In September, when Patrick Swayze passed away I mentioned one of his movies, Red Dawn, and the fact that I had a post in mind to expand on.
My husband and I sometimes go up into the Berkeley/Albany hills to take photos. One route we take home has us passing signs as we enter into Berkeley indicating that Berkeley is a Nuclear Free Zone. My husband finds it very odd. I explained to him that signs like these were a comfort to me while growing up during the midst of the Cold War.
Long before cities passed official Nuclear Free measures there were signs like these that could be spotted, generally around schools (like Drug Free Zone signs). I remember them because after being exposed to movies like Red Dawn or TV series which featured life after the big one hit (that I cannot remember the name!) plus the standard scare tactics of the nightly news at the time, it was something that I was deeply concerned about.
Red Dawn was all my fears on screen. I was certain that at any given moment Russia was going to hit us with a bomb and that this movie would become my reality. The fact that my father was in the military only made me fear that it was likelier to be where I lived since they would want to knock out military bases and the surrounding cities first!
Of course, having Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen and C. Thomas Howell as fellow resistance members would have eased my pain, but it was still a very scary thought. I am not sure if I watched the movie over and over because I like to see those actors or if I was trying to prepare myself for what to do in case the Cold War got heated up and the bombs started going off.
Does anyone else remember being freaked out as a child in the 70′s 80′s over the same thing? Or maybe you were a pre-teen or teenager at the time of 9/11?
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I remember being in middle school in the mid-80s and everyone being nervous about Russia.
I’ve seen Red Dawn several times (it’s been years) and always liked it for some reason. My mom couldn’t watch it because it gave her bad dreams.
Hi Andi,
Thank you for stopping by.
I remember that period in time – very frightening. Good movie though.
When I saw your avatar, it looks like when I had (Designergals).
Same hair, etc.
Enjoy the book.
hugs,
Barb
me again-
I meant to type – looks like ONE I had not when I had.
I need more sleep.
i worked in public affairs for the air force for 5 years after college. there was this fact or urban legend out there that the installation where i worked – a maintenance facility for large aircraft – was like #5 on the list of places russia would bomb. i went to work there in ’90 – effectively after the cold war had thawed, but damn if that fact or urban legend or whatever scared the bejeebers outta me – and my dad! and you know what else – i’ll never forget being 22 years old and being walked into the war room of that installation. like a bunker – a nuclear repellant zone with 30 desks and 30 red phones. i’m so not making this up. i feel old telling this story, but i’m certain that war room still exists. what a culture the military is. i miss it. just a terrific post, andi. very gen x every sense. you rock.
Berkeley İn us?
Hi. This is my 2nd attempt at leaving you a comment about your website which I stumbled across today! (I clicked ‘close’ by accident but am too tenacious to give up!)
I wanted to say that I’m so glad I cruised through blogcatalog.com today because I really enjoyed your site.
I absolutely remember Red Dawn and the fear of being a young kid thinking ‘what if that did happen?’ Luckily I am older now and I’ve decided it’s alright to worry but not to let it get to me (my father said the only thing worrying ever did was cause warts).
I plan on dropping by your site even more in the future! Keep up the great blogging.
Most cordially,
L Avery Brown
http://whenasouthernwomanrambles.blogspot.com/
@LAveryBrown – so sorry – you got stuck in my spam filter! Welcome! I love new visitors as it gives a chance to explore new blogs to read – I am addicted.
@Yohaa – yes Berkeley is in California in the U.S.
@Jen – ack! At 22, I would have been fresked out!
I’ve only once died in one of my dreams. That dream was about a nuclear bomb going off. I had the dream years ago–when I was a child. After watching the mini series you mention. It was so vivid that I can still remember every detail of it today. Thankfully, I’m living proof that you DO NOT DIE IN REAL LIFE IF YOU DIE IN A DREAM.
I live near several major military installations. Growing up, I always worried about war and being bombed here. Of course, I never imagined anything like 9/11 happening. It was always along the lines of the Japanese and Pearl Harbor. In the late ’80s and early ’90s after the fall of the Berlin wall, I thought that all was well and we’d live in peace forever.
Too bad some dreams have yet to come true!