My brother-in-law was an interesting character in the early 70s. He went on a tour of a missile bunker one time. The officer who was guiding them showed them a console and said, “That button right there is the one that launches the nuclear missile.” My brother reached over and punched it.

Of course, nothing happened, because there are other steps that have to occur, but the officer blanched white. I don’t remember if I asked why he punched the button.

Interestingly, he said that in one college class he took that included military officers as well as civilians, the professor posed the question of how they would react if they were President and the Soviets launched a missile by accident that would hit a major US city. In the scenario, the Soviets notify the US government that it was unintentional, but there is no way to stop it.

To a man, the officers said they would not retaliate under those circumstances. And nearly to a man, the civilians said they would!

Isn’t irony lifelike?