*from Marvin's Book: The Story of a Professor and a Promise*
Point Your Guns at Carol
One way – just one, of course – to teach the Cold War concept of “containment” is to pretend your translator is the Soviet Union.
Now, move the classroom furniture around and surround the translator, shouting “Don’t expand!!! NOOO!!” while pointing overhead projectors and finger guns at him or her.
Then, while you are acting all crazy, shoutout, “who wants some money?” to your wide-eyed class.
If they say yes (and believe me, they’ll say yes, especially the ones who are never in class and are so lost they aren’t even taking notes) tell them to point their “finger guns” at your translator if they are your real allies. \
Believe it or not, a few students will make guns.
Usually a guy in the back stands up, finally ready to be called to action.
While they are laughing at the translator translating the entire scenario, race around the room all panicked[1] saying something like
“Contain her! Contain her! POINT YOUR GUNS AT CAROL SHE’S COMMUNISM AND SHE’S SPREADING LIKE SMALLPOX!! We will go to WAR to STOP WAR There will BE NO MORE WAR now KEEP POINTING YOUR GUNS AT CAROL”
Usually, at this point, your students will decide they might like the Cold War.
Your translator will probably a little traumatized, though.
[1] While I was in grad school I worked for Professor Ralph Mann at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and noticed he always paused before lecture to tie his shoe laces. He never ever tripped during his lectures. A wise man, in many ways. Also, practice first if you don’t normally run in cute high heels.
