Atrocious Atoms

Atrocious Atoms

Elsewhere I have described atoms as annoying.[1] Dull, dreary, drab. I now want to extend that critique to a further level—they are also atrocious. The OED gives us “horrifyingly wicked” and “extremely bad and unpleasant”. So be it: atoms are that. Strong words indeed, but let’s explore some of the more disagreeable aspects of the atom. They are not unfamiliar. The most obvious is their bomb-making potential: what is called the atomic bomb. You don’t need that many atoms to get a terrifying bomb; and the bombs work admirably. They aren’t even all that expensive. It is calculated that we already have enough atomic firepower to destroy the planet as a habitable place. The atom is poised to do that destructive work. This came as something of a surprise—mostly atoms are not that scary. It took Einstein to notice their capacity for destruction. One wonders how an intelligent benevolent God could create a universe with bombs at the foundation—he couldn’t have used something a bit less dangerous? In any case, these are nasty pieces of work, coiled for Armageddon. We are lucky that not all atoms can have their energy unleashed in the way the uranium atom can. Atomic weapons are truly atrocious. They can be used to commit atrocities. Atrociousness is what they are all about. What will you think of the atom when its power comes raining down? That’s number one. Number two, they are radioactive: they leak sickness. Have you ever watched footage of the victims of Chernobyl? It doesn’t bear looking at. Have you seen the genetic damage wrought by the fallout of nuclear weapons? It’s enough to give the word “nucleus” a bad name (it just means the central important part of an entity). Not only can atoms explode; they can also sicken and kill. Radiation sickness is a horrible thing. Anything that causes it is aptly designated “atrocious”. Again, why use such a vicious entity to create a universe occupied by living things? It’s asking for trouble, and trouble has been given. You can imagine a Satanic being sniggering at the sheer nastiness of it—“I know, let’s create a world in which the basic components kill slowly and horribly!”. Now that our energy needs are pushing us in the direction of nuclear power, with its attendant dangers, one has to question the wisdom of the decision to use atoms as the building blocks of reality. It’s risky at best, and catastrophic at worst. I would like a serious word with the Grand Designer. I will give her a piece of my mind.

That’s all common knowledge, widely recognized. But there is something else about atoms to which I wish to draw attention, that I will call their promiscuity. I don’t mean their sexual license; I mean their “indiscriminate or unselective” (OED) character. They will go anywhere, combine with anything, no matter how vile. They just don’t care what they compose—what they enable. No matter how nasty, evil, and disgusting a thing is they will sit happily inside it and provide its substance. Atoms are what made Adolf Hitler possible! They composed his brain; they enabled his mind. All the evil of the world is made possible by atoms. You would think a benevolent creator would see to it that the basic components of the world would not be capable of forming such terrible objects—but those components as willingly compose Adolf Hitler as they compose Mahatma Gandhi. Atoms make evil possible and real. Obviously, no one foresaw this possibility, or they might have installed safeguards, issued regulations (“Not to be used for the creation of evil”). Serial killers are made of the same atoms as you or I. It isn’t that if you examine them under a microscope, you find some other sort of material: we are all made of the same stuff no matter how much we vary morally. Absolutely nothing prevents atoms from giving rise to the worst of things—no matter how disgusting or immoral. They are atrociously promiscuous. They will do it with anybody anytime. It’s really a disgrace. Atoms have no problem making up even the most evil of intentions, the vilest of crimes. They simply have no decency. They are not gentlemen. You can’t take them anywhere.

And there is a horrible twist to all this unconscionable promiscuity: the very atoms which once composed the worst of things can migrate into another body that is innocent of depravity. Think of it: atoms that once sat inside the head of Hitler could now be sitting inside your head! Those atoms might once have been party to the most heinous of crimes and now reside in a skull that is all sweetness and light. It is logically possible that a newborn baby be composed of the very same atoms that composed Hitler’s body (his buttocks and feet, say). I need not pursue this thought further: atoms move around and make up different objects over time, so you might be made of atoms that once made that. It is not contrary to the laws of nature (or the laws of God apparently) that atoms that composed dinosaur excrement now compose your brain. That’s how promiscuous atoms are. They know no limits, recognize no boundaries. Shouldn’t this be prohibited? Shouldn’t atoms be put behind bars? Where have the atoms that compose your body been? What kind of company have they kept? What is their criminal history? But atoms are oblivious to any of this—they just go where they please, do whatever they feel like doing. They are completely undiscriminating. They will do whatever they are called upon to do, no questions asked. It’s really appalling behavior. Atoms are promiscuous, ethically blind, lethally explosive, and dangerous to human (and animal) health. It’s not a good resume. All in all, pretty atrocious.[2]

[1] See my “Annoying Atoms”.

[2] You might think I am writing with tongue in cheek. Perhaps a bit, but really I am just taking a step back from our customary habits of thought. I am evaluating what we take to be just fact (cf. animal exploitation).