In 1984, one of the most influential movies of a generation came out – it led to thousands of young people digging pits in preparation to fight off the imminent invasion from Russia and Central America. It created something of a mindset that is probably the most noble thing about Generation X: we were all (probably unrealistically) prepared to fight off Soviet hordes.
What a lot of people do not remember is the opening credits, which post a 7 world conditions (on shaky placards, apparently) that the writers thought would potentially lead to an invasion of the US. Keep in mind that this was all before the rise of the war on Terror, the fall of the USSR, the reunification of Germany, etc.
However, as everyone was posting memes about Red Dawn on their Social Media profiles, I thought a quick reference to the original and maybe a modern take on each of them might be… well, fun?
1. Original: Soviet Union suffers worst wheat harvest in 55 years.
Modern: Soviet Union, haven fallen and been replaced by The Russian Federation. With most of its satellite and puppet regimes independent, it is a shell of the former “glory” of the USSR. It is now led by a Soviet era KGB agent.
Russian economy is ranked 43 among 45 European countries. Its per capita GDP drops to 64th by 2021. Its only real export is the fossil fuels that the rest of the world is attempting to learn to limit.
2. Original: Labor and food riots in Poland. Soviet Troops invade.
Modern: Weak Western leadership emboldens this former KGB Premiere to fulfill his loudly proclaimed expansionist goals. First Crimea, then Ukraine is invaded. China, once a fierce opponent of Russia has responded to this weakness by creating close ties to Russia.
3. Original: Cuba and Nicaragua reach troop strength goals of 500,000.
Modern: Cuba and Nicaragua together have a troop strength of around 100,000 but are not an issue. However, Russia is still considered the number 2 military force in the world and China is number 3. Combined, they represent a threat that The US is very hesitant to cross.
4. Original: El Salvador and Honduras fall.
Modern: The original movie imagined a collapsing South and Central America. It did not foresee the dangers of radical Islam and it certainly didn’t foresee the alignment of goals by Russia, Belarus, China, and Iran. The idea of Red Dawn was that there was too much for the US to do without the resources to handle it nor the help from former allies. It also counted on “a half a million screaming Chinamen” to side with America.
5. Original: Greens party gains control of West German Parliament Demands withdrawal of nuclear weapons from European soil.
Modern: The US (recently almost totally energy independent) Europe, and especially Germany are energy dependent on Russia. From day one of the invasion, these nations determined NOT to reduce the energy they are buying from Russia in face of the invasion. Now the risk of Russia cutting of supplies seems like the greater threat rather than the other way around.
6. Original: Mexico plunges into revolution
Modern: Mexican Drug Cartels have essentially turned Mexico into a failed state, according to some. Mexico would be a non-entity in any kind of international conflict.
7. Original: NATO dissolves
Modern: What happens if Putin continues into a NATO country when and if he has taken Ukraine? He has said before that he would like to return to the pre-soviet collapse. This could include Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Lithuania, and others that were former WARSAW pact and are now in NATO. If one of these were invaded, there would be two options – war or the dissolution of NATO.
Of course no nation is innocent; no national history and even current events are without scandal and shame. All of history and all of politics is complex and cannot be wrapped up with reason or wisdom in a meme.
That being said, I pray that God will somehow get the attention of lost and evil leaders and draw them to repentance, such that they walk away from war. If they harden their hearts, I pray that God would strike them down in defeat.
I pray for peace to be resumed in Ukraine and especially my heart breaks for the people of Ukraine. I am not expert enough to know when the right time to risk war is in each situation, but I know that time may come, so I pray for our nation and the world if it does.
Finally, I pray that in this time that naturally will create fear and anxiety, people will be drawn to God in new ways, including here in our country. Amen.
When Russia invaded Ukranian soil back in February I immediately flashed back to the movie Red Dawn and the innocent civilians that were killed in the movie. It was chilling to see the same thing happening in real life.
When I saw Red Dawn, I owned one shotgun and one Rifle. I now own a total of 47 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition . Most are hunting weapons, but fully one third are tactical weapons for self defense. I have also taught my family to become proficient in the use of firearms.
If you believe that this can only happen in the movies or in another country far away, think again. We have enemies in Washington that are as evil as Putin!
Prepare yourself for the evil that is among us now!!
Michael, if you haven’t read my series of articles on the urgency and need for more preparation, I would love to have you start at “Still not convinced?”
Also, I think you might particularly enjoy Wolverines!
I’m not on social media, but had the same thought when is saw the Hind helicopters and undeniably Russian APCs moving in. I flashed back to my 11 year old self at a PG-13 movie taking in an unimaginable invasion by bad guys. Bad guys who parachuted in and hurt kids and teachers at school without hesitation. It’s funny how something can haunt your psyche even decades later. And be so widely shared by a generation.
As an adult I long ago relegated such a scenario to fiction, but just. Not that it was impossible. Its not the same as Colorado (or really Las Vegas, NM) but I hope there are some young Ukrainian Wolverines, and can only imagine their reflexive patriotism would be in overdrive this week.
That being said, I’m in agreement with your prayers and hopes.
Thanks, Jim. I spent many boring classes watching out the window, waiting to see parachutes floating gently to the ground like leaves.