The Greatest Generation 12/7/1941

MoonHowler

They spent their childhood in the roaring 20’s.  As teenagers they weathered the Great Depression of the 30’s.  Reaching adulthood in the 40’s looked bright until that fateful Sunday afternoon in early December.  Every one from the Greatest Generation remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news, much like those who followed now can tell you where they were and what they were doing when they heard of the Kennedy assassination or 9/11. 

Many people had no idea where Pearl Harbor was or that our Naval Fleet was berthed there.  Yet upon hearing of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, most Americans were filled with rage and a sense of betrayal because of the sneak attack.  The Greatest Generation would have their lives unalterably changed forever. 

On December 8, 1941 they listened to their president, Franklin Roosevelt, make the following address to Congress: 

To the Congress of the United States of America

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Click for full text.

Video of some of FDR’s Pearl Harbor Address to Congress:

 

Over  3,000 lives, both civilian and non-civilian  were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor.   America had a decimated navy.  The politics of war had kept FDR’s hand off the trigger and had kept us out of the war raging in Europe.  All but one member of Congress voted to declare war on Japan and within a week war had been declared on Germany and Italy.  The United States was fully at war, from the youngest child to the oldest citizen.

Every American went to war in some capacity.  Children helped tend victory gardens, saved their pennies for Vicotry stamps and gathered scrap metal.  Old ladies wrapped bandages for the Red Cross.  Community volunteers, usually pretty young women,  met trains carrying troops with coffee. cigarettes and snacks.  Civilians watched planes. Women went into the work force by the millions, taking up jobs formerly held by men who had gone to war.  Civilians were deprived of basic foods and staples like butter, sugar, beef, and were issued ration books.  Gasoline was rationed.   Silk used for stockings  soon went to the troops, for parachutes.  People were asked to donate their iron fences to the war effort.  Most people bought war bonds to help finance the cause.  Americans had air drill drills and practiced black outs at night. 

There has been no war since WWII where Americans have been totally immersed in the war effort.  We have not been asked to sacrifice in our every day lives like those of the WWII generation, unless  one is a military family of course.  In fact, we could go along quite easily and really never be bothered with our wars.  We have had very little personal inconvenience.  We have suffered no shortages,our  gasoline flows, and often our school children don’t even know we are at war.  Our wars are financed and paid for by the subsequent generations.  There are no great drives for war bonds or to finance our causes. 

Perhaps that is why the Greatest Generation, the term penned by Tom Brokow, was indeed the greatest.  They gave their all with every ounce of their being.  They were throw into a horrific war on December 7.  Over 13 million Americans served.  Approximately 500,000 lost their lives.  Many suffered life-altering wounds.   Many children grew up without a father. Many lie buried on foreign soil.  Some came home with emotional battle scars that have crippled them.  Others came home, went to college on the G.I. Bill and threw themselves back into normalcy.  So many of the Greatest Generation would deny they were.  Most felt they were just doing what was expected of them as Americans.

What made the Greatest Generation the GREATEST?  Or was it the greatest?  What sets that generation apart from others and especially those who followed?

Photographs of the Pearl Harbor Attack

Link to other WWII Memorial Pictures

 

World War II Memorial in Washington DC

Fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago Nov. 8, 1989.

MoonHowler

Perhaps nothing symbolized the Iron Curtain more than the Berlin Wall.  The Berlin Wall was a concrete barrier that completely surrounded West Germany and separated it from East Germany.  Prior to the Berlin Wall’s erection in 1961, many, perhaps millions of East Germans had immigrated to West Germany and thus to freedom.   The wall seriously halted immigration and many East Germans lost their life attempting to escape communism for nearly a quarter of a century.  

In 1962, one of the top 40 songs on the hit parade dealt with Berlin Wall.  Hardly a dance song.   The visuals are excellent, even though you might want to turn your sound down:

 

 

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate, along the Berlin Wall and declared:

General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

While Reagan said those words, and is generally thought of as the impetus behind the wall coming down, it actually happened during the presidency of George Herbert Walker Bush.

On Novemeber 9, 1989, After a series of internal revolutionary movements swept through the eatern block, East Germany announced it would tear down the wall. Citizens from both cities came out in force and tore down the wall with great joy while armed guards watched.

