Whatever the outcome of the “deal, or no deal” scenario with Iran, the public attitude toward the war has been disturbing. Despite President Trump’s constant admonition that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, a majority of those polled oppose the intervention. A side effect of the war has been complaints about higher gas prices. That grumbling caused me to do some reminiscing about a different America and different Americans.
Over Memorial Day weekend, we again heard about “The Greatest Generation,” but do we take the time to consider what made them great?
While political divisions existed during World War II, the slogan “We’re all in this together” forged a unity that is nearly unheard of today, unless we are attacked as on 9/11.
My mother told me what it was like during WWII, as I was too young to know anything about sacrifice. To me, doing without, getting only one Christmas present, saving paper, rubber bands and other things for the war effort was my normal.
Gas prices during the war averaged 20 cents a gallon, but gas was rationed as were many other things, and long road trips were almost unheard of (the Interstate Highway System would not be built until the Eisenhower administration).