Remarkably, we have built a world for ourselves in which a single man, Stanislav Petrov, may have done more good for humanity in a single hour than all other men in the history of the world.
Stanislav Petrov’s Entry On Wikipedia
Twenty three years ago from yesterday, Stanislav Petrov did not inform superiors that his tracking equipment showed indications of a US nuclear attack against the USSR, because he thought the indications were inconsistent with logical military planning. Most importantly, he did not launch counterstrikes, which was the task entrusted to him.
He later found conclusive evidence that the signs of a strike had been erroneous, though commanding officers nevertheless insisted on having his position taken away from him. Despite the censure of his commanders, it is to him that we must offer thanks that humanity was not largely, if not entirely, extinguished from the universe on September 26th, 1983.
I was unaware of his story until yesterday, but I would like to offer my thanks to Stanislav — for having done more good for me than Jesus or the Buddha can claim to have done. I am alive simply because Stanislav did not get caught up in the passions and rages of the Cold War. For that, I salute him as my ideal of the truly good man.