Explanation. [The Script Starts On The Next Page]

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1 Explanation When I heard the quote, I wondered about God's responsibility in destroying the earth. Do we overlook His actions because of His divine identity? I also wondered how I would feel if an authoritative 'figure had admitted to committing a horrible act for the sole purpose of creating a greater good. I would be thankful that my safety was insured, but I would feel conflicted over the way my safety was secured and always question whether there was another way. I connected these feelings with the feelings I had about controversial historical issues regarding destruction for the common good. Whether it was one life or 66,000, was that really the only way? In my project, I created three different scenarios illustrating the question of whether the ends justify the means. The three historical eras explored in the three scenes are the dropping of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima in 1945, the Kent State Massacre in 1970, and the killing of Osama bin Laden in The two debating characters in each scene represent the two sides of the argument. You may be on different sides of the controversy in each different scenario. I liked the idea of creating an audio drama for this project. It simulated the idea of listening to these news stories as if they are on different channels of a radio. I liked how I could portray each era with the music I composed with each song reflecting the genres of the three eras. I included the sound of tuning a radio as a transition from one story to the next. I chose to end the "radio broadcast" with a quote from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. This specific quote provides perspective on my entire project and allows us to believe that life is "wonderfully mysterious." It shows the hope of optimism after destruction that is reflected in the Megan's Muse theme. [The Script Starts On The Next Page]

2 Scene 1 The sound of radio static flickers in and out in the background as President Truman's speech on the atomic bomb plays quietly. The boy's father's loud footsteps are heard and the radio switch is flipped off. FATHER: Someone your age shouldn't be listening to news like that. Footsteps are heard again. The sound of a cabinet opening and closing and the clinking of glass are heard as the ther fixes himself a drink. SON: Why is that? FATHER: Because it's inappropriate. It's horrible! It's too upsetting for me to hear, it's too upsetting for you to hear. We hear the soft flipping of newspaper pages. SON: (Surprised) But Dad, I thought you liked Truman. FATHER: Well I did, but now he's really done it! As he says this, he pours himself a drink. Pause. SON: (In uneasy tone) Why is that? FATHER: I don't know. I just think that mass destruction with intentions of self defense is still destruction. 600,000 innocent civilians were killed today, Andrew. SON: (Confused) Well, he's the president though. I mean why would he do something that's wrong? FATHER: Just because he's our leader doesn't mean he can't make mistakes. Besides, how am I supposed to... He cuts himself off mid-sentence. SON: Supposed to what? FATHER: (Sigh) Supposed to raise you! How on God's green earth are your mother and I supposed to raise you in a world that's so

3 crazy? The president's supposed to be a role model! Someone you can look up to! When I heard that news broadcast when I came home from work, I 1- realized things would never be the same! Every day I'll come home and remember how this horrible day has impacted you! You'll see destruction as the solution rather than peace, and that's what kills me! SON: Well, it's allover now, right? I mean this was done all out of peace. They did it out of protection for us. FATHER: (Deep sigh) I guess that's one way of looking at it. SON: I'm more confused than ever now. FATHER: Me too, son. Me,too. f-composed slow tempo jazz music begins to play. Radio tuning indicates the end of scene 1. Scene 2 Four Dead in Ohio by Crosby, S lls, Nash and Young plays. Jail cell shuts osed. PROTESTER: This is bogus, man! I was only expressing my first amendment rights! ANGRY POLICE OFFICER: You don/t understand, you're just a kid. 11m an officer of the law, understand? I know what/s right! The angry police officer slams the door loudly. The protester picks an empty bottle from the jail cell. PROTESTER: Screw YOU I man! The protester hurls the bottle at the door, the shattering of glass sounds loudly_ The door opens. Enter COP 2 COP 2: What was that? PROTESTER: (In guiltyi apologetic tone) I'm sorry, I guess I lost my cool. (Tone turns defensive/harsh)i just wigged out when that cop was talking to me like that!

4 COP 2: (Chuckles) My partner's a little bit rough around the edges. I'll grab a broom. The shuffle of the cop's footsteps is heard again. PROTESTER: pissed. (Tone somewhat baffled, shy) Sorry if I seemed COP: It sounded like it had something to do with my partner The sound the sweeping of glass is heard PROTESTER: (Defensive yet depressed) I just don't understand how the authority can just commit murder and get away with it. (Scoffs) Those pigs... COP 2: Hey! I'm one of those pigs? I guess I can see how you would think that, but have you considered whether we could've been the victims of your chaos? PROTESTER: (Hesitantly) Wha.. what do you mean? COP 2: You and the protesters created this... (stutters out of frustration) this violence that could really have done some potential damage! We had to take action! PROTESTER: Potential damage! Exactly! But we didn't harm anyone! It was a (stutter) peace protest for God's sake! COP 2: It doesn't matter! We had to take action. We took it as soon as possible. Our timing didn't make any difference. We kept the public safe. PROTESTER: It made all the difference! People are dead! Blood is on your hands! COP 2: I don't need this! Cop storms out, slams the door, just as the first cop had. f- composed 70's-style music begins to play. Radio tuning transitions into the next scene. Scene 3 President Obama's speech announcing the death of Osama bin Laden plays followed by sound clips of various reactions to the news accompanied by self-composed electronic music.

5 TEACHER: Alright, kids, let's begin today's lesson. Open your books to Chapter 22. We'll continue our lesson on Mesopotamia. "An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth..." The volume of the teacher's voice decreases as the sound of two of her students having a conversation is heard. The teacher's voice is droned out by the students' conversation. PETE: Pssst... Kara! KARA: Yeah, Pete? PETE: Did you hear? They finally got 'ern! They got Bin Laden! After all these years he finally got what was corning to him! KARA: (Sigh) Yeah, I heard. PETE: What's wrong? KARA: I don't know... I'm still not sure how I feel about this whole thing. Throughout this scene, Kara is always a bit melancholy while Pete is ecstatic PETE: What do you mean? KARA: Well... r don't know, it's just odd you know? Should we really be celebrating someone's death? PETE: (In a louder voice) (Scoffs) Kara, he's responsible for the lives of thousands of Americans and- TEACHER: Mr. Bartowsky! Will you please pay attention? (Giggles from other students) PETE: Sorry, Mrs. Huntsman TEACHER: As r was saying... (More giggles) The teacher continues reading. PETE: (Quieter) Don't you think he kind of deserved it? KARA: Does anyone really deserve to die? -----~------~~ ~~-- ---~ ~

6 PETE: Well no... I get that, but isn't there some point where a line can be drawn? I mean thousands of people were killed. I mean what other way is there to punish that? KARA: I don't know Pete, it's just that (pause) an awful person dying is still a person dying. PETE: (Smirks) I can't believe this! You're seriously siding with this horrendous man who is responsible for the lives of thousands of Americans? KARA: (Frustrated) No, 11m not siding with anyone! All I'm saying is, if he murders people and then we murder him, are we any better? PETE: Yes! Through taking out Bin Laden, we are protecting the world from future harm! More static, followed by a quote by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Rabbi AJH: "In a free society, some are guilty, all are responsible. The world in itself is so fantastically mysterious, so challengingly marvelous." Radio clicks off END ~~~~---- -~- -~ ~--~~-- --~~- -~