The cold war 1950s, 1960s, and the American Dream

Discussion 1
1. Events of the 1950’s strongly influenced the lives of those living in the early 1960s. In fact, many of the events that took place in the 1950s reverberated throughout and beyond the 20th century and continue to impact American lives today. One of the events that occurred during the 1950s that impacts people in the 1960s is McCarthyism (Rosenberg, 2017). McCarthyism refers to the policies and practices of Senator Joseph McCarthy, who “began a witch hunt that would result in the blacklisting of many Americans as communists,” (Rosenberg, 2017). McCarthyism would affect my life because of the way I would be afraid to express my views for fear I would be blacklisted. The term “McCarthyism” is used synonymously for witch hunts, and this era proved that Americans have an unnatural fear of anything remotely resembling social service programs because of their gullibility of anti-communist propaganda.
2. The events of the 1950’s primed society for the upheavals of the 1960s. The important social and cultural upheavals that took place in the 1960s, such as the Civil Rights movement and the peace movement in reaction to the Vietnam War are still reflected in your lives today. The 1960s included a number of important events, the most important of which would be the Civil Rights Act (“The Sixties: Moments in Time,” 2005). The Civil Rights Act helped to transform American society, but unfortunately revealed how racism remains entrenched in the culture. The ramifications of the Civil Rights Act are still felt, but we still do experience racism today. Although the Civil Rights Act did lead to meaningful legislation, that legislation should have been passed a century prior. Nevertheless, the Civil Rights Act was an important step forward for all Americans.
Discussion 2
1. During the Cold War, American citizens were taught to prepare themselves and their families for the possibility of nuclear attack. Although the preparation videos from the time seem out of date, they do show how propaganda fueled the fear Americans had during the Cold War. For example, in the United States Air Force (1960) video about nuclear attacks, the narrator discusses the importance of knowing where the bomb shelters are located, as well as information about how people can build their own bomb shelter for their family, friends, and neighbors. Many of the bomb shelters created during this time were officially sanctioned, and stocked with necessary materials that could help families survive the attack while safely underground. The materials needed included food, water, and first aid materials. This United States Air Force video is strongly built on an overcurrent of fear and propaganda, but still includes important and useful information. Nuclear attacks do need to be taken seriously, as the long-term effects of radiation poisoning are devastating.
2. Even though the Cold War has ended, the media and some politicians suggest that the United States is still at risk of nuclear or biochemical attack. The risk of state attacks might have been greater during the 1960s, but today the risk of a non-state actor using chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons remains strong. The volatility of North Korea also suggests the potential for future attacks on American soil. It is therefore still important to understand how to best prepare for an attack of any type. Preparedness methods today differ somewhat from preparedness videos of the 1960s, during the Cold War. Current preparedness videos stress the importance of planning for different types of disasters, not just a nuclear, biochemical, or other type of attack, but also a lone wolf terrorist or a natural disaster. For instance, a UNESCO (2013) video shows how people can become better prepared for a terrorist or natural disaster in their area by understanding their specific risk factors, and acquiring the necessary materials for first aid and survival such as having plenty of drinking water and non-perishable food on hand. I would prepare my family by having these types of materials, without unnecessarily instilling fear in them. The methods of preparation include having on hand enough mind-altering substances to alleviate fear and tension and promote social harmony during the disaster.
Discussion 3
1. The myth of the American Dream was alive and well throughout the middle of the 20th century. Although the American Dream would die by the early 1970s, the Kennedy years offered America a period of hope during which they would be able to pretend that everything was perfect. For instance, the images of white families living happy lives belied the rampant sexism and racism that lie beneath the surface. The image “Envisioning the American Dream” is located in Google Images at (https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiIg7CmxMHVAhUF8GMKHZZCA6AQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fenvisioningtheamericandream.com%2F&psig=AFQjCNHbHe4IsxAaaK-Z3r8Ew5JKwwpWyQ&ust=1502071929015552). This image seems insipid by today’s standards, but it shows how the propaganda of the American Dream influenced consumer culture. Americans have been taught that they live in a meritocracy, when in fact they do not. Moreover, Americans have been taught that the pursuit of material wealth is the key to happiness and success, and also that material wealth is a sign of status. While the American Dream does drive many people to pursue their career paths, many Americans today have eschewed the old version of the American Dream for a new version that stresses family harmony, creativity, and a valuation of experiences over tangible goods.
2. The American Dream has certainly changed in the new millennium. In fact, many people believe that the American Dream has died because of proof of rising income disparity and a lack of equality in terms of gender and race. The United States has begun to rapidly fall behind other nations in terms of education and quality of life, causing many people to consider how to improve their lives in ways other than by focusing solely on material wealth. Gender and racial inequality have changed the interpretation of the American Dream. Moreover, immigrants are looking more to other nations like Sweden instead of the United States, which has become xenophobic. America was xenophobic in the 1960s, too, and just as racist as today, but there was a more overt attempt to pretend that everything was fine. Thankfully, the myths and lies that complemented the American Dream have faded into a more realistic assessment.
Discussion 4
Live Tweets of the Moon Landing:
1. #Moon landing: is it real? @NeilArmstrong and @BuzzAldrin think so but Americans continue to question it. What do you think?
2. #Apollo11 clears. Astronauts in orbit for this momentous event. Are you watching on television?
3. @NeilArmstrong speaks to Earth from the Moon! “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
4. “The Eagle Has Landed!” Human beings walk on the moon for the first time in history--#USA!
5. @POTUS #Kennedy overjoyed at the success of the #Apollo11 project and @NASA with the 1969 #moon landing. What’s next for America’s #space program? Tune into channel 4 for more news.
6. In post-flight press conference, @NeilArmstrong speaks publically for first time after historic #moon landing: “a beginning of a new age.”







References

NASA (2017). July 20, 1969. Retrieved online: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html
Rosenberg, J. (2017). A brief timeline of the 1950s. Retrieved online: https://www.thoughtco.com/1950s-timeline-1779952
“The Sixties: Moments in Time,” (2005). PBS. Retrieved online: http://www.pbs.org/opb/thesixties/timeline/timeline_text.html
United States Air Force (1960). Civil Defense & Nuclear Attacks: Let's Face It. Retrieved online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0ra6pK1YCo
UNESCO (2013). Education for disaster preparedness. Retrieved online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLHmwvpjX8