It is a good thing that WW11 came when Americans would be willing to sacrifice greatly in lifestyle, earnings, injury and lives when we had a generation that was willing do to what was needed to free us and the whole world. With 7 pages of posts it appears to me that we would be unwilling to give in for the common good today. When an individual's rights are more important than the collective rights of a nation to minimize a huge threat then the Constitution really has little meaning as we don't feel that the common good is less important then my own good.
Bryce
There were several contributing factors to create the "greatest generation." They may have combined to force my grandparents to unify for nationalistic reasons;
> The Bolsheviks led by Lenin came into power in 1917 and Europe and America would quack as a result as the "worker's party" efforts for the common man.
> Nationalistic fascists in Europe were rattling their political swords and while Americans probably didn't think it would be their fight if there was a fight, we would find this thinking inaccurate in the 1940's
> Over 50% of America's population was still rural. Today that number is under 15%
> Most did not have higher education and a large number were not high-school graduates.
> Today we are a culture of higher learning and with higher learning typically comes an attitude of higher individualistic thinking
The liberal theologians, in an attempt to "save" Christianity in America from the new savior of science, medical, and technology advances believed that Christianity could shift with culture and remain "relevant."
This theological logic, devised by great "educated" American thinkers modeling after noted German philosophers of the previous era, said that given enough time and resources, modern man could produce the utopia all were seeking. Since we as America, were the richest nation on earth, we had a head start!
This philosophy, still sitting with us at our tables today, would prove devastating to the faith of our nation, and in the 1880's - 1920's America experienced a marked drop in church attendance. The 1960's with Vietnam and other factors would seal the deal. American's walked out of the pulpits and church in record numbers.
Here we are today. As some read this thread and see sadness, I can sympathize. Selfishness is in all of us, some showing it more than others. But we're all in the same trapping canoe. Some may have paddles. Others insist we let them steer. Most insist government develop something or do something or send something. But "who" is government? Us.
Of, for, and by "Us,"... the people. My in-laws (wives and husbands of our children) often speak of government as if it's some entity. A thing. Naw... it's just people.
18 years ago, I gave my paddle to the One who made me and has had my name in His book before I was Psalms 139:15-18.
He held on to me, as He does many others, through a sincere love of Creation! What a wonderful gift.
Blessings y'all
Stay safe out there
Mark