The TV series All in the Family ran on CBS from 1971 to 1979. The infamous Archie Bunker, so brilliantly portrayed by Carroll O’Connor, had an opinion about everyone and everything.

In today’s hyper-politically correct cancel culture, most (if not all) of Archie’s comments would immediately go viral, with offended parties decrying the remarks and people losing jobs left, right, and center . . . well, mostly right.

But before you take offense at this list of zingers, consider director Norman Lear’s motivation behind creating Archie Bunker. Through Archie, Lear was able to bring up topics that many Americans considered taboo. Archie was bigoted and ignorant and overbearing, but he always got his comeuppance. The show never intended to make fun of minority groups – it intended to make fun of Archie’s limited point of view.

In letting Archie spout off his tirades, Lear presented an opportunity for those who might not have had a platform in the early 1970s – women, black men, homosexuals – to challenge Archie’s closed-minded ideas. Consider this: forty-some-odd years before Caitlyn Jenner became big news, Lear covered the transgender controversy with his All in the Family viewers (see it here).

So, as you revisit Archie’s bits of “wisdom,” keep in mind that they meant for more good than harm.

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10 Archie Bunker on Equal Rights for Women

When the Bunker’s neighbor Irene Lorenzo complains that she’s not earning the same pay as her male counterparts, even though she’s doing the same work, Archie tries to help her understand:

“After all, it’s a well-known fact that men are worth more than women.” He backs up his logical with, “In the Bible it says God made man in his own image. He made women after, from a cheaper cut.”
When he learns that Irene is making $5.50/hour – the same wage he is earning – Archie is beside himself.
“Equality is unfair… What’s the point of a man working hard all his life, trying to get someplace, if all he’s gonna do is wind up equal?!”

9 Archie Bunker On Racial Equality

Archie does not want the Jeffersons, a black family, to move to his neighborhood. Daughter Gloria and son-in-law Mike call him out on it, calling him “crooked.”

Archie explains that he’s just “looking out for No. 1,” which makes Mr. Jefferson “No. 2.” Gloria challenges Archie’s logic with, “I suppose the Puerto Ricans are No. 3 then…” to which Archie quickly replies, “Well, no, not necessarily little girl, your Puerto Ricans could be 4. Your Japs and your Chinks could be 3… 3A, 3B.”

8 Archie Bunker On Vegetarianism

Archie is upset that meat prices have risen eight percent. Gloria suggests the family consider becoming vegetarian, “It’d be cheaper… and healthier.”

Archie wants no part of it. “It ain’t natural. Man was put on this earth to eat meat.” When Mike challenges it, Archie explains, “The Bible says so… all of them old Bible people. They was always eatin’ meat, as soon as they found out eatin’ apples was wrong… It’s true. On special occasions, goats, lambs… whoever heard of sacrificing a head of lettuce?”

7 Archie Bunker On The American Melting Pot

In yet another disagreement with Mike and Gloria, Archie offers up his very own American history lesson, reflecting on the beauty of Lady Liberty standing in the harbor with her torch, screaming out to all the nations in the world:

“‘Send me your poor, your deadbeats, your filthy…’ And all the nations sent them in here – they come swarming in like ants: the Spanish P.R.s from the Caribbean, your Japs, your Chinamen, your Krauts and your Hebes and your English fags. All of ’em come in here, and they’re all free to live in their own separate sections where they feel safe. And they’ll bust your head if you go in there. That’s what makes America great, buddy.”

6 Archie Bunker On Slavery

“If God had meant for us all to be together, he’d a put us together. But look what he done: he put you over in Africa and put the rest of us in all the white countries.”
“Well you must have told him where we were ’cause someone came and got us,” said Davis, tongue-in-cheek. “I mean, there was work for us… How could you resist? Free transportation, room, board, chains…”
“I think you’re talkin’ about slavery, there, Sammy, and I wanna tell you I was always dead-set against slavery.”

In response, Mike, Gloria, and Lionel Jefferson (a black neighbor) belt out “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Top 10 Misconceptions About American Slavery

5 Archie Bunker on Gun Control

Mike had a real problem with Archie giving Mike’s son a toy gun as a birthday present.

