These were men, even though many of them were not 20 years old. They fought in a great war, for the highest stakes and against a strong enemy, for which the Great War of 1914--18 was merely a dress rehearsal. I don't know how many more like them the earth has produced, or will.
I've often thought that a lot of the subsequent generation's failures came about because it couldn't get away from the shadow of its fathers, and, deep inside, knew it.
Sergej, that's a premise I've never considered, but it would certainly explain some of the mindless governance that's become exponentially worse as the last 6 decades have passed.
To carry it on a bit further, I can see where resentment would follow the realization of failure and eventually become accepted as the norm.
Nonsense! I'm sure the people who fought World War II feared they'd never be as brave or resolute as the heroes of the Great War. Who probably imagined they didn't have the same strength of character as the heroes of the Civil War or the Crimea. Who undoubtedly felt dwarfed by the titans of the Napoleonic Wars or the American Revolution...
Nations are not organisms. They don't get old and die. They face crises and their people respond. Eventually they face a crisis they can't beat, and we say it was inevitable.
And that's the thing, Cambias. When the time came for the country to put its weight on the next generation, in Vietnam... Not all of them, by any means. I just got out of a karate practice with a Marine who fought there, and he's no flower-child and never was.
But. It has been another constant throughout history, that grouchy old men complain about recent generations not measuring up to the heroes of old. I beg your pardon for engaging in a bit of hyperbole, this day of all days. Less and less of that generation left each year to thank personally.
These were men, even though many of them were not 20 years old. They fought in a great war, for the highest stakes and against a strong enemy, for which the Great War of 1914--18 was merely a dress rehearsal. I don't know how many more like them the earth has produced, or will.
ReplyDeleteI've often thought that a lot of the subsequent generation's failures came about because it couldn't get away from the shadow of its fathers, and, deep inside, knew it.
Sergej, that's a premise I've never considered, but it would certainly explain some of the mindless governance that's become exponentially worse as the last 6 decades have passed.
ReplyDeleteTo carry it on a bit further, I can see where resentment would follow the realization of failure and eventually become accepted as the norm.
Nonsense! I'm sure the people who fought World War II feared they'd never be as brave or resolute as the heroes of the Great War. Who probably imagined they didn't have the same strength of character as the heroes of the Civil War or the Crimea. Who undoubtedly felt dwarfed by the titans of the Napoleonic Wars or the American Revolution...
ReplyDeleteNations are not organisms. They don't get old and die. They face crises and their people respond. Eventually they face a crisis they can't beat, and we say it was inevitable.
And that's the thing, Cambias. When the time came for the country to put its weight on the next generation, in Vietnam... Not all of them, by any means. I just got out of a karate practice with a Marine who fought there, and he's no flower-child and never was.
ReplyDeleteBut. It has been another constant throughout history, that grouchy old men complain about recent generations not measuring up to the heroes of old. I beg your pardon for engaging in a bit of hyperbole, this day of all days. Less and less of that generation left each year to thank personally.