The Black Hole
(aptly named) is a large graveyard of gadgets, stacked haphazardly in
total disarray just around the corner from the Los Alamos National
Laboratory. This obsolete equipment is periodically sold at auction.
The Black Hole’s
proprietor, Ed Grothus, Guru of the peaceful anti-nukes movement,
performs a spiritual balancing act for the Los Alamos community. A
classic eccentric with a great sense of humor, he takes great pride in
being the proverbial thorn in the paw of the Los Alamos alumni. Years
ago Ed worked at the lab, but left his position and began his one-man
crusade locally against the enormous build-up and stockpiling of
nuclear weapons during the Cold War.
He began buying the
surplus antiquated equipment at the laboratory auctions and opened a
gargantuan junk store in Los Alamos. The incredible disorder one
experiences when entering The Black Hole is itself a silent protest
against the orderly procession of the LANL.
During our sojourn
through The Black Hole, John and I were accompanied by Peter, who is
employed by the lab. He could not reveal to me exactly what he does at
the lab (or he would have to kill me) and we had not yet lunch, so I
didn’t pursue the matter.
Peter was a
delightful host and he seemed to enjoy poking around the junkyard as
much as John and I. He explained to me the fundamental reasons why the
lab must exist. Our national security depends upon these weapons to
ensure that those who would abuse this type of power will hopefully
never get a chance to wield such destruction indiscriminately.
I felt as I always
do on the subject of nuclear energy. The ability to see both sides of
the issue seems to split my atomic consciousness, bringing me to a
state of internal critical mass. I hope that the plutonium we have
unleashed from this Pandora’s box will someday be contained
peacefully. Pondering this revelation, I watched Ed and Peter interact
from opposite sides of the nuclear pole. I thought: “If only all people
with opposing viewpoints could be this civil and polite with each
other.” They both exhibited a mutual sense of respectful silence.
Perhaps this is the microcosmical key to how global conflicts should
be handled.
