[act-ma] 04/03: The Untold History of the United States with Oliver Stone

[Paul Malachi Penchalapadu]

*MIT Program in Science, Technology, and Society *


*presents*


*The Untold History of the United States*

*Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Start of the Cold War*


A film and discussion with the award-winning director *Oliver Stone* and
historian *Peter Kuznick *based on the Showtime documentary series, The
Untold History of the United
States<http://encuentro5.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=53fe7b10944568ab8724330ae&id=08fd23d0ce&e=6f2da55078>
.


*Thu. Apr 3rd | 4:30 pm*

*MIT Wong Auditorium (Building E51 - Room 115)*

*2 Amherst Street, Cambridge, MA *


Free and Open to the Public

*Facebook event: **http://tinyurl.com/UntoldHistoryMIT
<http://tinyurl.com/UntoldHistoryMIT>*


*A People's History of Empire*

"At last the world knows America as the savior of the world!" -- Woodrow
Wilson. The notion of American exceptionalism, dating back to John
Winthrop's 1630 sermon aboard the Arabella, still warps Americans'
understanding of their nation's role in the world. Aided by the latest
archival findings and recently declassified documents and building on the
research of the world's best scholars, Stone and Kuznick construct an often
shocking but meticulously documented "people's history" of the American
empire that offers startling context to the policies that put us at war.


This portion delves into the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
offering a detailed backdrop to why they were militarily unnecessary and
morally indefensible.  The strategies behind the U.S. atomic bombings of
Japan are explored as well as the new mythology that emerged from the war.
The bombing haunted the Soviets and mistrust towards the Allies grew
quickly. The consequences of beginning a process that could end life on the
planet are examined.


American leaders often believe they are unbound by history, yet Stone and
Kuznick argue that we must face our troubling history honestly and
forthrightly in order to set a new course for the twenty-first century.
Their conclusions will astonish even experts, but there is one question
only listeners can answer: Is it too late for America to change?