Justin D’Souza About 180 words INTD 105 Science Writing
SUNY Geneseo
Science has brought many advancements to our society, but sometimes it can go wrong if innocent bystanders are harmed. The Nevada nuclear bomb tests were such a mistake, as the harmful fallout and radiation deviated the Mormon clans what the government thought as a “virtually uninhabited zone.” Terry Tempest Williams describes how almost every woman in her clan had to have mastectomies due to breast cancer resulting from these tests. However, the government refuses to award damage compensation to the afflicted. Williams believes this is because the they hide behind the antiquated notion of “sovereign immunity,” and how the overly patriotic America defended all war actions such as the bomb testing.
I wonder how the nuclear testing affected men in the community. Williams portrays the afflicted as only women, but men can in fact contract breast cancer through radiation exposure. Did no men get cancer? Or did they just not act? Furthermore, I question William’s act of civil disobedience. I cannot see how trespassing on government land and spouting cryptic words about women retaking the desert helps the cause in any way.
Great summary, and I really liked the points you made. Williams does mention cancer men (Irene Allen’s husbands died of it) but it’s true Williams doesn’t mention men in her family or men getting breast cancer. It’s certainly an interesting point. I also agree with your point about civil disobedience. Maybe they were trying to be poetic? In any case, we aren’t told how successful the clan was, so we don’t know if their words achieved any effect.