note. I had not thought about Sheinkin's statement that war never has an ending, but after thinking about it, sadly it doesn't and many innocent people must live through the consequences. What I hope you can take away from this project is that our actions ALWAYS have consequences. Please consistently be mindful of how your choices will affect others.
ReplyDeleteOur group agrees with you completely about this project teaching us that all of our actions have consequences. We believe we can all agree that we have done things that have had some sort of affect on our lives or those around us. It was a pleasure to get to work with you on our blog, and hopefully, future eighth graders who are able to work with you will feel the same.
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