Threat of Global Nuclear War
As a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis both superpowers acknowledged the complete destruction of the world via nuclear weapons. On the 27th of October 1962 John Kennedy gave a speech at a White House meeting, where he said; ‘It is insane that two men, sitting on opposite sides of the world, should be able to decide to bring an end to civilization.’ (JFK Presidential Library and Museum, 2015) This quote shows the recognition of the devastating impacts that a nuclear war would have had on not only their own nation but the world. During the Cuban Missile Crisis nuclear weapons were meant to be used to strike fear upon the enemy however it resulted in near nuclear combat.
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‘It is insane that two men, sitting on opposite sides of the world, should be able to decide to bring an end to civilization.’
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(Cubanmissilecrisis.org, 2015)
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The cartoon ‘Let’s get a lock for this thing’ published by the Washington Post a newspaper established in America in 1962 at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis (Cubanmissilecrisis.org, 2015). In this cartoon both Kennedy and K are worried as they work together to close the lid on the ‘nuclear war’ monster which is trying to escape. Nuclear war is depicted similar to the Pandora’s Box as it contains evils of the world and once open could destroy civilization. The representation of both leaders working together to prevent a nuclear war shows that the fear of attack is the desired outcome. It can be clearly seen that the ownership of a weapon this dangerous were used to control world affairs as no culture wants to become a victim of such instant death and destruction. Due to the Cuban Missile Crisis the Presidents of two major superpowers, John F Kennedy and NK, recognised the catastrophic impact that a nuclear war would have on their nations and the world. Both acknowledged that the threat of a nuclear war was being used as a means for negotiating their own outcomes.
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