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That's a really simplistic way of thinking about it. The red scare continued through the late 1950s (and the cold war continued for decades -- there was no lac
by bpodgursky 10y ago
That's a really simplistic way of thinking about it.
The red scare continued through the late 1950s (and the cold war continued for decades -- there was no lack of fear and suspicion).
John Glen orbited the earth in 1962, in the middle of all this.
The nation doesn't wake up, flip and coin and decide it's either optimistic or fearful one day. You can be scared of some things and optimistic about others. Or both at the same time. Or some people are optimistic, and others have more fears.
It's complicated, but pithy quotes ("I'm just hoping for hope again") are stupid.
- dragonwriter 10y ago> John Glen orbited the earth in 1962, in the middle of all this. And almost entirely because of it; the U.S. space program didn't evolve independently of, or in tension with, the fear of Communism.
- bpodgursky 10y agoYeah. Having a common fear or enemy is often the _cause_ for optimism and rallying around common goals. It's stupid to suggest that fear prevents us from striving for great things.
- thecrazyone 10y agoChill out man, no need to be so judgemental (in reference to you calling things stupid)
- andars 10y agoI appreciate this comment, but I disagree with your statement that "pithy quotes are stupid". Perhaps nothing has changed, but it certainly seems that pessimism, worry, and fear are far more prevalent than optimism now, so I see nothing wrong with a hope for an increase in widespread hope and optimism.