Fear of Communism - Term Paper Example

Fear of Communism Created In the Film “The Atomic Cafe” Through US government propaganda shorts from the 1950s, the film, “the Atomic cafe,” portrays how successfully the government created a climate of fear toward USSR and communism. Beginning from the time of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the film explores various instances when the government, forcefully made the American population believe that the USSR and the communism were enemies of the country. Various incidences in the film reveal instances when the government, thorough actions of the military soldiers and national scientists, spread propaganda through the national media, threw the American population into frenzy, uniting them against a common enemy, the USSR and the communist states.

This notwithstanding, there was outward restriction of civil rights among the population, without any justified reasons. However, the government by taking advantage of the situation manipulated its own people, denying them of their rights, in the name of fighting communism. Immediately after the bombing of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki towns of Japan, the Americans went into a celebration. They had won the Second World War, which meant that there no more fear of attacks from the allied nations. Surprisingly though, the Americans did not know that this was the beginning of another war, the cold war between the capitalists and the communist states.

With America supporting capitalism, proving to its citizens that the communists and the USSR were enemies was important. Subsequently, after the bombing, Russia started assembling its own atomic bombs in readiness for attack; the US government took this as an advantage, instilling fear and anarchy among the Americans on the impending strikes on the US soil by the USSR. Indirectly, the government, through the media, created scenes and reports aimed at worrying the American citizens on the effects of atomic bombs on its people.

With the government pledging protection of its people from any form of attacks from the enemies, it embarked on the development of more powerful weapons, such as the hydrogen bomb. Scenes like the evacuation of the people in the Bikini region to pave way for the testing of nuclear weapons indicated that the course the war was taking a rather different course; the possibility of a more intense and deadlier war was imminent. The government was keen at pinning this on the communism and USSR. The use of pigs to test the effects of nuclear on the human skin (as they biologically share similar compositions with humans) further indicated the determination of the government to develop weapons, lethal enough to suppress the power of the enemy.

The activities taking place then, having received intensive media coverage, were enough to make the people support government’s efforts on the fight against the USSR. Not only did the government show increased concern for the people’s safety through protection, it also taught them defense skills. For instance, during the testing of these bombs, soldiers hid in tunnels as a way of protecting themselves from the radiations. Of course, this could not have offered them adequate protection to the soldiers.

Additionally, when the wind blew the radiations into town and other dwelling places, the government advised people to remain in doors at least an hour to avoid any contact with the radiation. These events occurred under the watch of the public, as everything took place on live radio stations. The government, by advertising every planned event on live radio was an indication of the depth of the matter. Did the government really have to keep people in doors for that long in order to test their bombs?

The biological effects of the atomic bomb that created heightened levels of fear to the people, more than anything done then could. Its impact on the Japanese people then, as well as the projected long term effects on the future generations were enough to make people panic. Images of the billowing smoke on the sky after the bomb exploded, and the scores of the injured people were worrisome. Even soldiers taking part in the bombing, while describing its magnitude, agreed having experienced the impact through shock waves in their plane.

Injuries reported from the incident, and the risk of contracting cancer and cancer related complications after the bomb made the people dread such an attack more than ever on the American soil. Therefore, the government, through the media, managed to use the atomic bomb incidences on America to create a climate of fear among the Americans against the USSR and the communist nations. There was justification of the restrictions on the civil liberties during the cold war of America with the communist states.

According to Smith (n.p.), it is the declaration of the congress to uphold the constitution. Therefore, every American should be free to enjoy their rights regardless of their opinions, especially in the case of the communism and capitalism issue then. Therefore, a person could hold unpopular beliefs and thoughts on any issue, and as such, Americans supporting communism were justified (Smith n.p.). However, the government, through its fight against communism, wanted to make the battle an American people’s battle, and sought to use any means.

As McCarthy (n.p.) points out, there were people serving in the American government who held the belief that communism was a better ideology than capitalism. Since the fight against communism and atheism was a government plan, then involving the American populations, and to the extent of denying them their civil liberties was wrong, and thus not justified. There was thus no justification of the government’s choice to limit people’s civil rights because of uniting against a common enemy. The US currently, through its fight against terrorism, creates similar scenarios like those happening in the war against the communism and the USSR nations.

Everybody feared an attack from the communist and the USSR nations. The government should have used this as an example of the effects of high levels of fear among the people, thus avoiding such incidence in future. This is however unlikely. Since the American government started its war on terrorism, images created closely resemble those of the cold war. With the increased awareness of the need to stay vigilant to avoid any form of attack, whether big or small, exemplifies the happenings of the atomic cafe.

While it does this this time with the noble intentions of preventing another attack such as one that took place on 9/11, there is over emphasis of the issue, especially in political debates, all contributing to increased levels of fear among the people. Although the government tries to assure the people of homeland security and their safety, they reality is that the people are becoming more afraid of terrorists more than ever. However, the government should draw the effects of the crowd of fear that hit the country in the era of the atomic age to avoid similar incidences from happening.

Works Cited Smith, Margaret C. “Declaration of Conscience (1950).” The New York Times 2 June 1950. Print. Mccarthy, Joseph R. Lincoln Day Address (1950), The Congressional Record, 81st Congress, 20, February 1950: 96, part 2. Print.