September 23rd 2024.
Ever since I was a young child, I have always been a bit of a worrier. But nothing could have prepared me for the immense fear and tension that gripped me when I watched the BBC film, Threads, forty years ago. As an 11-year-old, I was completely engrossed in the two-hour drama set in Sheffield, as the characters slowly realized that the tensions between the US and Russia could lead to a nuclear war.
I remember feeling like a nuclear bomb had gone off in my living room as I watched the horrifying attacks unfold on the screen. The iconic scene of a woman wetting herself as she saw the mushroom cloud go up is forever etched in my mind. And as the film continued to show the devastating aftermath of a nuclear attack, I found myself unable to look away, even as I felt sick to my stomach.
After the film ended, I went to bed feeling absolutely terrified and devastated. It was a stark reminder that this wasn't just science fiction or a fanciful horror story - this was a very real possibility in our world. And as a young child, it was a heavy burden to bear.
The next day, I woke up feeling a complete state of panic. I was determined to do something to protect myself and my family, so I found a screwdriver and started unscrewing the living room door to build a nuclear shelter in our cellar. I even moved a torch and some tinned food into the shelter, feeling like I was taking control of the situation.
But my fear and anxiety only grew as I tried to reach out to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament to join their cause. I eventually got through and joined their organization, becoming an active anti-nuclear activist. I co-founded a local Youth CND group, handed out leaflets, and even participated in protests to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear war.
Threads had truly opened my eyes to the harsh realities of life and the brutal truth of those in power. It was a wake-up call that I will always be grateful for, even though it ruined my life in some ways. And it seems that I am not alone in this, as Threads is having a bit of a renaissance, with a popular podcast and a Facebook group where we can all share our experiences and even find some humor in the terrifying scenes from the film.
But despite the passing of 40 years and the end of the Cold War, I still find myself gripped with fear and anxiety when I see news of global tensions rising. As I read about the actions of world leaders like Putin and Netanyahu, and the possibility of Trump returning to the White House, I am transported back to that 11-year-old boy, praying that the nightmare depicted in Threads never becomes a reality. Because even though we have made it through these last 40 years without a nuclear war, the fear and uncertainty still linger in my mind.
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