When I saw this, I was reminded of an incident in my childhood. I was about five years old, and my Dad (a Combat Infantry veteran of the Pacific campaign in WWII) was a member of the local Civil Defense unit. It must have been during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dad and his peers had gathered at the church to watch a training film on the nuclear threat and the response to it should an attack occur. Even the seriousness of the subject did not prevent my Dad from taking me with him, I went with him everywhere (even to work as he drove a gas tanker on local runs).
I still remember the scenes from that film today (although much is stock footage that has been shown over and over since), but mostly I remember the experience. I don’t recall being particularly frightened by it, I was too young to know enough about it to be scared. But I do remember the faces and demeanor of the adults, and the effect the training had on them. To say the least, there was a seriousness of purpose about them.
Viewing the teaser about 33 Minutes, coupled with this video, puts me in a different frame of mind than the one I had in 1961. I am old enough now, and have seen enough of our enemies in various parts of the world - up close and personal- to know enough to be scared. And I am not ashamed to say it.
The vision that Reagan had in 1983
izoneguy Tuesday, November 18th at 2:53PM EST (link)“The vision that Reagan had in 1983″
That is one line from the trailer that stuck in my head.
“Vision” - 25 years ago Reagan had that vision and
many people have stuck with it to this day.
That is what is lacking in our current government - “Vision”
“Vision” has been replaced with “Blind Ambition”.
“When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”
Thomas Jefferson
It could get that scary
woodsman Tuesday, November 18th at 2:57PM EST (link)I too remember some of this time. My dad went to classes to learn fall-out shelter design because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Like you, at the time it did not mean very much to me, but now…it’s a different story.
Obama’s campaign of hope doesn’t fall into the same desire I have for the hope that someone is paying attention to this.
I was in Seventh Grade
Achance Tuesday, November 18th at 3:26PM EST (link)at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Of course, we’d always done the get under the desk and kiss your butt goodbye drill but this you knew was different.
The Interstate Highway System was far from complete in ‘62 and my hometown in Georgia had as perhaps its singular distinction the first intersection of two of the old continental federal highways, US 1 from Maine to Key West and US 80 from San Diego to Savannah. Those roads turned OD Green for days! They all but imposed martial law and the roads were closed to civilian traffic most of the time with armed MPs patroling. Convoy after convoy, everything in the US arsenal. The skies were filled with airplanes; a B-52 at 500 feet is a VERY impressive sight.
It was all very exciting to a twelve year old fascinated by anything that rolled, flew, or made smoke and noise, but that’s an excitement I never want my kids to know!
In Vino Veritas
Right, vision and the ability to communicate is lacking
1SGinTN Tuesday, November 18th at 9:24PM EST (link)Here’s my vision: while we are preoccupied with our economy and the change in government, one or more adversaries will use the opportunity to make their moves - culminating in a mind-focusing event(s).
Tu Ne Cede Malis
-Virgil
Looking back at those events from an adult perspective
1SGinTN Tuesday, November 18th at 9:43PM EST (link)is far different, eh? I grew up in North GA on US Hwy 27, and saw a share of those convoys, too. That type of threat is not something I want my youngest (born right before I retired from active duty) to have to deal with, though. I had hoped we had solved most of that with the end of the Cold War, although I knew better than to fall for the ‘Peace Dividend’ foolishness.
Tu Ne Cede Malis
-Virgil
My youngest just got out
Achance Tuesday, November 18th at 10:33PM EST (link)after a three year turn in the Infantry. Saw lots of fun and exciting places like Southeast Afghanistan and Kosovo. I couldn’t stay out of his decision about re-upping. I saw a Democrat victory coming and I just didn’t want my kid doing meals on wheels with no armor and no air support in some God awful place, so I encouraged him not to re-enlist. He’s still got a reserve comittment, but I’m thinking BHO ain’t man enough to “call out the reserves,” at least not reserve infantrymen.
In Vino Veritas
Probably good advice
1SGinTN Tuesday, November 18th at 10:59PM EST (link)Meals on wheels and peacekeeping is not always so peaceful. Although the NCOs and most officers can be counted on to look after the troops, my experience tells me Democratic CinCs are not so reliable. I had two of them, and we truly felt like 2nd class citizens much of the time during their tenure. Because my blood was OD green and my heart pumped cadence, I stuck with it. My oldest daughter is a Navy nurse, so she has a good bit of the sheep dog mindset like her old man. She will likely stick with it as well.
Tu Ne Cede Malis
-Virgil