Cold War: Part One

4/2/2020

What is your take on MAD?
Were you comforted by the Duck and Cover school video?
How are the actions of the United States noticeably different after WWII than WWI? SAQ practice.
What questions do you have before tomorrow's hot spots of the Cold War?
- I will wrap this up Friday morning, try to post by noon 4.3

bre

4/2/2020 12:47:04 pm

I believed MAD was like a ping pong game, actions were taken back and forth during this era in a seemingly endless cycle. No compromise nor wins were taken from this action as both players suffered. The method of mutually-assured destruction wasn't an effective method to end the Cold War, but rather lengthened it.
The duck and cover video was frightening to think that during this time, it might've been that common or predicted an atomic attack should happen that a procedure and videos were made to show what one would need to do. It's similar to today's earthquake drill, where you find some shelter to cover and protect you. The music and Bert the turtle made the video enjoyable.
The actions of the United States were noticeably different after WWII than WWI as there was more of a presence and great actions taken. The United States was dragged into WWII, but they stood strong and continued making dramatic actions even after the war. For example, actions like the space race or Truman doctrine were made

Camile

4/2/2020 06:30:41 pm

-MAD feels like a no winner kind of game and it’s just to even out the fight. So no matter what, they both lose thousands of civilians. MAD technically helped prevent a nuclear war since no one wanted to take the risk of destroying their nation and no one wants to take the blame of starting the destruction.
-The video was made to comfort the audience, but it sure didn’t comfort me. It freaks me out that the video is so cheerful and amusing to watch. I mean, people were living happily and fully aware that there’s a high chance of a bomb just coming out of nowhere. And the kids seemed so unbothered by the fact that there was a possibility of it happening.
-After WW1, the U.S tried to fix their economy since they were suffering from the Great Depression. After WW2, it seemed that the U.S. began to plan more thoroughly on any upcoming events like wars.
-What do you think would happen if the U.S. didn’t invent the atomic bomb at all?

Sherer

4/3/2020 11:14:58 am

I view the creation of the atomic bomb as I view the inevitable creation of AI. Sundry leading scientists argued against the bombs creation, but they also didn't want "evil" forces to obtain it first, so...they built it. Most leading computer scientists argue against the creation of self-aware AI technology, but they also see it as inevitable for the above mentioned reasons. Is this simply human nature? What we dream we attempt to replicate?

Chandler Schurley

4/2/2020 06:47:22 pm

What is your take on MAD?

My take on MAD was that it was an ineffective agreement. The agreement was to keep peace among the USA and the USSR to not use nuclear weapons against each other to prevent human civilizations from being wiped out. Although in my opinion this was ineffective because there was still tensions among the USA and USSR prolonging the cold war and getting other nations (such as Cuba, both West and East Germany and China) involved to choose a side making it harder to come to peace.

Were you comforted by the Duck and Cover school video?

I wasn’t comforted by this video because a nuclear explosion is very scary and to add that I think the video has some flaws. The video explains how to duck and cover when a nuclear blast hits, but people wouldn’t reacted so quickly as shown in the video. Some people would panic, others would be confused and with the population we have now everything would be very crowed. Not only that we will still be exposed to the radiation which leads me to believe the only way to survive a nuclear blast is to be in a bunker.

How are the actions of the United States noticeably different after WWII than WWI?

The United States actions were noticeably different after WWll than WWl by the response given by the United States when the Allies asked for help of the United States. Both times the US stayed out of the war as long as they could but in WWII the United States had a more aggressive entry into the war and were involved longer than in WWI. Since the US was not directly attacked in WWI, the US only got involved at the end of bring some end to the stalemate between the 2 sides. In WWII, the US was needed much more to help keep the Allies from losing to the Axis Powers. After WWII, the United State’s economy was booming and strong compared to after WWI which resulted in the Great Depression shortly after the war.

