Very well put, Meredith. And, if you believe Neil Howe’s Fourth Turning is Here argument, the kind of crisis that those pre-WWII years represented may be upon us. And the crisis precedes a period of coming together and productivity. I think we have many things to be optimistic about in our current society. What we have not yet developed is a convincing narrative to embrace all those things, or a leader with the charisma to articulate them. I have no doubt this country is both capable and qualified.
Excellent post. I wonder if we have become too Balkanized to win a war. Our likely foes do not have the internal factionalism that is so evident today in America. I will agree that we were far from perfect in the WWII era and the segregation you reference is a stain on our collective soul. That said we were able to rally against a common foe in WWII and defeat them. Could we do it today? We may find out. I should add-former proud member of America's nuclear deterrent force in the 70's-USAF-68th Bomb Wing (H) SAC. We bring the lightning.
Meredith, beautifully written and succinct. Thank you for posting this. Now we need to apply this type of united determination and productivity to WWC, transforming energy and managing carbon.
Very good article , Meredith! I am in Normandy this week visiting the D-Day invasion beaches and today was at the American Military Cemetery at Coleville sur Mere, hallowed grounds that bring tears to your eyes. As you pointed out wars are not won by virtue but by productivity, bravery and courage. And what bravery and courage was expended by those (mostly young men) who gave their lives for our freedoms….i do wonder if the current young generation would be willing to make such sacrifices if called upon today.
Freedom’s Forge is an excellent book on the importance of American manufacturing in winning WWII. Our current lack of manufacturing is concerning on many fronts. It would also be interesting to see the stance companies would take in a future war as most are global conglomerates.
In your book “Shorting the Grid”, I saw the following quote in the chapter “Overinvesting in Renewables.” “The tragedy of the commons is a tragedy based on lack of accountability.” I think you would enjoy reading the new book “ The Unaccountability Machine-Why Big Systems make Bad Decisions” by Dan Davies. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197716282-the-unaccountability-machine
Wonderfully written, Meredith. George’s service to our nation is much appreciated as well as the sacrifices of the thousands of brothers and sisters who we honor on this day.
Outstanding post, Grandma!!!! Thank you very much. My parents both served during WWII, and I remember to this day watching them march in our hometown's Memorial Day Parade.
Like you, I wonder if we could muster the will to succeed. I remember the unity that bound our nation after 9/11, and I remember my mother saying it was similar to the outrage they all felt after Pearl Harbor. But at the time of 9/11, we had a different batch of "leaders" then, who knew and understood how to encourage and engage in compromise. Personally, I don't see that type of leadership today.
Thank you again for the tribute to those whose service and sacrifice made it possible for us to even have this conversation!
"The America of WWII was a deeply imperfect society. For example, the Armed Services were segregated. That is a shame to America forever, in my opinion."
The vast majority of the people alive today had nothing to do with the mistakes of the past. Why should they feel some form of collective shame?
Should we forget these past injustices? No, as is commonly stated, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
But it is foolish self-flagellation to beat ourselves up about them constantly, and to feel obligated, as you clearly did, to reference them in an article in which they were irrelevant. I know it is the fashion this decade, but it is a foolish self-defeating fashion.
If anything would prevent us winning a new war (please, no new wars) it is the self doubt and constant navel gazing of blaming ourselves for the mistakes of the past made by others.
Leave ancestral guilt to the ancients. Move forward with pride.
I don't think referencing the segregation in the armed forces was irrelevant to this article. I wrote an honest article, not a "good old days when everything was great" article. I do not consider that to be self-flagellation.
As a matter of fact, I do think our history of segregation is a shame to America forever. I did not feel "obligated" to reference this. In 1966, when I graduated college, Orville Faubus was governor of Arkansas. Segregation is not ancient history.
Very well put, Meredith. And, if you believe Neil Howe’s Fourth Turning is Here argument, the kind of crisis that those pre-WWII years represented may be upon us. And the crisis precedes a period of coming together and productivity. I think we have many things to be optimistic about in our current society. What we have not yet developed is a convincing narrative to embrace all those things, or a leader with the charisma to articulate them. I have no doubt this country is both capable and qualified.
