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Cold War: 'The only choice today is peace.'

Broadcast Date: Nov. 23, 1961

Thanks to fallout shelters, we are literally burying our heads in the sand, says columnist Ron Haggart. Criticizing the government's stance that war is inevitable, Haggart urges politicians and citizens alike to adopt a commitment to peace. The mindset that war is unavoidable scars our psyches and ruins our concept of normality. In this CBC Radio editorial, Haggart argues that the anticipation of nuclear war is becoming so commonplace, people are beginning to believe it really won't be so bad after all.

Cold War: 'The only choice today is peace.'

• Other nuclear disarmament protestors in Canada included the Voice of Women. Following the dramatic Cuban missile crisis in October 1962, VOW President Thérèse Casgrain questioned "[Will] we be in the death throes of radiation agony, or more mercifully dead? Facing the ultimate crisis forces us to re-evaluate what is important in life, what do I stand for? These questions are easy for any mother to answer."

Cold War: 'The only choice today is peace.'

Medium: Radio

Program: Speaking Personally

Broadcast Date: Nov. 23, 1961

Guest(s):

Commentator: Ron Haggart

Duration: 8:32

Last updated:
Nov. 9, 2010