The globe

  When World War I erupted in Europe in 1914, the world was thrust into a new era of mechanized warfare , mass mobilization , and cultural upheaval . For the United States, entry into the war came later in April 1917,  but its impact on American society, and particularly on its young intellectuals, was profound. Among them was Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald , a 20-year-old Princeton dropout with literary ambitions and a romantic view of war. His experience or more accurately, his non-experience of World War I would leave a lasting imprint on his psyche and his prose. Enlistment and Aspirations of Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 8, 1917 , shortly after America joined the war. Like many young men of his generation, he was swept up by a mix of patriotism, idealism, and a desire for personal transformation. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry and sent to Camp Sheridan in Alabama for training. But Fitzgerald’s motivations weren’t pu...

  Near Misses: When the World Stood on the Edge of World War III Throughout modern history, there have been chilling moments when global tensions escalated so dramatically that World War III seemed imminent. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed or luck intervened , and the world pulled back from the edge. These incidents serve as powerful reminders of how fragile peace can be. 1. The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Perhaps the most iconic near-miss in history, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. When the U.S. discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, it responded with a naval blockade. For 13 days, the world held its breath. A secret backchannel deal saved the day: the USSR removed the missiles in exchange for the U.S. quietly withdrawing missiles from Turkey. 2. The Able Archer Scare (1983) During NATO’s routine military exercise known as Able Archer 83 , the Soviet Union feared it was a cover for a real nuclear strike. Sovi...