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Apple Quits US Chamber of Commerce over Climate Change Position

MoonHowler

Apple, the tech behemoth, has resigned its membership in the US Chamber of Commerce, effective immediately because of the position taken on climate change by the organization. Apple follows on the heels of Nike who also just resigned.

According to the New York Times:

The New York Times reports that Apple’s resignation is effective immediately. Catherine Novelli, vice president of worldwide government affairs at Apple, called the chamber’s stance on climate change issues “frustrating” in aletter addressed to its president and CEO.

“We strongly object to the chamber’s recent comments opposing the E.P.A.’s effort to limit greenhouse gases. … We would prefer that the chamber take a more progressive stance on this critical issue and play a constructive role in addressing the climate crisis

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Several energy companies have also left the Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, Bill Maher spoke explicitly and irreverently , as usual, on Friday night over the climate change issue:

Beyond a Reaonable Drought

According to Huffington Post, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), mentioned by Maher and known as the King of Global Warming Deniers, announced on C-Span over the weekend that he will go to Copenhagen later this fall to enlighten the scientists and he will present:

another view.” “I think somebody has to be there — a one-man truth squad,” he said. Throughout the program, Inhofe went through his tattered global warming denier claims: that climate change is a “hoax,” that CO2 is not a pollutant, and — latching on to the latest false right-wing talking point — that clean energy legislation will cost American families $1,700 a year

Bill Maher might be on to something. Forget science. Has anyone else noticed that the flowers and plants now last well in to November. Our 5 senses should be telling us something is different. When I was a kid, the growing season ended much earlier. Forget being a kid, when I was right out of college the growing season was shorter than it is now. Forget politics. Are there differences? Even if you don’t believe most of the scientists, are you willing to take the chance?

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Joe Wilson: Fund Raiser Extraordinaire

MoonHowler

This has been a really somber day, both weather-wise and in spirit. I need to laugh. As I combed through some of my various favs like Bill Maher and other irreverent beings, I thought nahhh…Bill is a little crude, a little too in your face. So I settled on satirist Rick Horowitz.

Yup, more on Joe Wilson. I understand that fund raising has really taken on new zest and zeal since his outburst of uncontrolled emotion. Wilson helps out both sides, it seems–his own and his opponent’s. 

His opponent, Rob Miller, who no one had ever heard of, has amassed something like $800,000 in the past 2 days and Wilson has gotten an extra Half million or so and lots of atta boys. Letterman has made him infamous by citing my favorite:

#2 “It’s been weeks since a politician embarrassed the state of South Carolina.”

Now the House Democrats want to make him a real martyr by passing some resolution condemning him if he doesn’t apologize on the floor of the House. Such theater and high drama from all!

On to Satirist Horowitz:

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True Compass

MoonHowler

Teddy Kennedy’s memoirs come out today, Sept. 14. The name of his book is True Compass : A Memoir. No other member of the family has written their memoirs. It was very important for Senator Kennedy to complete his book before he died.

Part of 60 Minutes tonight was about the much awaited Ted Kennedy memoir. Much of the discussion of the book was with his son, Medium Teddy. (Senator Kennedy was Big Teddy, his grandson was Little Teddy.) Medium Teddy is the son who gave the eloquent eulogy at his funeral that stopped everyone in their tracks. He spoke of how his father went with him ever step of the way up an icy hill after he had lost his leg.

A great deal of what we know of the Kennedy family is through tragedies. Following Chappaquiddick Big Teddy became the bad boy in the minds of many Americans. Because of his liberal politics, others growled and snarled over him. Perhap through his memoirs we will see a person we didn’t know existed. I look forward to buying and reading his book.

The 60 Minutes Segment:


Watch CBS Videos Online

Forever Vigilant — 9-11-01 — We Will Remember

MoonHowler

Initial News Bulletins

 

8 years ago. It seems like yesterday and it seems like a life time ago. It feels like 2 wars ago, and yet we are still at war– we have troops in harm’s way. The war in Afghanistan, where many of the criminals of 9-11-01 got their training, rages on, and Americans lose lives daily.

