Talking to Children About Nuclear War
Van Ornum and Van Ornum
1984
Submitter: I found this while weeding the Parent/Teacher collection in my medium-sized public library. This was a topical acquisition about 35 years ago when it was first published, but it’s never circulated as far back as we keep circulation records. Maybe someone will come looking for it in the current political climate, but if they do, I’m sure there’s got to be something out there that doesn’t predate the modern internet.
Holly: I’m sure more parents have had discussions with children about nuclear war in 2017 than in the last 30 years combined! Still, submitter is right. This might have a few useful tips, but we can probably do better for our kids.
Looks like this book came out less than a year after the TV-movie “The Day After” was screened in November, 1983. I recall that generated a lot of conversations about nuclear war among my friends when I was in school.
That movie came out when I was in college, and I remember how people were urged not to view it alone, and to call phone banks if they needed counseling. It was on TV a couple of years ago, and I was struck by how cheesy and quaint it seems by today’s standards.
Nukes are possibly the second reason I hate the human race in general (discrimination would be the first) and I’m close to becoming a complete misanthropist. It’s bad enough that most people are just plain evil or idiotic, but the few who aren’t and tolerate the evilness and idiocy are no better.
Having a bad day, hun?
I am reminded of some Lois Lowry books…
They should just have a gun in the back of the book so you can shoot your kids and yourself after reading it.
This book came out the year I was born, and I did a double-take when the submitter called this “about 35 years ago.” Holy crap you guys, I’m nearly 35 years old!!
And for the record I’m pretty sure my parents never had *the talk* with us about nuclear war.
Ashley: By the time you were old enough for that talk, the Berlin Wall had already fallen. You missed out on the glories of the Cold War.
Do you talk to them while they are making their Thanksgiving collage?