“You’re not giving Joey a toy gun for his birthday,” said Mike.
“Oh yes I am, it’s his first amendment right!” retorted Archie.
“The first amendment is the right to free speech,” Mike replied.
“Exactly! When you have a machine gun in your hand, you have the right to say whatever you want!”

Archie even appeared on his local TV channel to offer his opinion on how the right to bear arms can prevent skyjacking.

“…I could end the skyjacking tomorrow. All you gotta do is arm all your passengers…[the hijacker] ain’t gonna dare to pull out no rod. And then the airlines, they wouldn’t have to search the passengers on the ground no more. They just pass out the pistols at the beginning of the trip, and they pick ’em up again at the end. Case Closed.”

4 Archie Bunker On Cavemen

Archie is all worked up because he and Irene Lorenzo are competing for the same job. Mike reminds him that the government is pushing for more women in the workforce. And here’s what Archie has to say about that.

Archie: “It’s a crime against nature. Women was created for two things: makin’ meals and babies…. It’s true. Look at the cave women. Why d’ya think the cave women was created with short legs and fat butts?”
Mike: “I don’t know Arch, but I’m sure you got a good answer.”
Archie: “So they couldn’t run fast. So the men could catch ’em and force ’em to make the meals and the babies.”
Mike: “Well weren’t there any cave women with long legs and skinny butts that could run faster than the men?”
Archie: “Well them the men would have to bring down with a rock.”
Mike: “Now I’m startin’ to catch on. And what about the cave MEN with the short legs and fat butts that couldn’t catch any women?”
Archie: “Well they was probably your first fags.”
Mike: “I gotta get outta here. I’m arguing about cavemen with a caveman.”

3 Archie Bunker On Evolution

In response to Mike’s belief that the story of Creation is nothing but a “fairy tale,” Archie reads from the Book of Genesis about how God created man and woman.
“There it is,” he says, tapping the Bible, “in black and white. We didn’t crawl out from under no rocks, we didn’t have no tails, and we didn’t come from monkeys you atheistic pinko meathead.”

2 Archie Bunker on Black Athletes

At their first meal together, Archie and his future son-in-law discuss baseball. Mike wonders how much Archie has seen in his day, and Archie comments about how much the game has changed over the years.

“Live ball. Expansion clubs. And of course the biggest change of all: 1947… yeah, that was the year they let Jackie Robinson into the Majors. Changed the whole complexion of the game, in more ways than one.”
Mike demands to know what Archie means by that. Gloria tries to diffuse the growing tension.
“It threw the whole game outta balance lettin’ Robinson in,” continued Archie.
“So you think the inferior black race should not be given a chance against the superior white race?” demanded Mike?
“Hold it Mr. Liberal Meathead. I never said nuttin’ about your inferior black race…. It’s just the opposite, if you’d just let me finish…
“What I’m sayin’ is your coloreds, as is well-known, they run faster, they jump higher, they don’t bruise so easy. And because of their, whaddya call it, jungle heritage, they see better – it’s great for night games.”
“You know something, Mr. Bunker?” said Mike. “At first, I thought I misjudged you. And I was right: I did misjudge you. You’re a lot more ignorant than I thought.”

1 Archie Bunker on Opinions

During their very first meeting, Archie and Mike get into a debate about peaceful protests against the Vietnam War. Archie serves up his opinion but immediately shuts down Mike when he starts to offer his input.

“Let me tell you something, Mr. Stivic,” Archie tells Mike. “You are a meathead… dead from the neck up. Meat. Head.”
Mike says that now he understands Archie’s idea of a free country: Archie is free to say whatever he wants, but if anyone disagrees with him, they’re either thrown into jail or called a ‘meathead.’”

And that, dear readers, is where our nation stands today… some 44 years later. Everyone wants to be entitled to voice their opinions, but few want to entertain the opinions of others. You can’t have a conversation when only one side is allowed to speak.

