The War....
"We're a nation at war, and every day we read about the deaths of young Americans like Henry T. Waskow. We're at war but it hardly interrupts our lives. No one demands sacrifice of us.
In Henry Waskow's America, there were scrap metal drives and war bond drives and Victory Gardens, and food and fuel rationing. There was a draft that took 15 million American men into uniform and sent them into harm's way. Women took their places on the factory floors. Everyone had a part to play.
In the strange wars we're fighting today, only one thing seems certain: Until everyone begins paying attention to the wars, and to the threat that global terrorism poses to our way of life, and until all of us begin making some small contributions, we cannot hope for victory."
Thus writes Joe Galloway in his latest column. As you will read, Capt. Waskow died in Italy during WWII and his death was chronicled by the great story teller of the War, Ernie Pyle. This story has always had special significance for me because decades later, after my Regular Army service, I commanded the same company, "B" Company, 1st Bn. 143rd Infantry of the 36th Division, the Texas National Guard. Part of the 36th Airborne Brigade when I had it.
Sentimental connection not withstanding, I could not agree with Joe more on the importance of his message. With the news media full of finger pointers, the BlogWaves full of sites pro and con, the impassioned arguments for and against this and that concerning the "war" on terrorism....the tone and activity of daily life in America has not changed one iota. Whether one is for or against the actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, life for the average person has not been affected. While the troops in those theaters live daily in mortal fear for their lives, our biggest concerns at home revolve around complaining about the price of gasoline for our new SUV or trying to decide what new high tech digital device to buy.
Perhaps the Islamists are right in assuming that our own decadence and apathy will consume us.
"We're a nation at war, and every day we read about the deaths of young Americans like Henry T. Waskow. We're at war but it hardly interrupts our lives. No one demands sacrifice of us.
In Henry Waskow's America, there were scrap metal drives and war bond drives and Victory Gardens, and food and fuel rationing. There was a draft that took 15 million American men into uniform and sent them into harm's way. Women took their places on the factory floors. Everyone had a part to play.
In the strange wars we're fighting today, only one thing seems certain: Until everyone begins paying attention to the wars, and to the threat that global terrorism poses to our way of life, and until all of us begin making some small contributions, we cannot hope for victory."
Thus writes Joe Galloway in his latest column. As you will read, Capt. Waskow died in Italy during WWII and his death was chronicled by the great story teller of the War, Ernie Pyle. This story has always had special significance for me because decades later, after my Regular Army service, I commanded the same company, "B" Company, 1st Bn. 143rd Infantry of the 36th Division, the Texas National Guard. Part of the 36th Airborne Brigade when I had it.
Sentimental connection not withstanding, I could not agree with Joe more on the importance of his message. With the news media full of finger pointers, the BlogWaves full of sites pro and con, the impassioned arguments for and against this and that concerning the "war" on terrorism....the tone and activity of daily life in America has not changed one iota. Whether one is for or against the actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, life for the average person has not been affected. While the troops in those theaters live daily in mortal fear for their lives, our biggest concerns at home revolve around complaining about the price of gasoline for our new SUV or trying to decide what new high tech digital device to buy.
Perhaps the Islamists are right in assuming that our own decadence and apathy will consume us.
