How Did We Become So Weak?

 

Can you believe that 75 years ago–beginning on February 21, 1945–60,000 US Marines attacked the small Japanese island of Iwo Jima? It wasn’t very safe. In fact, about 26,000 of the young men were killed, wounded, or missing by the time the battle ended on March 26, 1945 (that’s 43.33% casualties). 6800 of the young Marines were killed (11.33%).

The motto of New Hampshire is “Live Free or Die.”

When I was a child (I’m nearly 60), we were told of a great American named Patrick Henry of Virginia. In a speech back in 1765, opposing some unjust act of Parliament (the Stamp Act I think) he famously proclaimed “Is life so dear or peace so sweet so as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

What has happened to us? Do we think we shall live forever on this earth? Do we think we won’t die? We will. Of course, we should take reasonable means to avoid death. But really. We’re going to stop people from working and give away money we don’t have (throwing more debt to be carried by future generations) because we’re afraid of a virus? I guess we don’t really believe all that freedom and liberty stuff. Even our Churches are closed–the Church that once astounded pagans by her indifference to death-even in plague-knowing her true homeland was not here.

Lord, help our poor country!

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There are 34 comments.

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  1. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):
    The proposition was that Germany didn’t lose. If Germany didn’t lose, no one in Germany would have been complaining about how they were mistreated.

    So Germany wins, what then? Were they known for treating their conquests kindly? How much territory/ treasure would have been ceded to them?

    Think we’d have wound up with 60 million dead?

     

    • #31
  2. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):
    The proposition was that Germany didn’t lose. If Germany didn’t lose, no one in Germany would have been complaining about how they were mistreated.

    So Germany wins, what then? Were they known for treating their conquests kindly? How much territory/ treasure would have been ceded to them?

    Think we’d have wound up with 60 million dead?

    I think more. 

    If the Versailles treaty was so bad, imagine what this Versailles treaty would look like. The Germans, flush with victory and already with Western Europe brought to heel would have little disincentive. Then there is the Russian invasion – with only a single front the Germans might well have taken Moscow. Japan keeps China and expands into the rest of Asia.

    The US separated by 2 oceans gets invaded from Mexico when paratroopers land in Colorado, bringing with them the promise of socialism and a scientifically planned economy.

     

     

    • #32
  3. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    Ansonia (View Comment):
    What we need now are some Sunny Side of the Plague stories and suggestions.

    I’m in. I speculate that Taiwan will gain a lot of world recognition in the wake of the Kung Flu.

    • #33
  4. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    Instugator (View Comment):

    I think more.

    If the Versailles treaty was so bad, imagine what this Versailles treaty would look like.

    I think more too. VD Hansen makes the point that WWII in Europe was about Germans killing civilians. Their plan was to literally depopulate the lands they conquered. They behaved little better in WWI in Belgium.

    As for the Versailles treaty, the problem wasn’t that it was punitive – it was no more punitive than other contemporary conditions imposed at the end of European wars. The problem was that it wasn’t enforced.

    • #34
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