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Death is like taxes. We hate it. Also, sorry for the reminder, but it’s coming for us all—every living, breathing human on this planet and most other plants and animals. We don’t like to think about the end and keep it in our distant minds, but every so often, we read something about the ultimate end. The last hoorah for our beloved planet Earth. A comet heading coming to crash us to bits, a nuclear fallout that could force us underground for centuries, or a zombie outbreak that will turn us all into mindless biters.

Some people are ready for the end; we call them doomsday preppers. So when the poop hits the fan, they will be the ones we all run to. But the preppers aren’t all isolated, socially awkward people. Some just have the resources to plan that far ahead.

Here are ten insane billionaire doomsday bunkers that we won’t be invited to.

Related: Top 10 Disturbingly Practical Nuclear Weapons

10 The Oppidum

Surrounded by high fortress-like walls and hidden among the lush forests, this 323,000-square-foot (30,000-square-meter) property is where you will be as safe as you could ever be. Deep in the mountains of the rural Czech Republic lies the incredible estate known as The Oppidum.

Complete with an underground garden with simulated light, a spa, a swimming pool, a cinema, a library, and other leisurely activities, you are sure to have a blast. The living space encompasses a whopping 77,500 square feet (7,200 square meters). Operated by a subterranean control center, the only entrance into the compound is an underground tunnel locked in by a blast door that can be sealed in a matter of minutes. If you want to attempt a break-in, keep in mind they have 24-hour military-style security with big weapons.

Although space in the Oppidum is quite limited, the company also offers state-of-the-art bunkers and structures delivered straight to your door, even if only to keep your nosey neighbors out of your business.^[1]

9 Trident Lakes

If you are hoping to work in a round of golf while the rest of the world goes to hell in a handbasket, then Trident Lakes, your one-stop sports and survivalist center, is your answer.

This resort-style private property developed in Ector, Texas, a short hour’s drive from Dallas, is set to be the prime location for those keen to survive an impending apocalypse without having to worry about losing their handicap. The resort features a hotel, golf course, polo fields, and around 600 slots for condominium-type housing, each with a view of the water.

It doesn’t skimp on the usual requirements, such as underground bunkers, armed security personnel, and a secure wall to keep the unwanted folk out. Also, should you feel the world needs your DNA, there is a DNA vault so that you can safeguard literally everything, down to the very essence of your existence.^[2]

8 Europa One

If you are a billionaire reading this, and you are thinking perhaps Europa One is an option for you, know that, like the rest of us, you are not welcome. You see, Europa One is by invite only, and the invites have gone out already.

Touted as the largest and safest underground survival bunker in the world, Europa One is also considered one of the most opulent. Built in an old Cold War bunker built by the Soviets in Rothenstein, Germany, the shelter is said to be able to withstand nuclear blasts, biological and chemical agents, earthquakes, and even planes falling from the sky.

Individual chambers were up for purchase at a measly $5 million. Once all the units were completed, each owner was able to fit their personal space to the specs they desired.^[3]

7 The Survival Condo

In the middle of Kansas, surrounded by lush green lawns, you might stumble upon a state-of-the-art security bunker, or you might mistake it for a rolling hill with security that would rival the Pentagon.

This unassuming bunker is built in the shell of an old Atlas Missile Silo, which was originally constructed in the 1960s. Able to withstand the launch of a nuclear missile, these silos were built to house the U.S. nuclear arsenal behind 8-ton (7.25-metric-ton) steel doors.

At the top of the bunker, you will find the communal spaces, pet park, arcade, pool, and climbing wall. Next lies the mechanical level, medical and security level, and hydroponics levels, followed by the residential living quarters. At the bottom are a cinema and a bar for the escapists among the residents.^[4]

6 The Underground House

If your vibe is plastic trees, faux rocks, and murals of wild animals and landscapes painted on walls… but underground, then the Underground House is right up your alley.

Built during the original panic, the Cold War, this 15,000-square-foot (1,394-square-meter) home located in Las Vegas, Nevada, comes with adjustable lighting to match the ruined outside world, twinkling stars in the ceiling, a dancefloor (because it’s Vegas, and people even dance alone in their homes), two hot tubs, a sauna, a bar, and even a barbecue. Clearly built by a person who was happy to party the final years of their life away.

