Posted: 6/12/2004 12:56:34 PM EDT
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What would it take to bring the WWII homeland spirit to the minds of people today? Was it largely due to the Great Depression that made these people used to hard work and rationing food and supplies? Or possibly WWI? I seriously don't think Americans today are worse so what type of circumstances would it take? Or is it a matter of how recent history differs so much then from now. |
| I've wondered the same thing. I worry that our society has become so irresponsible and spoiled that if faced with a similar challenge, we would not rise to the occasion. This may be too pessimistic. I listen to my grandfather's stories of his life and think how spoiled I am in comparison. Also, I'm not sure that our society can focus so strongly on anything anymore. Many people pay more attention to American Idol than the war in Iraq. How many people still think about 9/11 everyday? |
Didn't think of that!!! Good one! Todays generation has no living link to the past in there life, or at least it is not as common as it was then. I knew there would be tons of stuff I wasn't thinking of. |
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I don't think we'd have the stomach to do what we did in WWII. Nor do I think we could field 15 million men in decent physical condition with the balls to fight and the ability to shoot straight. Of course the "greatest generation" watched the destruction of the family and the socialization of our country without doing shit. Both of which left us in this sorry state. It would take an actual invasion of this country for us to put up a serious figth anymore. Gotta wonder what the next generation or 2 will bring. |
Does anyone here not know anyone who is in the Armed Forces right now? Does anyone here not know someone who hasn't deployed to a combat zone since 9/11/01? It seems to me that we are putting up a pretty damn good fight that is far from being over. I disagree with the entire premise of this thread. I watched on television and saw what our current generation of teenagers and twenty somethings accomplished in Afghanistan and Iraq. I was moved. I was inspired. I was proud. I still am. I am in awe of them and will never doubt their resolve again. I will never doubt their strength again. I will never doubt their commitment to freedom again. When the chips are down, these kids will fight. They will fight just as hard as "the greatest generation" did. And don't forget, these kids are all voluteers. If you don't have faith in our people any more, if you aren't will to give credit where credit is due, perhaps the problem is yours. |
Huh? I don't know how this thread took a 90 degree turn but the original post was sacrafice by civilians not the military. I don't think anyone can argue that our military has not improved with every generation since there was a military, however self sacrafice by civilians has declined. Tj |
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Where have our military volunteers come from? Do they make them in a factory? Maybe. It's been a long time but before I enlisted, I was a civilian. A product of our society. I've been hearing the same B.S. about Americans are too soft and how our society is declining and all manners of such horseshit all my life. |
Not denying that we have young men willing to fight. And fight hard. But how many? 15 million? LMAO.
I agree with all of that. But the point ins that we no longer have the capability as a nation to do what we did then. We don't have the will. We don't have the stomach for it. Can you imagine what WWII would have been like if Americans had the same attitude they have now? We wouldn't do jack shit. Look at Iraq now. We are looking to bail out of there post haste. Not because of the guys there fighting but because of the weakness of the people here at home.
Well, then you don't know me very well at all. I am plenty willing and able to fight. Faith in americans? Not so much anymore. Maybe half. Maybe. I'm a realist. Tell me this. If we had to go back to Europe or Asia to fight a major war against Russia, China, etc, what do you think would be the response of the American people here at home? Where are you going to find 20-30 million men to do it? You really ought to look at today's demographics, look at your average american male and get REAL. |
Exactly. And declined dramatically. Let me see you tell all the losers on welfare that their benefits are being cut for the war effort. LMFAO. |
You are correct in your assessment. This cannot be blamed on a single generation. Seems like it all started to fall apart about that time though. The "Greatest Generation" kicked ass like none before. Then they came back and let women run the country. WTF? Like a snowball rolling downhill now. Not too late and there is a very real effort to slow it down but not enough are pushing it in the right direction. |
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What's changed in my lifetime: TV became the norm instead of papers and elections decided on speaking ability and looks rather than position. Yes, I was alive at the time of the Nixon Kennedy debate. Protests Gay Rights Abortion Divorce rates climb to 50% Welfare went from free food for a family in need to a woman without a husband only, giving an apartment, free medical, and food stamps And the greatest was apathy to foriegn threats that culminated with the fall of one of our nations wonders on 9/11. No Paper, it's not your generatiion. Tj |