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Maru Kitteh

(31,929 posts)

19. My dad was a WWII vet. He MADE me watch The Holocaust and The Day After

Reply to CivicGrief (Reply #3)

Sun May 3, 2026, 02:02 AM

Sunday

He felt strongly that the culture in general did not treat the subject of war with the gravity it should. He felt they made war into a joke too easily (Hogan’s Heros/MASH) or some kind of glory trip with golden heroes and chiseled jaws.

He wanted to make sure I understood, it’s none of those things. We watched MASH, like most other families in the US at that time and dad laughed, too, but we were long disabused of the notion that it ever really scratched the surface of what war does. At least not until the final episode where the infant is smothered. That’s war. That’s what war is.

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Highlight:

'The Day After' (1983 nuclear holocaust TV movie that changed history): 16 Weird Secrets You Didn't Know-- and 'Threads' [View all] Jack Valentino Thursday OP

That was when we had 3 tv channels and experiencesvevents as one nation BlueWaveNeverEnd Thursday #1

Thanks for posting Jack canetoad Thursday #2

My mother wouldn't let me watch it. CivicGrief Thursday #3

My parents wouldn't either RockCreek Thursday #9

My dad was a WWII vet. He MADE me watch The Holocaust and The Day After Maru Kitteh Sunday #19

The movie, Testament, also from 1983, still rocks me... ultralite001 Thursday #4

Yeah, I forgot to mention 'Testament'--- also very bleak but Jack Valentino Thursday #5

Good catch... ultralite001 Thursday #6

Threads: "Might as well go out with a 'bang', that's what I say!" LOL Jack Valentino Sunday #18

My Gen X childhood comes rushing back. OC375 Thursday #7

When the Wind Blows is another good one from that era. johnp3907 Thursday #8

As is "Grave of the Fireflies" -- Studio Ghibli -- 1988... ultralite001 Friday #11

Thank you! johnp3907 Friday #12

This message was self-deleted by its author wcmagumba Thursday #10

I was 30, I watched. Was also at the then Biggest March/Protest (Anti-Nuke Weapons) on June 12, 1982 in NYC! electric_blue68 Friday #13

I Found Threads To Be Very Frightening ProfessorGAC Friday #14

Same here. Another Jackalope Friday #16

When I was a 17 year old college student I attended a lecture by Helen Caldicott and talked with her a bit afterwards. hunter Friday #15

Bookmarked. lpbk2713 Friday #17

Thanks for posting this...... Takket Sunday #20

All their $$$, all their crypto, all their property + possessions... ultralite001 Sunday #21