At dinner with my mom on Monday, she mentioned that she’d recently watched the new Bob Dylan movie, A Complete Unknown. A bit of the film takes place during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. She confessed that she, who was born in 1946, had largely forgotten how frightened people were at the time, with many people leaving large cities (potential targets) in a state of panic.
Our conversation reminded me of a question I’ve been turning over in my head since 2022—namely, why has the risk of nuclear war apparently been completely dismissed by much of humanity, including our so-called leaders?
Our conversation reminded me of a question I’ve been turning over in my head since 2022—namely, why has the risk of nuclear war apparently been completely dismissed by much of humanity, including our so-called leaders?
grew up reading Cold War history that told of near misses, mishaps, and miscalculations in the business of maintaining the Mutually Assured Destruction nuclear doctrine. On a few occasions, the world came very close to annihilation.
Stanley Kubrick’s Doctor Strangelove left an indelible impression on my mind, as did the 2000 film Thirteen Days and the 2002 film The Sum of All Fears.
In the genre of science fiction, I remember innumerable terrifying stories and films set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world that has been devastated by nuclear war, with the survivors trying to eke out an existence.
The Road Warrior and Blade Runner were two of my favorite films in this genre. The Dead Zone, directed by David Cronenberg and released in 1983, tells the story of a man who has a nightmarish vision that a charismatic politician aspires to start a nuclear war.
Stanley Kubrick’s Doctor Strangelove left an indelible impression on my mind, as did the 2000 film Thirteen Days and the 2002 film The Sum of All Fears.
In the genre of science fiction, I remember innumerable terrifying stories and films set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world that has been devastated by nuclear war, with the survivors trying to eke out an existence.
The Road Warrior and Blade Runner were two of my favorite films in this genre. The Dead Zone, directed by David Cronenberg and released in 1983, tells the story of a man who has a nightmarish vision that a charismatic politician aspires to start a nuclear war.
Max Rockatansky surviving in a world devastated by nuclear war. The Road Warrior
I’ve heard cognitive psychologists say that forgetfulness is the mind’s way of protecting us from the traumatic experiences of the past. The trouble with this, it seems to me, is that there are critically important lessons that we should NOT forget. I have a good memory and I am often struck by the thought that a large swath of humanity seems to be suffering from some bizarre amnesia. Matters of concern just a few years ago are seemingly forgotten in the way that teenagers forget last year’s boy band or fashion style.
Why has much of humanity—and apparently most of our so-called leadership class—apparently dismissed the risk of nuclear war with Russia?
Finish reading on Focal Points.
Why has much of humanity—and apparently most of our so-called leadership class—apparently dismissed the risk of nuclear war with Russia?
Finish reading on Focal Points.