Growing Up In The Nuclear Shadow Of Rocky Flats Analysis

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“Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats” is an inter-twine of two narrations depicting how secrets can turn out to be destructive. Kristen Iversen presents dangers of hidden secrets of the US government and secrets of her family, as well. Having grown up in the neighborhood of a secret plant for manufacture of nuclear weapons in Colorado, Iversen lived to witness maiming of the community and environmental degradation due to harmful effects of radiations from the plant. On the other hand is a disintegrating family; alcoholism of her father was a secret, subject, not for discussion. The ineffectual mother could also not keep the family together; she suffered from self-denial of the alcoholic husband and the realities of the Rocky Flats. The overall effects are two fold; Iversen, and her family suffered health problems due to radiations and due to the father’s alcoholism (Iversen). Residents suffered from cancer and incurable deformities, all because of secrets.
The US government hid a deadly secret in Rocky Flats. The department of Energy set up a nuclear plant for manufacture of plutonium triggers for use in nuclear weapons during the Cold War in 1950s and 1960s. For years, residents believed that the plant made industrial detergent (McGrath). During her childhood, Iversen inquired of her mother of the sole business of the Rocky Flats. Her mother said, “I think [Rocky Flats] makes cleaning supplies, scrubbing bubbles or something.” (Iversen 12). This was indeed a lie propagated among the Coloradans. Full Body Burden reveals cover-up of US government mistakes in justification of its security concerns. Establishment of the plant by the government resulted into radioactive emissions into the environment. Ef...

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...tely reported. A fire caused by spontaneous ignition of scraps of plutonium from the nuclear plant. The only report of the fire was “on page 28 of the Rocky Mountain News, underneath a photo of the Pet of the Week”. (Kirkus). There were no emergency response plans to protect residents in events of disasters at Rocky Flats (Iversen 67).
In conclusion, Full Body Burden demonstrates the fatal dangers of secrets, fatal secrets that result into destruction. The government security secrets resulted into infirmities on citizens; radiations maiming the very citizens that the government was protecting. Dozens of people suffered from cancer, dozens of children were born with deformities. Family secrets led to self-denial and disintegration. Iversen’s neck injury could not be diagnosed early enough because the family concealed the secret. Secrets have the power of destruction.

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