Professor Peter Kuznick, director of the Nuclear Studies Institute, and co-signers of the Committee for a National Discussion of Nuclear History and Current Policy released a letter of statement of principles to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in response to the museum's plans to exhibit the Enola Gay solely as "a magnificent technological achievement."
"It's possible but not probable that there will be any changes made by Dec. 15," said history professor Kuznick, "but it may be possible to make changes after."
The committee is asking the Smithsonian to co-sponsor a joint conference or series of conferences that would educate the public more about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagaski as well as the current state of nuclear warfare.
According to Kuznik, after the story ran in The New York Times and was picked up by other newspapers, he has talked to people from Europe, Asia and across the United States leading to the fact that public discussion has been sparked.
The Committee has already started planning for a major national conference to be held on December 13.
Notable signers include Kurt Vonnegut, Oliver Stone, Noam Chomsky, Daniel Ellsberg, Julian Bond, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, E.L. Doctorow, Howard Zinn, and Ron Kovi to just name a few as well as many professors from across the country.
For the full statement and list of signatures, visit www.enola-gay.org.
