The Red Dawn: Reds Part II Prologue

The Red Dawn

Reds! Part II ​

Columbia University, 1979

”… And that’s all for today. For next week’s discussion, please read Mattick, Chapter 4, and we will discuss the political shift leading up to the war.”

Norman Thomas Washington began to gather his papers, and head home for the day, the day’s coursework done. His thoughts were already at home, with the gloves he’d been knitting, now so close to finishing.

“Excuse me, uh,… Norm? Do you have time?”

Scarlett had not spoken much this class. She was a bright PoliSci student, but somewhat unprepared for the more relaxed atmosphere of Metropolis. She always in calling the professor by his first name.

“Sure thing.”

“I was wondering about today’s discussion. About the extensive changes that were going on during the First Cultural Revolution and the vibrancy by which it was accomplished. I was just wondering….”

“What?”

“Well, why isn’t politics as, well, exciting, as it was back then? If we are living off the fruits of their labor, why don’t we have the same excitement that they had.”

“That’s a very good question.” Norm had never considered that perspective. It was true that, in comparison to the politics of the early Revolutionary period, where nation-building and reorganization was all around, that the modern era didn’t seem as interesting.

“I suppose it’s just that the innovations of the 30’s and 40’s that made this period so fascinating and exciting are just normal, accepted by most individuals. Remember, they were rebuilding from a society that had long been thoroughly capitalist and conservative. They tore down what was accepted, and built a new one from the ground up. We now live on what they accomplished, and what they viewed as revolutionary we view as average everyday activity. We don’t often consider it as anything spectacular.”

“I suppose I understand”

” And that’s a good thing! We discussed how this was a gamble for them, and there was still a ton of problems and growing pains that they had to deal with. Now, while we still have much work to do to build a truly communist world community, we now live in relative peace and are better off now.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I appreciate that. Thanks… Norm.”

Norman grabbed his bag and headed down the hallway, towards the train depot to head home. As usual though, he passed through the library and grabbed some coffee. In the background, a group of students were watching a television show. Some show about space voyagers. Star Something, like that movie that came out a while ago. (Norman preferred documentaries or historical dramas).

Just then, transmission was lost, and the words “Emergency Broadcast” appeared on screen.

“We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast to bring you breaking news. Here at the desk to report on it is lead anchor for the 5 O’Clock News Ronald Reagan.”

Norman moved closer to get a better look.

“Good afternoon comrades, we have just received word that hostilities have broken out between Argentinian and Franco-British forces on the Falkland Islands….”

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Thus begins the Red Dawn section of this timeline.