The Inevitability of Nuclear War...Really?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:President_Ronald_Reagan_making_his_Berlin_Wall_speech.jpg

“Nuclear war is inevitable in the next year!”

I can remember the very place and time when I heard that grim prediction of a disaster that was supposedly looming on the horizon. I was in grade eleven, driving down the road in rural Nova Scotia, listening to the radio in my 1972 blue Dodge Dart (with cool chrome rims on all 4 tires).

The person who shared such a pessimistic and apocalyptic assessment was serious and strident. He was absolutely convinced that the election of US President Ronald Reagan on 20 January 1981 was the beginning of the end. Most certainly, he argued, Reagon’s heated  cold war rhetoric would lead to a clash with the Soviets.

And that, he concluded, would inevitably end up with a devastating nuclear exchange.

And that, we all knew, would mean the end of life as we know it.

I grew up in the cold war era, so I was used to hearing end times scenarios. But this seemed to be different, for it was not coming from a preacher waxing on about the book of Revelation, it was coming from a secular (and I assumed) somewhat informed political analyst.

My initial (and admittedly shallow) response was disappointment, for I enjoyed my new car. At a deeper level, I drilled down into knowing about the world of great power politics. Surprisingly, the more I learned over the decades meant the less I listened to supposed “expert” talking heads (especially sycophantic party hacks).

As we all know that grim pronouncement of the inevitability of nuclear war never came true. The 1980s were a time of great power tensions, but wiser heads prevailed, and we made it through to today.

Which brings me to present. 

The election of US President Donald Trump has led to similar comments about the uniqueness of our situation, and how we are on a trajectory towards nuclear annihilation. Of course there are real threats in the world, and of course things could go wrong very quickly. But my point is that this is nothing new.

My advice for those distressed over such pronouncements is to remember that this is not the first time such fear-mongering has circulated around the inauguration of a US President. Stated simply, today is not so unique. So perhaps find a car, go for a drive, and listen to a channel that is more realistic and hopeful.