The Silent Generation

[blue_green_sparks]

They sure get the rose-colored glasses treatment these days by post-boomers. Their point of reference is "Saving Private Ryan". We could point out the isolationists standing by and watching fascism take over Europe, Nazi rallies in New York or perhaps we could mention the Archie Bunker prototype that was pretty much dead-on with every pre-boomer in my family. They did save the "free world", but the hippies had more than a few valid points of protest. Now many of that same generation that spawned hippies is looking to revert to pre-1960s way of life?

I realize now that "taught history" is a merely reflection of current and local attitudes. I should have realized this when I was taught about the "war of northern aggression" when we relocated to 1970s Florida. Robert E Lee was this mythical gentleman hero. Streets and schools. I'll give credit to post-boomers on that. There is right now a picture of me (on the fridge), playing bass guitar at a high-school event, standing in front of a huge Confederate battle flag. I guess I could photo-shop it to reflect my current thoughts now. I will leave there as a stark reminder. It is all about context.

[RetiredAt63]

This is very US specific.

Canada,  Australia and New Zealand , among others, declared war very soon after Britain did.  They poured people and supplies into the war effort.

My FIL was in the Canadian Air Force.  My father tried to enlist 3 times, but was refused because he was in an essential civilian occupation.  He was on the first convoy into the Mediterranean, the ship next to his was hit and limped to Tripoli.  It could have been his ship.

Gentile Danes saved 90% of Jewish Danes when Germany decided to round them up.

Lots of inspiring actions before and during WWII.

[Metalcat]

They sure get the rose-colored glasses treatment these days by post-boomers. Their point of reference is "Saving Private Ryan". We could point out the isolationists standing by and watching fascism take over Europe, Nazi rallies in New York or perhaps we could mention the Archie Bunker prototype that was pretty much dead-on with every pre-boomer in my family. They did save the "free world", but the hippies had more than a few valid points of protest. Now many of that same generation that spawned hippies is looking to revert to pre-1960s way of life?

I realize now that "taught history" is a merely reflection of current and local attitudes. I should have realized this when I was taught about the "war of northern aggression" when we relocated to 1970s Florida. Robert E Lee was this mythical gentleman hero. Streets and schools. I'll give credit to post-boomers on that. There is right now a picture of me (on the fridge), playing bass guitar at a high-school event, standing in front of a huge Confederate battle flag. I guess I could photo-shop it to reflect my current thoughts now. I will leave there as a stark reminder. It is all about context.

Take a look at the book Prequel by Rachel Maddow if you want a really thorough exploration of that time in American history.