I had some unbendingly doctrinaire crap thrown at me~ that I believed~ when I was young as well. It is just great having a kid think he is potential prey... ~Mary
I remember hearing about The Day After (some TV movie about nuclear war)and wondering why JoBeth Williams would appear in something like that. The older grades were supposed to watch it, but I couldn't, tho I was interested. It just felt like "don't make me deal with all of these problems: I'm still a kid!"
I remember 'The Day After' and I bet that had to play into those fears. I clearly recall the dread that nuclear war was eminently possible and the Doomsday Clock, thanks to the Atomic Scientist figured prominently in my war dreams...
... that was some scary stuff ... and it was very for real...
I, of course, I'm weird so I was diggin' the nuclear thing. I remember my 4th grade teacher saying we'd know if it was a nuclear hit because we'd see a giant mushroom cloud. A few days later, the propane yard in our neighborhood blew up. It rattled our house and when I looked out the window, what do you think I saw? A GIANT MUSHROOM CLOUD! HAHAHAHAHAHA! So a few years later when "The Day After" came on TV I was rooted to the screen. In fact, I own that movie now!
Those of us of a certain age all had the same experience. So when I hear the teabaggers going after someone like Richard Lugar for voting for the START treaty to reduce nuclear weapons, I want to scream. I don't want anyone to live under that fear ever again. It stuck with all of us.
i SO get this. i was a 70s child, a teen in the 80s; so the Cold War was very real to us, even if it was this vague sort of threat, it seemed ominous and very pressing.
I remember being so scared of the same thing. And then they had to go and aire that stupid movie The Day After, which just made the whole thing worse. A terrible thing to do to kids at an impressionable age.
I remember this fear! The worst fear I had as a child was believing with all of my heart that a vampire could appear in my bedroom to drain me dry. I used to wrap a blanket around my neck and try to stay awake for hours. I totally respected my kids fears.
14 comments:
This is really powerful. Kids shouldn't have to be afraid like this. What a world! -Cin
I had some unbendingly doctrinaire crap thrown at me~ that I believed~ when I was young as well. It is just great having a kid think he is potential prey...
~Mary
ps but I always love your unpredictable talent.
i think i was in 7th grade and i saw the movie 'the day after'.....i was terrified of nuclear war after that (and still am)
xxalainaxx
These rumours were around Medina base in San Antonio in the 70's.
I remember hearing about The Day After (some TV movie about nuclear war)and wondering why JoBeth Williams would appear in something like that. The older grades were supposed to watch it, but I couldn't, tho I was interested.
It just felt like "don't make me deal with all of these problems: I'm still a kid!"
I remember 'The Day After' and I bet that had to play into those fears. I clearly recall the dread that nuclear war was eminently possible and the Doomsday Clock, thanks to the Atomic Scientist figured prominently in my war dreams...
... that was some scary stuff ... and it was very for real...
I, of course, I'm weird so I was diggin' the nuclear thing. I remember my 4th grade teacher saying we'd know if it was a nuclear hit because we'd see a giant mushroom cloud. A few days later, the propane yard in our neighborhood blew up. It rattled our house and when I looked out the window, what do you think I saw? A GIANT MUSHROOM CLOUD! HAHAHAHAHAHA! So a few years later when "The Day After" came on TV I was rooted to the screen. In fact, I own that movie now!
The robot cows were the best part. I grew up at a similar time and remember the worries. The movie Day After and War Games helped a lot too...ha ha.
Another great autobio series from you, Russ.
My friends and I used to talk about nuclear war all the time. It was the ultimate end game scenario for all of us. It was awesome :P Cool episode!
Those of us of a certain age all had the same experience. So when I hear the teabaggers going after someone like Richard Lugar for voting for the START treaty to reduce nuclear weapons, I want to scream. I don't want anyone to live under that fear ever again. It stuck with all of us.
At least you did not end up having a bomb shelter, although that would be kind of cool today.
i SO get this. i was a 70s child, a teen in the 80s; so the Cold War was very real to us, even if it was this vague sort of threat, it seemed ominous and very pressing.
I remember being so scared of the same thing. And then they had to go and aire that stupid movie The Day After, which just made the whole thing worse. A terrible thing to do to kids at an impressionable age.
I remember this fear! The worst fear I had as a child was believing with all of my heart that a vampire could appear in my bedroom to drain me dry. I used to wrap a blanket around my neck and try to stay awake for hours. I totally respected my kids fears.
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