I have been concerned about world events ever since high school. When I was a kid I would take our Newsweek magazine and sneak off to the bathroom to read it. This was the only place at home where I had peace and quiet and would not be given a job.
I vaguely remember WW II, but I was very much interested in the Korean War and the election of 1952. I had a neighbor who was captured in the battle at the Chosin Reservoir in what is now part of North Korea during the winter of 1950. He spent 3 years as a prisoner of war. I had come to know him when he painted my Grandmother's house roof. The war was a political hot potato during the 1952 election year. The War in Korea was often referred to as a "Police Action”. Since the fighting was confined to a small country it did not get as much attention worldwide as the World Wars. There were questions—Why are we fighting and dying in this "God forsaken country”? There were not demonstrations against this war as we saw later. It was negative politically for the Democrats, so Eisenhower won on a platform that included ending the war. I remember going to Aunt Retta Metz Smith’s place to watch Dwight Eisenhower be sworn in as President on TV. That was 1953 and we did not have a TV set until 1955. My neighbor, Jesse Snyder, was released after the war and lived a normal life in the area as far as I know.
I was married and had children in the lead up to The Viet Nam War, so getting involved was not an option.. Two of my brothers served in the military during that time. Both served stateside and did not see combat. Barry Metz, grandson of Roy B. Metz, served in Viet Nam and has stories to tell. Nellie Metz Strayer’s daughter Barbara was married to Daniel Brittain who was killed in Viet Nam in 1966.
The drumbeat for war in the 1960’s was all about the "Communist threat”, which rang a lot of bells for people after the Cold War threats from China and Russia.
The military convinced the politicians that an incursion would be quick and easy. It wasn’t and history tells the tale. In 1967 I became convinced that going to war in Viet Nam was a very bad idea and I spoke out about how I felt. I was called a Communist. I opposed the war, but, sad to say, I did not demonstrate against it.
The Bush wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were stupid and handled poorly. My family and I demonstrated against the War in Iraq as completely unnecessary.
I believed we should have gone into Afghanistan, taken care of business and exited..
Based on my years of political observations this current war, PUTIN’S WAR, is a whole lot different from past conflicts. The planet has never experienced.anything like this.
The countries the United States tangled with over the years were small and had little ability to really threaten us, so we looked at these conflicts as a way for us “to keep the peace” and maintain the “World Order”. Our Military-Industrial Complex has applauded these efforts and many have profited from war.
Putin’s War is different than any other national conflict. It is a Twenty-first century war that includes the usual TV footage, breathless reporting from the front lines and a blow by blow account of what is happening almost up to the minute. This is really incredible.
Putin may ultimately succeed in his horrible quest, but within 4 days the World has united against this evil man and he continues with no real support, even from his own people. Sadly, Putin’s only obvious supporters are Trump and his white nationalists thugs.
I have never seen the various countries of the world so united about anything like they are united against Putin’s War. It is truly historic.
