Cold War Interview
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Dec 6, 2023
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Cold War Interview
Karmen Lo
RN 411
Contemporary History
Instructor Chris Thomas
November 16, 2023
The interview with my aunt, a Chinese immigrant who lived through the Cold War
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period, offered a personal and nuanced perspective on this pivotal era in global history. Her
stories echoed the historical narrative that the Cold War was a time of intense ideological
conflict, the prevailing fear of nuclear war, and the deep-seated competition between the United
States and the Soviet Union in various fields, from space exploration to sports at the Olympics
(Gaddis, 2005).
She emphasized the role of media, both in the U.S. and globally, in shaping perceptions
and narratives during the Cold War. The portrayal of communism as a threat to freedom and
democracy was prevalent, reflected in literature like George Orwell's "1984" and films such as
"Fail-Safe". This depiction fed into the public's fear and apprehension, magnifying the perceived
ideological divide between the East and the West (Freedman, 2007).
Her recollections of school drills designed to prepare students for potential nuclear
attacks underscored the pervasive dread of a possible "hot war". This fear was not confined to the
geopolitical realm but seeped into every aspect of daily life. Comparing these real-life accounts
with the propaganda video "Red Nightmare" (1962), it's clear how effectively media was used to
stoke fear and shape public sentiment during the Cold War (Whitfield, 1996).
The film "Red Nightmare", portraying an American's nightmare of life under communist
rule, was a stark manifestation of the ideological battle, serving to sustain and amplify the fear of
communism among Americans. Despite its clear propaganda nature, the film reflected the
general atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and uncertainty that my aunt described (Whitfield, 1996).
Reflecting on today's world, my aunt drew parallels between the Cold War and current
international conflicts, emphasizing the enduring need for diplomacy, negotiation, and respect for
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international law (Nye, 2017). Despite the increased interconnectedness of the world and the
evolution of communication platforms, the fundamental challenges of ideological conflicts
remain.
In conclusion, the insights gleaned from the interview and the analysis of "Red
Nightmare" underscore the lasting impact of the Cold War on individual lives and collective
memory. As we navigate our complex and interconnected world, these lessons from the past
continue to hold significant relevance.
References
Freedman, L. (2007). The Cold War. Allen Lane.
Gaddis, J. L. (2005). The Cold War: A New History. Penguin.
Nye, J. S. (2017). Will the liberal order survive: The history of an idea. Foreign Affairs, 96, 10.
Whitfield, S. J. (1996). The culture of the Cold War. Johns Hopkins University Press.
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