Posted in Life

Makes Me Think of WWII

I usually try to steer clear of political subjects here.  But the state of things, not only in the US, but globally, has got my dander up.  There are so many days now where I just shake my head.  I can’t help but wonder when the insanity of 2020 will end!

I try not to watch too much of the news. But it’s like that car race where they spin out going around that hairpin curve.  You can’t look away.  You must know what happens.  I think as humans, most of us have a Gladiator mindset when it comes to the misery around us.

There’s a lot to be thankful for and I know that.  But what I can’t seem to get past is how divided we are as human beings.  Theory versus science.  Conspiracy theories abound.  Racial differences.  No.  Not just differences, but racial wars.

I’ve always had this… connection with the tragedies of WWII.  I know that sounds weird.  But if you believe in past lives, and I’m open-minded about that, I think I must have lived a past life during World War II.

So many of us, not really being old enough to have been there, tend to romanticize how we United to fight the Nazi party and bring humanity back to those that had suffered the unimaginable horrors that transpired during that terrible time.  We withstood rationing of everything from food to gas.  People gave up many luxuries in the name of the cause.  There were paper drives and rubber drives.  More people grew and preserved their own food.  They did with less, they used it up, wore it out or repaired it, rather than buy new.

There were many sacrifices that the everyday citizen did for the good of the nation.  It was a sense of pride.

But if you really dig deeper into what was happening within the United States at the time, you might come away with a different perspective.

While there was much talk about getting involved in the fight against Germany, there were more than a few that questioned if it was really our place to get involved.  Not only were the Japanese suspect, but the general consensus was that the Jews could not be trusted either.

It wasn’t until the attack at Pearl Harbor, by the Japanese, then a German ally, on our own shores that we decided to join the effort.

With this decision, the then president, Franklin Roosevelt, ordered approximately 120,000 Japanese to be pulled from their homes, their assets frozen, and they were shuttled to internment camps and were held there between the years of 1942 and 1945.  Anyone who was 1/16th Japanese were put into these camps.  The occupants, most of which, were American citizens.

The Nazi party was not the only one to commit atrocities against people. The United States did too.

The point that I’m trying to make here with bringing up World War II, is that we, as human beings, pulled together for a common good.  I just don’t understand why we can’t do that now.  People have enough brains between their ears to figure this out, don’t they??

It tears me up to see such discord in our nation.  Political parties aside, we all need to show that we are the UNITED States of America and stand United.

*Your comments and opinions are welcome.  But if you are going to play in my yard, play nice.  Thank you.  

Copyright (C) 2020 Penny Wilson

 

Author:

Penny Wilson is an international writer who writes in several genres. She has written articles for WOW Women on Writing. Her poetry has been published in online journals, such as Ariel Chart, Spill Words Press and the Poppy Road Review. Penny is a member of the Austin Poetry Society. Her poetry has been featured in the publication America's Emerging Poets 2018 & 2019 by Z Publishing and Poets Quarterly and Dual Coast Magazine published by Prolific Press. Most recently, you can find her poetry in an anthology by WordCrafter Press called Poetry Treasures. Penny is an advocate for Mental Health Awareness and has the page "Mental Health Help" on her blog. She writes about the struggles of mental illnesses and Depression. She is passionate about spreading awareness for Suicide Prevention and Domestic Abuse. She expresses her passion through her writings of poetry and life experiences. You can find more of her writings on her blog at https://pennywilsonwrites.com/

11 thoughts on “Makes Me Think of WWII

  1. No good people in war. USA destroyed whole cities in Germany. When I was station in Germany. Some places, still held dislike for the USA, 30 years later. What men do? I blame the media. Half stories being told. I pray for better days my friend. I enjoyed your words and your thoughts.

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  2. Oh, Penny, I hear you. I feel the same. Why can’t we just be kind, decent human beings who care for others? And yes, what we must “give up” or endure seems minor to what many others have experienced. Current and past.

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