This property, which has garnered fame from the likes of Imagine Dragons and Juno Calypso and even featured in a Netflix special, can be yours for a measly $18 million if you act quickly.^[5]

5 Shrublands Road

Located in the idyllic little town of Mistley, Essex, in the UK, Shrublands Road used to be a Cold War nuclear bunker intended to be used as a bomb-proof communications hub should an attack level the sleepy town.

The 10,000-square-foot (929-square-meter) property was built with steel reinforcements ensuring the survival of those inside but has recently undergone a total revamp. The bunker was first used as a museum but was later transformed into three luxury apartments and sold off to the interested public.

The bunkers were expected to reach a very reasonable £1.4million for the poor man’s billionaire, but you would still have to fend for yourself as there are none of the amenities you would expect from a world-class bunker, like a climbing wall and a golf course. However, they have been remodeled into three homes (2 3-bedroom units and 1 4-bedroom unit, with modern kitchen and Italian-marble bathrooms. The units are accessed by a common atrium.^[6]

4 The Safe House

This industrial-style cube, built in Warsaw, Poland, won’t withstand a bomb blast or a nuclear fallout, but it will keep bodies, living or dead, from entering your living room. Labeled by the chief architect Robert Konieczny as the world’s first zombie-proof home, this concrete box stands out as a durable, affordable, green option for the undead that are causing you sleepless nights.

The house features sliding exterior walls, aluminum roll gates, and a drawbridge that leads to the roof terrace above the pool that can retract. Everything, from the walls to the windows, bridge, and fence, can be controlled electronically. It would be a wonderful addition if you also fit it with solar panels.^[7]

3 Dogen City

Still in its concept phase, Dogen City—driven by the firm N-Ark—was born out of a combination of the biblical Noah’s Ark with a sprinkle of billionaire buying power and just a touch of ideological engineering.

Touted to house up to 40,000 people, this construction will basically act as a floating, self-sufficient oasis, safe from the threat of rising sea levels from global warming or zombies that can’t swim. Residents would be able to enjoy jogs along the 2.4-mile outer ring and receive medical care from the underwater medical facility, all the while enjoying the sun and the sea.

N-Ark’s mission is to have Dogen City up and running before 2030, which should give them enough time before the polar caps melt.^[8]

2 Space

The space race is heating up. New players like SpaceX and Blue Origin have entered the fray and are competing for who owns the skies. The billionaires are hedging their survival bets, and it looks even more unattainable than before.

What if Earth is destroyed? That’s alright. Musk has a plan to colonize Mars, and Bezos is hoping to normalize space travel for those with the deepest pockets. In theory, it’s the perfect option. In space, there is no risk of nuclear fallout, no chance of a zombie apocalypse, and not even a hint that North Korea might follow.

Although Elon has been generous in his estimates (giving us normals a chance of joining the ship) and estimating the price of a ticket to Mars at between $100,000 and $500,000, the current rate is somewhat more out of our league at millions or even billions of dollars.^[9]

1 The Aristocrat

If you don’t have access to billions of dollars, there is good news. A company called Rising S Bunkers fashions a whole range of bunkers that can be built and delivered to your location of choice, priced anywhere from $49,000 for a simple survival bunker to almost $ 10 million (installation and delivery not included). This is their flagship Bomb Shelter Complex, known as the Aristocrat.

The Aristocrat features enough beds for 50 people, air filtration systems, workshops, freezers, a gym, saunas, pools, and a bowling alley. There is also a gun range and a motor cave exit so that you can come and go like Batman.

Seeing that this option is suitable for a small community or a very large family, perhaps you can get a few people to chip in and split the cost.^[10]

Thanks to human conflict, there is no shortage of forts, bases, and shelters. Those that are abandoned have a certain attraction, a sense of mystery that calls to urban explorers and researchers alike. This list looks at deserted places with interesting backgrounds or current situations. From the station in Antarctica that scientists keep abandoning to the bunker mania that almost ruined a country, here is the best collection of strange stories!