Excellent post. I wonder if we have become too Balkanized to win a war. Our likely foes do not have the internal factionalism that is so evident today in America. I will agree that we were far from perfect in the WWII era and the segregation you reference is a stain on our collective soul. That said we were able to rally against a common foe in WWII and defeat them. Could we do it today? We may find out. I should add-former proud member of America's nuclear deterrent force in the 70's-USAF-68th Bomb Wing (H) SAC. We bring the lightning.
Excellent, Meredith. We are grateful to George for his service, too.
I thank you and George also thanks you.🙏🏻
The production time for a single liberty ship was only a few days by the end of the war.
Meredith, beautifully written and succinct. Thank you for posting this. Now we need to apply this type of united determination and productivity to WWC, transforming energy and managing carbon.
Very good article , Meredith! I am in Normandy this week visiting the D-Day invasion beaches and today was at the American Military Cemetery at Coleville sur Mere, hallowed grounds that bring tears to your eyes. As you pointed out wars are not won by virtue but by productivity, bravery and courage. And what bravery and courage was expended by those (mostly young men) who gave their lives for our freedoms….i do wonder if the current young generation would be willing to make such sacrifices if called upon today.
Love the post Meredith!
Thank you!
Freedom’s Forge is an excellent book on the importance of American manufacturing in winning WWII. Our current lack of manufacturing is concerning on many fronts. It would also be interesting to see the stance companies would take in a future war as most are global conglomerates.
I read Freedom's Forge a while ago. Excellent book! At some level, it may have been part of the inspiration for this post. Thank you for the reminder.
In your book “Shorting the Grid”, I saw the following quote in the chapter “Overinvesting in Renewables.” “The tragedy of the commons is a tragedy based on lack of accountability.” I think you would enjoy reading the new book “ The Unaccountability Machine-Why Big Systems make Bad Decisions” by Dan Davies. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197716282-the-unaccountability-machine
Nothing quite like the wisdom of an Electric Grandma.
Thank you!
Wonderfully written, Meredith. George’s service to our nation is much appreciated as well as the sacrifices of the thousands of brothers and sisters who we honor on this day.
Outstanding post, Grandma!!!! Thank you very much. My parents both served during WWII, and I remember to this day watching them march in our hometown's Memorial Day Parade.
Like you, I wonder if we could muster the will to succeed. I remember the unity that bound our nation after 9/11, and I remember my mother saying it was similar to the outrage they all felt after Pearl Harbor. But at the time of 9/11, we had a different batch of "leaders" then, who knew and understood how to encourage and engage in compromise. Personally, I don't see that type of leadership today.
Thank you again for the tribute to those whose service and sacrifice made it possible for us to even have this conversation!
Yes, the unity to pass the travesty called "The Patriot Act". With unity like that, give me divisiveness.
Be careful what you wish for.
Thank you, Meredith. See https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/war-production for additional details regarding the importance of U.S. productivity in the Allied victory in World War II.
Astonishing numbers in that industrial/military build up.. the prophetic words from Tora! Tora! Tora!
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve"
"The America of WWII was a deeply imperfect society. For example, the Armed Services were segregated. That is a shame to America forever, in my opinion."
The vast majority of the people alive today had nothing to do with the mistakes of the past. Why should they feel some form of collective shame?
Should we forget these past injustices? No, as is commonly stated, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
But it is foolish self-flagellation to beat ourselves up about them constantly, and to feel obligated, as you clearly did, to reference them in an article in which they were irrelevant. I know it is the fashion this decade, but it is a foolish self-defeating fashion.
If anything would prevent us winning a new war (please, no new wars) it is the self doubt and constant navel gazing of blaming ourselves for the mistakes of the past made by others.
Leave ancestral guilt to the ancients. Move forward with pride.
I don't think referencing the segregation in the armed forces was irrelevant to this article. I wrote an honest article, not a "good old days when everything was great" article. I do not consider that to be self-flagellation.
As a matter of fact, I do think our history of segregation is a shame to America forever. I did not feel "obligated" to reference this. In 1966, when I graduated college, Orville Faubus was governor of Arkansas. Segregation is not ancient history.