Science: Cult of Doom

The prophets of hydrogen Doomsday (TIME, March 6) got no support from David E. Lilienthal, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and a man well qualified to judge. Speaking last week at New York's Town Hall about the four atomic scientists who predicted the death of the human race in a radiation-poisoned world, Lilienthal said:

"I want no part of the new Cult of Doom that I see rising all about us ... I would like, if I can, to help counteract the growing mood, among the people of this country, of hopelessness and futility and confusion which the Oracles of Annihilation have encouraged by their dismal words—however well-intentioned those words may be ...

"I know in detail how destructive the A-bomb is. I know quite well how destructive the H-bomb can be, if it can be built. But I ask you: What good comes from the extravagant and sensational picturing of the horrors of atom warfare? Does this serve the purpose of scaring the rulers of Russia and thereby act as a deterrent to aggression by them? Of course not. Men who are frightened by word pictures do not become the iron rulers of a large part of the earth . . .

"To face the dangers of a very tough world, what we need is not to be overwhelmed with these dangers, but to understand them, and with courage and resolution and patience face up to those dangers, and see them through. We've done it before; we can do it again.

"The chief consequence of this wave of headline after headline about Doom and Utter Destruction, of One-Night Wars and the horrors that lie in atomic destruction, is this: a growing sense of confusion and helplessness among our own people. And hopelessness and helplessness are the very opposite of what we need. These are emotions that play right into the hands of destructive Communist forces."