Sherer

4/3/2020 11:18:56 am

You are crushing this learning-at-home dude. "Some flaws!" Like, all of it! No one survives a nuclear holocaust, but scared people might, you know, rebel or begin asking the government some pretty serious questions. Solution, rub their little heads and tell them everything 'gonna be alright!

Megan Cox

4/2/2020 08:30:05 pm

What is your take on MAD?
I view mad as a last resort to a problem the US couldn't solve. Mad is a ineffective solution because as I have said many many times humans tend to think with their hearts and not their heads. What happens when one of the "rouge nations" or even the US gets a leader that is mentally unstable either in the moment or always and makes a bad decision leading to the destruction of his nation and ours? The danger if not knowing what could happen is exactly why this policy is ineffective.

Were you comforted by the Duck and Cover school video?
I was far from comforted by the Duck and Cover school video. I found it scary how the video made the whole concept of surviving nuclear bombing sound as easy as "ducking and covering your head." It made me think about what else was being covered up by propaganda. Then that got me to think about modern days with the corona virus and how at the begging of this whole mess we were told to "wash our hands" and ti would be okay. Maybe that was one of the factors in the escalation of the virus as fast as it spread, the people did not know how bad it was until the truth was finally told.

How are the actions of the United States noticeably different after WWII than WWI?
The actions of the US was noticeably different atfer WW1 than after WW2 because after WW1 the US was almost forced to make a change to get the country out of the great depression where as after WW2 the US too preventive defensive measures in the making of treating and the entering the space race and making more deadly military weapons.

Questions?
Could you say that the race to make more weapons and bigger more destructive weapons between the US and the USSR could be liked at as almost an ego war between the two nations to prove which one is more powerful?

Sherer

4/3/2020 11:22:26 am

Regarding your first comment, watch Dr. Strangelove! That is the plot! Secondly, of course it was an ego war. But, here is a little behind the scenes info: each nation was forcing the other to spend vast resources on the military industrial complex. That tax money was diverted from, oh, say education, housing, welfare programs, environment, etc. So, the nation that could keep its citizens "the most happy" while keeping pace in the arms race would be the winner. In this respect, our citizens stayed happier and the Soviets did not. Seems ant-climatic, but that was all part of the containment idea.

Daniel

4/3/2020 02:07:48 am

What is your take on MAD?
-I see M.A.D as a tug a war. If both have the same amount of strength, there really isn’t a winner. Or like a (teeter-totter/ seesaw) if both weigh the same amount then what’s the point. Since MAD was a military theory that was developed to deter the use of nuclear weapons. Meaning neither side would attack the other with their nuclear weapons because both sides are guaranteed to be totally destroyed in the conflict. Such threats seem kinda useless, knowing that either way one or none would end with casualties. This conflict between the U.S and U.S.S.R seems kinda immature to me because it just seems like they’re bragging to each other, based on who is more militarized, and technologically advanced. The way I visualize it is by looking at a pair of parallel lines, they just keep on going, till one decides to intersect the other.

Were you comforted by the Duck and Cover school video?
-The video seemed to be very cheerful with the inclusion of the cheesy background music at first. The realization that they aren’t the only ones with a very powerful weapon causes one to feel pressured or with weight over their shoulders. I had mixed feelings about the clip, It mentioning that there may be no warning caused me to feel uncomfortable and unsafe. If I lived in their time I would’ve felt not just kind of pressure at all times but worried twenty-four-seven, knowing that we could be bombed and not even be warned about it.

How are the actions of the United States noticeably different after WWII than WWI? SAQ practice.
-In terms of isolation and neutrality, the United States attempted to avoid both wars, but was significantly patronized, causing the US to join both wars. The US’ involvement in WWI was because of Germany’s attacks on merchant and passenger ships. Compared to WWII where the US became involved due to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Both were a form of threats, but the outcome of the US’ involvement was significantly different. After the US managed to win WWI along the allied nations, they experienced a crisis (Great Depression). This led to the Second World War where the US also became involved but after winning got involved with another war (Cold War). So the outcomes of the US becoming involved or being forced into the war just caused a chain reaction where it just created a new war for the US to become a part of.

