In 1949, as the world was becoming a more contentious place; between the Cold War, the growing independence movements sweeping through former colonies, the fledgling United Nations stuck in the middle of upheavals and revolutions, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization further agitating an already strained relationship between Europe and The Soviet Union – it made for a lot of sleepless nights.
We were convinced that war, some kind of war, would erupt almost any minute, plunging the world into endless darkness and untold destruction. It was an uncomfortable time for most everyone.
Couple all that with what was happening in America at the time – social and economic grumblings brought on by the war and the peace which gave it voice, the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement, subtle hints there was a Women’s movement in the offing. Even our music was changing.
On the one hand, America was making huge strides in the development of new medicines, largely because of the War, to treat diseases that were, only years before, considered fatal. Technology would soon change the way we lived and how we spent our time.
The pundits were out in full force, devoting hours and thousands of pages of newsprint to evaluating what was going on with us and staring into crystal balls in an effort to predict what would be next.
So, it was only natural to consult the youth of 1949. The teenagers who would no doubt be inheriting the confusion in a few short years.
This program, an episode of The Northwestern Reviewing Stand from May 1, 1949, features four students from various high schools around the country.
Two things: the knowledge these kids possess about the current affairs and historic nature of our world is jaw-dropping. This, on the heels of another program broadcast around the same time that decried Americans lack of knowledge about current affairs, not only domestically but the world. Perhaps these kids were anomalies of what the average seventeen year old was like in America – The other – knowing these are teenagers in 1949, realizing they are now in their mid-late eighties gives one the feeling these were the kids, or kids just like them, who were responsible for shaping the future of America as politicians and elected officials.
It’s a lot to consider, but the bottom line; these were issues Americans faced in 1949 and it would only continue, and escalate over the next decade.
We’ve come far – maybe not.
In any case, give this broadcast a listen – May 1, 1949 was an interesting year.
