The Conversation Manifesto
Introduction: We, the people of the nuclear era, stand on the precipice of a new chapter in human history. The risks and responsibilities of the nuclear age cannot be ignored, yet for too long, they have been relegated to the silence of fear and the inaccessibility of expertise. The time has come to break that silence, to rise above the fog of uncertainty, and to initiate a conversation that will empower every individual to understand and engage with the most profound challenge facing our species: nuclear weapons.
The Call to Dialogue: The Conversation is not just a series of discussions; it is a movement, a collective effort to bridge the vast gap between our knowledge and our survival. It is a call to every person, regardless of background, expertise, or position, to engage in an open, transparent, and continuous dialogue about nuclear weapons. It is not the realm of governments alone, nor of military strategists, nor of experts locked away in isolated think tanks. The Conversation belongs to the people, for it is the people—the ones who live under the shadow of nuclear threat—who must come to understand the magnitude of this challenge.
The Epistemological Revolution: Nuclear weapons are not merely a political or moral issue; they are an epistemological crisis. We do not yet fully understand the totality of the knowledge surrounding them. Nuclear weapons have emerged, in the course of history, as a singularity, a point at which our collective understanding breaks down into an unknowable complexity. But this does not mean that we must despair or remain passive. Rather, it is our duty to deconstruct that knowledge, to refine it, to make it actionable, and to transform it into the means by which we ensure the survival of the human species.
The Conversation, then, is an epistemological effort—an ongoing process of refining and expanding our collective understanding of nuclear weapons. It requires everyone to participate in the construction of a new, comprehensive knowledge base—one that transcends the limits of traditional military thinking and enters the realm of shared, accessible wisdom. It is through this collective knowledge that we will find solutions, and in this knowledge, we will find the power to change the course of history.
The Power of Inclusivity: The Conversation is open to all. We reject the notion that only experts or those with the right credentials can meaningfully engage with the subject of nuclear weapons. As Jacques Derrida said, "there are no experts on something that has never happened." Therefore, we embrace the voices of every person. This is not a matter of authority or hierarchy. It is about listening to the experiences, thoughts, and ideas of those who are affected by nuclear weapons—the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the citizens of nations that possess or are targeted by nuclear arsenals, and the young people who will inherit the world we shape today.
Each voice counts, each contribution matters. Through these voices, we build a global community of understanding and resolve, working toward the deconstruction of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a new era of peace and cooperation.
A Call to Action: We envision a world where nuclear weapons are not seen as an inevitability but as a historical anomaly, a dangerous legacy that we have the power to undo. But to reach this world, we must first begin the conversation.
We are organizing a movement to engage in 500 conversations—conversations that will span cultures, political ideologies, and personal experiences. These conversations will be recorded and shared for posterity as an Oral History of the Nuclear Era. Through these dialogues, we will document the knowledge, fears, hopes, and ideas of individuals from all walks of life, laying the foundation for the transformation of our collective understanding.
The Vision: Our vision is clear: a world where nuclear weapons are obsolete, where the very idea of using such devastating power is unthinkable, and where the knowledge we have gathered through these conversations serves as a beacon of hope, guiding humanity toward a sustainable and peaceful future.
But this vision is not a distant dream. It begins now, with The Conversation. This manifesto is an invitation to everyone who shares this vision, regardless of their position in society. It is a call to engage, to listen, and to participate in an effort that can change the course of history.
Conclusion: The Conversation is our collective response to the most pressing challenge facing humanity. It is a dialogue that transcends politics, borders, and ideology. It is the path through which we will refine our understanding of nuclear weapons, deconstruct them, and ultimately render them irrelevant to our survival.
Join us. Speak up. Listen. Share your thoughts, your knowledge, and your hopes for a world free from the threat of nuclear annihilation. Together, we will reshape the future, one conversation at a time.
Let the Conversation begin.
copyright 2024 Terry Ross