Cuba

  I was in elementary school, when the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in 1962.  We were all scared that the Soviet Union was going to supply nuclear missiles to Cuba, and they would then launch them at the United States thus starting World War III.  The country started a policy for school children called "Duck and Cover".  We were supposed to get under our desks and put our hands over our heads.  This was supposed to protect us from getting killed in a nuclear war.  They also used that exercise for a possible tornado hitting our school.  

 When we got the word, we all fell to the floor and did what we were supposed to do.  As time went on, our teachers became aware that putting our hands over our heads probably wouldn't protect us much, so they moved us into the school's hallway.  We all sat with our knees to our chests, and we put our heads between our knees.  This posture was supposed to protect us better from a tornado or a nuclear blast.  It got us away from the windows in the classrooms.  Smart move.  No one really knew what would happen to us should we be hit.  It was a little more comforting though.

 Living through the Cold War was pretty traumatic.  You just never knew if or when somebody would start a war.  If I watch a movie now that pertains to a nuclear war, and it stops before something bad happens, I start to cry.  It is a reflex action from that period in my life.  Of course, we still have nuclear missiles.  So do other countries.  We also know not to "duck and cover".

 Years later, I came across a blacklight poster in a store.  It looked official from the government.  It had printed steps on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack.  The last line of the poster said, "Put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye."  That made more sense than what the school had us to do.  Keep that thought in the back of your mind just in case.