The threat of total annihilation hung heavy over the world during the Cold War. You could read about it in the paper, listen to radio shows about it and watch shows devoted to it on the TV, in school and in the theaters. Some of the most effective messages during the Cold War were not the verbal or written messages, but the symbols that were used by the government to convey the danger of the situation. These symbols spoke volumes without having to use many words, and they were instantly recognizable during a time when seconds counted.
The fallout shelter sign is probably the most recognizable symbol of the Cold War. Many people see this sign today and think "radiation", but in reality this sign symbolized protection from fallout. These could be seen in numerous public and private buildings. People would pay attention to these signs, especially when the threat of attack was at a high level. In a nuclear situation, if the people could not make it home safely, they were supposed to find the nearest shelter and wait out the initial attack and radiation period.
The next most recognizable symbol is the Civil Defense symbol. This symbol is not from the Cold War, rather it has its origins in WWII, but it was adopted by the Civil Defense during the Cold War, and it came to symbolize the efforts of the nation the be prepared if the worst happened. It was important to prepare people for the worst, so that when it happened complete anarchy would not take over.
The evacuation routes were a series of roads that were meant to carry people out of the larger cities and into the safer rural areas. These signs were to be obeyed during an evacuation, and whether they would have worked or not is still hotly debated. Some of the old routes have been used to evacuate cities in the path of a hurricane and the success rates have varied.
And last, but not least, we have Bert the Turtle. Bert is my favorite, so he will be showing up a lot. But this time, Bert represents all of the cartoons that were made for school children during this period. Characters like Bert came to represent the lessons the school children learned regarding civil defense during the Cold War. Think of some of the most vivid memories you have from when you were a child. How many of you can sing your favorite cartoon's song, or list some phrases said by your favorite cartoon character? While the adults could easily tune out the messages related to civil defense, the children could more readily absorb the messages taught by these films.
There are many more symbols used during the Cold War in order to convey the danger of the time. These subconscious symbols were constant reminders of the dangers we faced, and the steps we could take to prepare for the worst.
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