What questions do you have before tomorrow's hot spots of the Cold War?
-Just out of curiosity, are moral values the same as human nature/ instinct? If yes, then you’ve answered my question.

Sherer

4/3/2020 11:25:44 am

That is a pretty deep question, which I have come to both expect and appreciate from you! Personally, I do not think we are born with inherent morals. These are taught and impressed on us. The adage "everyone knows its wrong to murder" is something that society teaches because it makes the social contract possible. But, if we look at people raised in "captivity," we shouldn't be shocked to find their morals are those foisted upon them. Just my take, I have been wrong before.

Daniel

4/3/2020 03:27:29 pm

I see what you mean, you’re basically saying that our environment has a larger impact on who we become compared to your DNA. Your outtake on this is that DNA doesn’t have much to do with one becoming a murder or with one knowing the difference between right or wrong. Instinct on the other hand, is what causes one to understand when one is doing something right or wrong. I was asking because I was reading a book the other day and came across a statement saying that “1. If God doesn’t exist, objective moral values do not exist. 2. Objective moral values do exist. 3. Therefore, God exists.”
- but I was like wait isn’t wether one knows the difference between right or wrong depends on human nature/ instinct. One develops it, not gets handed it. Disclaimer: sorry to those who are reading this and are religious.

Belen

4/3/2020 09:39:20 am

What is your take on MAD?
MAD seems to be a policy which ensures how and when the use of weapons is allowed, especially nuclear. In theory, it should work because it has a set of deals for their usage, plus these nations do not want to use the weapons so for them, this would give them guidelines on how to act.
Were you comforted by the Duck and Cover school video?
No, though I suppose at the time it could help the people stay calm with such a simple procedure, just like now with washing your hands, and covering the sneeze, and social distancing, things that we already do but its just "more enforced"
How are the actions of the United States noticeably different after WWII than WWI? SAQ practice.
After WW2, the US had to recover from the great depression. In both, they were physically untouched, until pearl harbor. The use of the atomic bomb. Becoming a super power.
What questions do you have before tomorrow's hot spots of the Cold War?
none yet

Hannah

4/3/2020 10:53:58 am

To an extent, MAD was effective. The purpose of this doctrine was to deter any nuclear attack and annihilation. Throughout the Cold War between the United States and Russia, MAD technically was effective, as there were not any nuclear attacks for fear that it would wipe out both nations, therefore resulting with no winner.

I was definitely not comforted by the Duck and Cover school video. It kind of seemed like the parallel of a present-day hard lockdown due to a shooting. But of course, it’s much easier to protect yourself from a shooter than it is to protect yourself from a nuclear bomb. It was off-putting how cheerful the video seemed, and I couldn’t imagine living my daily life knowing a nuclear bomb could hit at any second.

Following WWI, despite increased production and efficiency in industries leading to a booming economy, this wealth and excess ended abruptly with the Great Depression. Therefore, due to the combination of the Great Depression and the memory of losses in World War I American actions were isolationist going into WWII, trying to avoid involvement in another European war. Following WWII, on the other hand, American actions were noticeably different in that they were more assertive. Following WWII, America expected involvement in a war and willfully prepared to defend against a suspicious Communist Soviet Union encouraging the development of atomic weapons.

Sherer

4/3/2020 11:29:53 am

Hannah, I think your comparison to school shooting and fall out drills is very interesting. We SHOULD be terrified and we SHOULD by working on systemic changes. This would of course require both a hard look into the mirror so to speak as well as major changes, which would affect the way society and economics intersect. But what happens if people stop coming to school out of FEAR? What would have happened if Americans quit "normalcy" out of fear of a nuclear holocaust. I say it a lot, but remember, in EVERY historical situation, some segment benefits, wither directly or indirectly.

Cold War: Part One

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