In 1945 the US Army had a little party, and the cake had one hell of a candle. It was called Trinity — the first atomic bomb — and boy, did it make the world a different place.
In the 50s and 60s, my cousin’s generation learned how to duck and cover; this was a method of “protecting” yourself from a nuclear weapon. By the 70s it was no longer possible to pretend that hiding under your desk could save you from the heat of the sun.
Strangely, not having a way to “protect” oneself was probably less traumatic. And I didn’t really worry about nuclear war in a serious way until the 80s.
Then Ronald Regan became president, and those of us old enough to understand international politics did get a taste of that trauma. But we didn’t get vaporized, despite a few close calls. So, no harm done.
But now the cold war is over, and everything’s okay. Right? I mean, we don’t have to worry about the bomb anymore do we?
Hello? Is this thing on…
Atomic age begins! | Close Calls | The Amadeus Net
(for a future history of the problem with nuclear proliferation — oh, and lesbians)
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