Politicians love to demonstrate their patriotism. They wear little American flags in their lapel and question those who don’t. They attend services on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day and get photographed sporting somber expressions. They say they believe in the Constitution and ignore what is inconvenient in it.
Politicians also admire courage. I know this to be true because they say so, even though they themselves demonstrate its lack by fearing to stand up for what is right if it threatens their political future.
And there’s nothing like sacrifice for a politician. Not “by” a politician, mind you. They express it by praising the fireman who lost his life attempting to save a baby from a flaming building or the private citizen who drowned as she rescued a couple from a submerged car.
How do they respond when the chips are down?
Consider a major threat to our nation. People are incapacitated every day in huge numbers. Deaths are in the hundreds of thousands. The general populace is asked to make personal sacrifices to assure the best outcome. They are informed there is no short-term solution, and the sacrifices will have to be endured for an unknown number of months.
COVID, right?
No! I’m thinking about World War II. People were told they must offer the lives of their sons, brothers, husbands, fathers. Many volunteered willingly. Huge numbers paid the supreme sacrifice. People had to give up trips because of gasoline rationing, heat because of oil rationing, various foods because of all sorts of rationing. Vacations were cancelled and work hours extended.
And you know what? The vast majority of the people accepted and obeyed because they recognized a duty to do their part for the common good. Over a time period of about four years! And, to their credit, so did most of the politicians.
They loved their country, and their patriotism made them willing to contribute to the war effort. Patriotism was demonstrated both by those who went to war and those left behind.
They had courage. Courage to face the dreaded ringing of the doorbell or the devastating letter from the government. Courage to go to war as young men and face nothing like they had ever experienced before.
They sacrificed their security and their loved ones. They sacrificed comfortable lives.
We have seen all these traits in war after war after war, but no crisis has demanded the cooperation of the entire country as World War II did.
Until now, some 80 years later. For the first time since World War II there is a true national threat requiring help from the entire nation.
And what terrible sacrifices are we being asked to endure?
Wear a mask.
Socially distance.
Wash hands.
Do this for maybe 6 to 8 more months.
Doesn’t seem too great a demand to me, not even close to the requests of that awful war.
But a huge percentage of our population is unwilling.
And many of our patriotic, courageous, and sacrifice approving politicians encourage the defiance.
Heaven help us if another world war breaks out.
* * *
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Politicians also admire courage. I know this to be true because they say so, even though they themselves demonstrate its lack by fearing to stand up for what is right if it threatens their political future.
And there’s nothing like sacrifice for a politician. Not “by” a politician, mind you. They express it by praising the fireman who lost his life attempting to save a baby from a flaming building or the private citizen who drowned as she rescued a couple from a submerged car.
How do they respond when the chips are down?
Consider a major threat to our nation. People are incapacitated every day in huge numbers. Deaths are in the hundreds of thousands. The general populace is asked to make personal sacrifices to assure the best outcome. They are informed there is no short-term solution, and the sacrifices will have to be endured for an unknown number of months.
COVID, right?
No! I’m thinking about World War II. People were told they must offer the lives of their sons, brothers, husbands, fathers. Many volunteered willingly. Huge numbers paid the supreme sacrifice. People had to give up trips because of gasoline rationing, heat because of oil rationing, various foods because of all sorts of rationing. Vacations were cancelled and work hours extended.
And you know what? The vast majority of the people accepted and obeyed because they recognized a duty to do their part for the common good. Over a time period of about four years! And, to their credit, so did most of the politicians.
They loved their country, and their patriotism made them willing to contribute to the war effort. Patriotism was demonstrated both by those who went to war and those left behind.
They had courage. Courage to face the dreaded ringing of the doorbell or the devastating letter from the government. Courage to go to war as young men and face nothing like they had ever experienced before.
They sacrificed their security and their loved ones. They sacrificed comfortable lives.
We have seen all these traits in war after war after war, but no crisis has demanded the cooperation of the entire country as World War II did.
Until now, some 80 years later. For the first time since World War II there is a true national threat requiring help from the entire nation.
And what terrible sacrifices are we being asked to endure?
Wear a mask.
Socially distance.
Wash hands.
Do this for maybe 6 to 8 more months.
Doesn’t seem too great a demand to me, not even close to the requests of that awful war.
But a huge percentage of our population is unwilling.
And many of our patriotic, courageous, and sacrifice approving politicians encourage the defiance.
Heaven help us if another world war breaks out.
* * *
If you would like to receive an email notification when a new posting occurs, contact me at [email protected] or use the Leave Feedback heading at the top of the blog screen
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