Under the baobab: As history repeats, hope for saner heads to prevail again

On Oct. 22, 1962, President John Kennedy announced that the Soviet Union was constructing nuclear missiles on Cuba, only 90 miles from Florida. These could hit American cities up to 1,000 miles away. What he said next was even more chilling.

“To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba from whatever nation or port will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back. ... It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.”

The Cold War turned hot. I was just a teenager, a Navy recruit serving on one of those possibly blockading ships. I understood we were at the threshold of nuclear war. The country had been preparing for this possibility since 1949, when Russia became the second country to develop an atomic bomb. The bombs in 1962 were 3,300 times more powerful than those that destroyed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Both Russia and the United States had the power to destroy all life on the planet many times over.

We went on the highest military alert for 13 days. The world waited to see what would happen when the U.S. Navy actually tried to stop a Soviet ship. Kennedy had already written a speech:

“This morning, I reluctantly ordered the armed forces to attack and destroy the nuclear buildup in Cuba.”

Kennedy never had to deliver that speech. Saner heads on both sides prevailed. On Oct. 28, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered the removal of Soviet nuclear missiles from Cuba, and he ordered the Soviet ships to turn back. The Americans secretly pledged to withdraw intermediate nuclear missiles from Turkey and not to invade Cuba. The world has never come close to nuclear war until now.

As he began his war against the people of Ukraine, Russia President Putin declared:

“No matter who tries to stand in our way or all the more so create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history.”

He placed his nuclear arsenal on high alert and has not ruled out using atomic bombs or poison gas in his efforts to subjugate the courageous Ukrainian people. There are those who want the U.S. and NATO to adopt a more aggressive military posture toward this despot. Others understand the danger and precarious nature of the precipice upon which we stand. Again, we hope saner heads will prevail. President Biden has remained cautious while trying to assist the people of Ukraine. We can only hope and pray that similar prudent minds exist and will prevail in the Kremlin.

In happier news, congratulations to Coach Cael Sanderson and the Penn State wrestling team for winning its 10th NCAA title. Five members of the team also won gold medals in their division: Roman Bravo-Young, Nick Lee, Carter Starocci, Aaron Brooks and Max Dean. We are …

We are fortunate enough to be witnessing another kind of history. The Senate is set to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. She will be the first African American woman to be so honored. Senator Cory Booker, a Black lawmaker from the Senate Judiciary Committee, speaking for us all, sang her praises,

“When I look at you, I see my ancestors and yours. I know what it’s taken for you to sit here in this seat. You have earned this spot.”

The Court looks more like our country.