10 From Conflict Lookouts to Bat Hotels

In 1994, Jordan and Israel put aside their differences and signed a peace treaty. As a result, army bunkers along the Jordan River were vacated, and they’ve been empty ever since. Well, empty of humans anyway. Over time, 12 indigenous species of bats moved into the ghost bunkers. From an environmental point of view, this was a good move on the animals’ part. Five of the species were listed as either endangered or critically threatened. The bunkers became a much-needed sanctuary for them.

No interference from people and living in a closed military zone stretching 60 miles (96 kilometers) allowed the bats to thrive. Their numbers, now in the thousands, help the environment because their appetite for bugs reduces the need for pesticides in the surrounding areas. Great for the environment, but definitely not someplace I want to add to my “must-visit” list.^[1]

9 A Unique Gallery of Ships

The Old Fort in Zanzibar has long since been retired as an active fort. These days, the castle-like building is a cultural center. But recently, carved graffiti of ships on the walls came to light. Likely created during the late nineteenth century, researchers believe that the pictures were inspired by boredom. In other words, the “artists” were guards on duty who had time on their hands and a clear view of the ships that docked outside the fort.

This sounds mundane. But the engravings provide a rare snapshot of which vessels were a part of the trans-oceanic trade network that used the western Indian Ocean during this time.

If the soldiers truly did doodle ships they saw in real life, then a rich variety lowered their anchors near the Old Fort. These included a rare ship called an East African mtepe (a vessel that was sewn together instead of using nails), European-style frigates, and dhows (settee-rigged deep-sea ships). Some carvings also had transom sterns which hinted at ships like the kotia, ghanja, baghla, and more.^[2]

8 A Bizarre Ant Colony

In the west of Poland sits a dismantled nuclear base. Originally built by the Soviets, the design includes two underground bunkers. In recent times, bats decided to turn the bunkers into overwintering caves, and this gave bat fans the opportunity to study them.

In 2013, someone noticed the ants. A huge number of wood ants were trapped inside one of the bunkers, and the prognosis for them was slim. They had no queen, food, light, heat, or way to escape. And yet, as the years passed, their numbers never dwindled.

The mystery was solved when researchers looked at clusters of dead ants and discovered that nearly 90% of them had been nibbled on by their nestmates. The colony also had a nest above the bunker, and some ants kept falling through a hole (replenishing their numbers). They survived by eating their dead. The scientists were kind enough to install a ramp leading back to the nest, and after years of being trapped, almost all the ants quickly abandoned the bunker.^[3]

7 The Location of Sapling Fort

During the early nineteenth century, the Tlingit people resisted Russia’s goal of establishing a fur trading post in Alaska. They built the “Sapling Fort,” also known as Shís’gi Noow, which was the final barrier against advancing Russian soldiers. In 1804, the Tlingit engaged in a battle at the fort, but five days later, they were defeated.

Despite their commendable last stand, the location of Sapling Fort slowly disappeared from local memory. In 2021, researchers decided to hunt for the historical fort by using radar scans.

The idea was to look for underground ruins and compare the shape of their perimeter with the known design of Sapling Fort. The project became one of the biggest radar surveys in Alaska. After buzzing 42 acres (17 hectares), they found subsurface signatures that matched the fort’s design as well as details given in both Russian and Tlingit accounts.

So, where was it? After a century of being missing, Sapling Fort was found in Sitka National Historical Park near the mouth of the Kasda Heen river.^[4]

6 A Ghost Station in Antarctica

The Halley VI Research Station sits on the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica. It’s been gathering Earth and space weather information since the 1950s. For decades, scientists enjoyed the fully equipped living quarters that were designed to keep humans comfy all year round. But a couple of years ago, the shelf started to crack. Fearing for their safety, the researchers abandoned Halley VI.

But this research station is fascinating for two reasons. First, it’s constantly being abandoned. Every winter, when living on a cracking shelf becomes too risky, the scientists leave. However, they were losing a lot of data this way and eventually rigged Halley VI so that it now runs itself. In the long months when it’s basically a ghost base, the station continues to gather important weather and climate measurements—with no help from humans.^[5]

5 Thousands of Concrete Mushrooms

It’s hard to imagine that the building of bunkers can bring a country to its knees. But that is what happened to Albania. From 1941 to 1985, the country was ruled by a dictator named Enver Hoxha, who was convinced that Yugoslavia, Greece, and even his Soviet allies wanted to invade Albania. While the chances of this were zero, Hoxha was so paranoid that he built about 750,000 bunkers all over the country. Their construction practically enslaved his people and drained the country’s coffers.

