Dr. Strangelove - Emma G.

Dr. Strangelove is a film that takes a comedic stance on the Cold War: a period of tension between the United States and Soviet Union filled with threats of nuclear weapon attacks. When the film was made in 1962, the satire throughout the film was met with laughs; however, today with technology advancements and increased political tension, nuclear weaponry is not a laughing matter. In addition, with the large sum of power given to political figures, one individual's decisions can cause mass destruction. 

Although the Soviet Union has collapsed, its power has been inherited by other countries such as Russia. In February 2022, Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine: an ally of the United States. Since that attack, missiles have been fired and over 300,000 civilians between Russia and Ukraine have been killed or wounded. With Ukraine gaining Western support, Russia has threatened to start using nuclear weaponry. With scenes of Dr. Strangelove starting to look more realistic, suddenly it starts to become a more horrific film rather than a comedy. 

Not only would a nuclear war cause mass destruction to the enemy attacked; it would cause mass destruction to the health of the Earth. Anthropogenic global warming has already led to negative environmental consequences. Adding the effects of a nuclear war would make areas of the Earth unlivable. With such dire consequences, does anyone ever win a nuclear war?


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