A Sad Commentary on the World

[andy06shake]

As much as i admire what the fella fought for and the service he gave to the nation.

It is hardly out of kilter for a 100-year-old man to be disillusioned or unhappy with the way the world spun.

And like others have suggested, he doesn't exactly elucidate on what the issues are.

He's entitled to his opinion.

But if you compare the aurocities, illiteracy rates, public health, working conditions, air pollution, women’s rights, access to education, social inequality, and mass poverty in his day of age, to today's world. 

I think this one wins hands down.

[chr0naut]

I think he has come to the realization that he had been so propagandized that he once thought that the war was about 'freedom'.

In truth, the war was a power struggle of various empires against other empires.

In Britain, the saying at the time was "for king and country", which is hardly 'freedom'. Britain had, and still has, some truly atrocious royalty (and many were foreigners, actually from France or Germany, anyway - it was all public relations BS).

Ultimately, millions (on both sides of the conflict) died for no advantage to themselves or their loved ones.

War has always been futile.

[andy06shake]

I think he has come to the realization that he had been so propagandized that he once thought that the war was about 'freedom'.

In truth, the war was a power struggle of various empires against other empires.

In Britain, the saying at the time was "for king and country", which is hardly 'freedom'. Britain had, and still has, some truly atrocious royalty (and many were foreigners, actually from France or Germany, anyway - it was all public relations BS).

Ultimately, millions (on both sides of the conflict) died for no advantage to themselves or their loved ones.

War has always been futile.

WWII wasn't just an imperial power struggle chr0naut.

It was also a fight against fascism, genocide, and totalitarianism.

Millions of people died.

But if the Axis regime had prevailed.

Millions more would have perished or been enslaved.
 
War is a pointless exercise in human self-destruction.

But the alternative beggars belief.

"Better to die on your feet than live on your knees." Emiliano Zapata

[UltraBudgie]

In truth, the war was a power struggle of various empires against other empires.

It's often overshadowed, but the war that really changed the world was WWI. That (and the decades before and after) were when all the remaining great powers with leadership based on patrimony were replaced with those who see the state as nothing more than a means of achieving wealth and preserving power and privilege. By the time of WWII, the course of the occident for the reminder of the 20th century was to be expressed in three clear paths; however, Germany lost their bid by being so rabidly expansionist that the two other blocs united to defeat it. But indeed they had no choice. The possibility of a united Germany+Russia was simply the only challenge to western and European hegemony. In fact the whole first half of the 20th century really only makes sense when seen as a long ploy to prevent exactly that. But something like WWII was bound to happen, as the fuse had already been lit, ever since the late 1800s.

You're right. As always, it wasn't about freedom or ideology beyond effective practice, but rather, as always, power.

[Oldcarpy2]

It's often overshadowed, but the war that really changed the world was WWI. That (and the decades before and after) were when all the remaining great powers with leadership based on patrimony were replaced with those who see the state as nothing more than a means of achieving wealth and preserving power and privilege. By the time of WWII, the course of the occident for the reminder of the 20th century was to be expressed in three clear paths; however, Germany lost their bid by being so rabidly expansionist that the two other blocs united to defeat it. But indeed they had no choice. The possibility of a united Germany+Russia was simply the only challenge to western and European hegemony. In fact the whole first half of the 20th century really only makes sense when seen as a long ploy to prevent exactly that. But something like WWII was bound to happen, as the fuse had already been lit, ever since the late 1800s.

You're right. As always, it wasn't about freedom or ideology beyond effective practice, but rather, as always, power.

It was about Anti Facism though?

Which we now seem to have....

[Maxmars]

It might be amusing to consider the "actual" number of players at the time when all these 'entirely western' antics became the norm....

Or was it entirely "western" I wonder?

Many think on these things as a matter of conspiracy,
but perhaps it's more like a simple play about

"Not you, me... not yours, mine." 

which is always presented as to citizens as: 

"Not theirs, ours."

[UltraBudgie]

It was about Anti Facism though?

After WWI, it was about overt fascism vs two flavours of cryptofascism: one wearing a cloak of communism, one wearing a cloak of capitalism. Once cryptofascism won, the capitalist flavour was able to absorb the propaganda techniques of overt fascism better than the communists, who eventually ran out of scapegoats.

This is why it's all so ironic.

[andy06shake]

After WWI, it was about overt fascism vs two flavours of cryptofascism: one wearing a cloak of communism, one wearing a cloak of capitalism. Once cryptofascism won, the capitalist flavour was able to absorb the propaganda techniques of overt fascism better than the communists, who eventually ran out of scapegoats.

This is why it's all so ironic.

It's as if humanity moves in circles, generation after generation, forgetting the hard lessons written in blood and repeating the same old mistakes.

We refuse to truly learn from history, reenacting the same follies and transgressions as our great-grandfathers.

Perhaps it's due to our short lifespans.

Memories fade, and wisdom rarely survives beyond a few decades.

Some lessons, it seems, can't be inherited through books or stories.

They must be lived, endured, and felt to be understood.

"What a piece of work is a man...."

[chr0naut]

WWII wasn't just an imperial power struggle chr0naut.

It was also a fight against fascism, genocide, and totalitarianism.

Millions of people died.

But if the Axis regime had prevailed.

Millions more would have perished or been enslaved.
 
War is a pointless exercise in human self-destruction.

But the alternative beggars belief.

"Better to die on your feet than live on your knees." Emiliano Zapata

The Nazi's and Italian Fascists would not have risen to power if there was not a feeling that their countries had 'lost out' on post WW1 reparations. They both promoted that their country should be supreme over all others - for reasons of history, or natural justice, or other bigotry. And the people believed it, and voted them into power, and we know where that led.

Many US citizens think that the USA is, and/or should be, supreme in all the world. It is at the core of recent political platforms and the people have voted them into power.

This implies to believers in the nationalist ideology (as defined by the Fascist manifesto of Mussolini, from which it gets its name), that any and all attempts to be fair and equitable amongst the countries, in things like law, trade, production, human rights, medicine, migration and aid, are to be condemmed by the Fascist.

And all ideas of statesmanship, and looking for win-win solutions, is likewise denigrated as 'weakness' because there must - always and only - be only one winner (and to the many who 'flag-wave' for such nationalist ideology, you can be pretty sure that, ultimately, you wont be the one winner).

[DontTreadOnMe]

Many US citizens think that the USA is, and/or should be, supreme in all the world. It is at the core of recent political platforms and the people have voted them into power.

I think you may have that confused.
If America thrives under a free market capitalist system, it can help defend the world against the likes of the WEF, and the Soros Klan.