Every one of us has added to our collective memory that knowledge of knowing exactly where we were and exactly what we were doing the moment we learned that our country was under attack, much like older people can tell you what they were doing when they learned of  Pearl Harbor or  where they were  when they first learned of  the assassination of JFK. No incidents have recorded themselves quite as permanently, quite as indelibly, as those three events in the minds of Americans. You and every sentient person alive  on 9-11-01 will forever have this memory in common.

This thread will be an open 9-11 thread. Many of you have much to share regarding this day.

Links of Interest:

 

Memorial and Museum

Liberatio-9/11 Tribute Video 

God Bless the USA Video 9/11

Slideshow Tribute (Enya and Lee Greenwood)

Tribute to 9/11 Victims    (has thumbnail pictures)  slideshow

President Bush Speaks to America 9/11/01

DOJ Recommends Reopening Prisoner Abuse Cases

MoonHowler

The Department of Justice’s Ethics Office has recommended reopening some prisoner abuse cases. This recommendation has the potential of exposing CIA employees and contractors for prosecution. These people could be charged with brutal treatment of terror suspects.

Volumes of details from a previously unreleased 2004 report are expected to be released today by the CIA Inspector General. There has been a change in direction on this anticipated report which supposedly includes reports of deaths of some held in custody. Attorney General Eric Holder has grown increasingly disgusted with information as it has unfolded regarding treatment of detainees.

According to the New York Times today:

With the release of the details on Monday and the formal advice that at least some cases be reopened, it now seems all but certain that the appointment of a prosecutor or other concrete steps will follow, posing significant new problems for the C.I.A. It is politically awkward, too, for Mr. Holder because President Obama has said that he would rather move forward than get bogged down in the issue at the expense of his own agenda.

The advice from the Office of Professional Responsibility strengthens Mr. Holder’s hand.

The recommendation to review the closed cases, in effect renewing the inquiries, centers mainly on allegations of detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Justice Department report is to be made public after classified information is deleted from it.

The cases represent about half of those that were initially investigated and referred to the Justice Department by the C.I.A.’s inspector general, but were later closed. It is not known which cases might be reopened.

The implications of this article are mammoth. In all probability, a special prosecutor will be appointed. There has never been a public explanation why information from this report was never pursued. The report itself has been the topic of much debate across both the Bush administration and the Obama administration.

This political hot potato has the potential to redirect all Washington talk for a while. Have civilians been prosecuted for war time misdeeds? Have previous adminstration been held accountable like this in the past? Will Democrats and Republicans grow even more angry at each other as Eric Holder attempts to navigate this field of land mines?

 

Additional reading:  Washington Post

August 9th –Not Just Your Ordinary Dog Day

MoonHowler

Nixon resigns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 9  must be one of those special dates in history.  Several popped out today as I leafted through the papers.

35 years ago today -August 9, 1974  President Richard Nixon resigned from office as a result of the Watergate Scandal. (and last week Watergate went begging.  No one even bid on it.)

40 years ago today-August 9, 1969  Helter Skelter  Actress Sharon Tate (wife of Roman Polanski) and her friends  were the victims of gruesome, violent, heinous, ritualistic murders in Tate’s home.  Tate was 8 and a half  months pregant.  The Charles Manson ‘family’ was responsible.  The nation was horrifed that human beings could commit these kinds of acts on each other.

Mansion has listened to the Beatles Helter Skelter in December 1968.  Read more about Mansion and the song.   Beatles’ Helter Skelter.

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.

From Bye Bye Miss American Pie

64 years ago today-August 9, 1945  An atomic bomb was dropped on Nagisaki, Japan, killing approximately 74,000 people.  Many more died later on from the effects of radiation.  The dropping of this second atomic bomb led to the surrender of Japan thus ending WWII.  More than 5000 Japanese marked this solemn occassion in Peace Park in Nagasaki. (picture omitted because of technical difficulties.)

I am sure I have omitted other important August 9ths.  I certainly would not call it a lucky day.  While all of these August 9’s have come and gone, how do each of them impact us today?  Has there been historical fall out from which we will never escape?   How much does music influence us as a society?  How much does it influence our crime rate?