Anyone Remember A Real War?

How few remain who can recall those dark days during the 1930's and the 1940's when the world was in turmoil! First, we survived the Dickensian conditions imposed by the logical consequences of rampant and unadulterated capitalism run amok. We were witnesses to the spectacle of the heroic veterans of World War I being gunned down and ridden into the ground by mounted soldiers in the streets of Washington where they went to demand the precious bonuses that were due them for their services to their nation. Then we saw the total devastation of our economy when the stock market crashed and the former moguls "took the coward's way out" rather than to face the poverty through which their families would be required to survive without their care and guidance. Then came the Dust Bowl when hope was the only sustenance for many of America's families as the rain ceased to fall and God, Himself, seemed to have turned His face from us as abject poverty consumed our lives and the dust settled over all.

Onto this bleak scene came Franklin D. Roosevelt, a man who could not stand unassisted and who had never ridden a horse, but stood head-and-shoulders above all the rest and rode into control of our destiny as our hero in a white hat. He first closed all the bankrupt banks, instituted the Federal Reserve and re-built our faith in our monetary system. Then he founded a system of welfare and work-fare that would enable young men to earn at least a meager living.

Meanwhile the Germans had chosen a new leader who was not so successful on the domestic front. Rather than relying on the resources of his own people, he determined to launch a campaign to control other nations and to drain them of their resources. As the United States was re-building our society, he was destroying the social fabric of his neighbors by making war upon them and, eventually, we were drawn into opposition to these efforts.

Upon a declaration of war, the nation responded nobly, young men, most ill-educated and many malnourished, entering the service as "volunteers for the draft" without waiting for the government to call them. Civilians leapt into the effort by moving to cities where they could man the factories in the absence of the usual workers who were needed in the active military. Women built ships and airplanes while those neighbors and family members who could not contribute in that manner minded their children. In order to pay for the war expenses, taxes were imposed on wages while wages and prices were controlled and "war profiteering" was forbidden. Anything that was needed for the war effort was rationed or removed from the market.

Metals were recycled in order to provide iron and aluminum to build ships and planes, silk stockings faded into the past as did even the pigments required to paint the military vehicles that required camouflage and "Lucky Strike green has gone to war!" became a familiar radio commercial. Ration coupon books and tokens were carefully marshalled so that there would be sufficient meat and canned goods to last until the next issue. Gasoline rationing led to "car pools" in order to conserve the precious product and permission to purchase a new tire was granted only after one had established the need on an "essential service" basis.

The entire nation was mobilized, and willingly, as elder ladies rolled bandages and mailed boxes of cookies and other home-made goodies to the soldiers and sailors. Little children, rather than buying treats, would take thier dimes to school to purchase "war stamps" which would be exchanged in sufficient numbers for "war bonds" to save for their future. In this manner much of the war expenses were handled on a pay-as-you-go basis. The reason for this massive civilian support? Because it was "a war worth fighting"!

We are once again engaged in a war and it is sapping our strength. In the early days, most people were in support of the effort and asked, "What can we do to help?"

The response from our President was, "Go shopping and spend money!" He asks no sacrifice of civilians other than the loss of their jobs as manufacturing is sent offshore in order to increase the profits to the big corporations. In response to those who complain about the lack of affordable medical care, he says that we should "buy private insurance" with our ever-dwindling dollars, further fattening the profits of the insurance companies. Rather than to request the participation of the populace in the war effort he leaves the bill in the hands of our descendants as the national debt mushrooms. The well-being of the soldiers and of the returning veterans is neglected while the "contractors" continue to bleed our nation of immeasurable amounts without contract and without question. "Political cronyism" which at one time would have led to impeachment, is the order of the day and the people be damned.

Now it has been discovered that the war in which we are sacrificing our sons is based on lies. There were no Weapons of Mass Destruction, Saddam Hussein was in no position to be a threat to Iraq's neighbors and, while he may have held a passionate hatred for the United States, he was absolutely no threat to us. Now a memo has been discovered in England which clearly states that the "intelligence" was skewed to favor an invasion of Iraq for pirposes other than those which were stated. The Patriot Act was rammed through Congress in the heat of the fear that was generated by the World Trade Center attack, and now there is apprehension in expressing an opinion contrary to that which is issued from Washington.

It has truly been said that "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it". However, in this case, it is entirely possible that, this time, history will find us on the "wrong side" and those who refuse to listen to "we few who remember" will find themselves paying a disastrous price. Furthermore, the very future of our democracy is at stake as we humbly bow our necks to the yoke of totalitarianism in response to the the demands for "national unity" and "supporting our troops".

Mr. President,, Congressmen and Senators, Mr. and Mrs. America, we do support our troops! They are our sons and daughters, our husbands and fathers, wives and mothers! We love them and we want them brought home! Home, in one piece and without the horrors that will warp their minds and destroy their lives and ours as the memory of evils which they have seen and committed return at their most vulnerable times. Give the world true freedom and liberty, the freedom to chart their own destiny and the liberty to use their own judgement as to their best interests.

Face the facts. This war was not begun because of 9/11, with which Iraq had nothing to do, nor because of the dread Weapons of Mass Destruction and "imminent dager to surrounding nations". It was begun because Iraq was "on the agenda" and had been from the start of this administration. The reason is still obscure, but now we know what it was not. It was not a reason that can be accepted by the American citizens as sufficiently important to justify the loss of life of 1600 American soldiers or the thousands of Iraqi civilians and the devastation of the lives and homes of the rest. And the most impressive fact is that, if it were justified for any reason, you would be comfortable in asking the American populace for sacrifices similar to those that were made in World War II and we would have responded in the same manner.

We are a nation of free-thinking people, with the love of individual freedom literally bred into our bones and, for that, we will fight to the death to defend our liberty. But we can be a suspicious lot and we have a deep resentment of those who would lie to us and use us as tools to satisfy their own ambitions. Those who would attempt to do so should bear in mind that, though we are few, we are still here and we do still remember!

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