In "Excerpt from PREPARED STATEMENT OF TINA CORDOVA, CO-FOUNDER, TULAROSA DOWNWINDERS CONSORTIUM," Tina Cordova gives testimony to U.S. Congress on the need to provide compensation to victims of nuclear fallout in New Mexico.
Pair “Speech to the Association of Los Alamos Scientists” with “Excerpt from PREPARED STATEMENT OF TINA CORDOVA, CO-FOUNDER, TULAROSA DOWNWINDERS CONSORTIUM” and ask students to compare the texts’ perspective on atomic energy. What is the tone and point of view of Robert Oppenheimer’s speech in “Speech to the Association of Los Alamos Scientists”? What is the tone and point of view of Tina Cordova’s testimony in “Excerpt from PREPARED STATEMENT OF TINA CORDOVA, CO-FOUNDER, TULAROSA DOWNWINDERS CONSORTIUM”? Do you think Oppenheimer foresaw the full extent of the consequences of his work with nuclear energy? Why or why not? How do these two speeches demonstrate the competing views about the benefits and dangers of scientific advancement?