Most of the concrete fortresses were domed and stocky. This earned them the local nickname of “mushrooms.” These days, hundreds of them still exist all over Albania and range from large underground shelters to two-person igloos. People now use these relics for more practical matters like animal sheds, shops, changing rooms, art galleries, or discreet meeting places for couples.^[6]

4 Remains of a Fake Airfield

During World War II, battles weren’t always won with brute force. Sometimes, all you needed was a clever trick. Late in 1942, the decision was made to create a fake airport to give enemy pilots the impression of a strong military presence in Virginia. However, the base also served as a decoy during air raids to spare the nearby city of Richmond. At night, when Richmond went dark, the airfield lit up to draw German planes away from the city (and the real airfield).

The dummy airfield was created by the 936th Camouflage Battalion, who made fake hangars, vehicles, aircraft, and taxiways. After the war, the site was used for bombing practice, and later, there was a failed attempt to turn the site into a psychiatric facility. These days, when viewed from the air, some ruins of the now-abandoned airport still peek through the trees. These include a water tower and roads leading to nowhere.^[7]

3 A Secret Japanese Camp

In 2004, Robert Muckle received a tip about an interesting site in the North Shore mountains of British Columbia. The archaeologist expected to walk into a historic logging camp. But upon arrival, the truth emerged. Once upon a time, deep in the Canadian forest, there was a thriving Japanese village.

This surprising discovery consisted of 14 houses, a water reservoir, a bathhouse, a garden, and a shrine. Muckle suspects that the site started out as a logging camp but then turned into a secret village as more Japanese sought refuge from the racism of the day, made worse by the Second World War when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Hong Kong, where many Canadian soldiers were killed.

The base was abruptly abandoned. Muckle’s theory is a sad one. During this war, up to 90% of Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated. This policy separated families because the men were forced to work on road gangs, and women and children were dropped off in ghost towns in the wilderness. Muckle suspects that the secret village was discovered and that the inhabitants were packed off to different camps.^[8]

2 The Monster Nazi Bunker

During World War II, the German military occupied Bordeaux in France. They established a fleet of submarines in the area that needed a safe place to dock while being repaired. The result? A massive bunker that was designed to withstand the worst aerial attacks. The domed structure spread over 130,000 square feet (over 12,000 square meters) and consumed enough reinforced concrete to fill 240 Olympic swimming pools today.

The submarine base was abandoned two years after it was built. Not because it didn’t work—the bunker withstood several air attacks with almost no damage. However, when German forces withdrew from Bordeaux in 1944, they couldn’t exactly take the massive building along.

The base remained empty for decades. Then, it caught the eye of creative minds who turned the cavernous interior into the world’s biggest digital art gallery. These days, visitors can walk through different sections of the bunker and enjoy floor-to-ceiling art being digitally projected against the walls.^[9]

1 The Anderson Fallout Shelter

In 1991, a Fort Wayne resident was totally fed up. Tim Howey owned a home with a curious feature, one that kept luring strangers to his yard. The crowd-pleaser was an old bunker. Purchased by the previous owners of the home, the Andersons, the shelter had cost $1,800 and claimed to protect people against nuclear fallout. The Andersons lived during the Cold War when nuclear threats were always around the corner. So, in 1955, they had the bunker installed in their front lawn at a depth of 15 feet (4.5 meters).

By the time Tim Howey owned the property, the steel structure had risen to the surface and into public view. When the attention became too much, he offered the artifact to the National Museum of American History, which jumped at the chance to own the artifact. They exhumed the bunker and added it to their collection. Visitors were now free to gawk at the cramped quarters that included a chemical toilet, four beds, and a hand-cranked pump that could be used to pull fresh air into the shelter.^[10]