♥ Regarding, Ken Burns', "The War"...... I want to know how this series affected you.....??

Question

I was born in 1949. I grew up in peacetime........Yet I have always known the profound sacrifices so many men and women endured, in order to ensure our safety and our freedom....... God bless everyone of you dear, brave souls.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h97000/h97398.jpg
http://www.bsu.edu/web/ksmith/images/ww2normandy.jpg
http://www.uiowa.edu/~policult/assets/WWII/IwoJima_flag.jpg
http://www.ndollar.addr.com/Other%20Events/Clipart/V-J%20day%20Soldiers.jpg


God how I love The United States of America.

Answer 1

Given the current political realities, I worry some that the series will be co-opted by partisan politics on both sides of the current issues to "prove" something or other rather than to learn from the successes and the mistakes of the past.

I'm the daughter of a sailor who spent his 21st birthday delivering troops to Iwo Jima on an LST. Like you, I was raised with the understanding that men I loved and respected made sacrifices I might not comprehend fully, but I always honor. I think the series was profoundly important. I'm fairly knowledgeable about the era, but it gave me perspective that I lacked. An aspect I liked especially was the focus on 4 very different communities and the impact on those communities. Using a very fine brush, he painted the larger picture effectively.

I never equated my uncle's drinking with his service, but I wonder now if his use of alcohol was directly related to his being a cook for a unit that liberated a concentration camp. He said once, when someone made a comment that they were "starving" before a meal, that he hoped they never knew what that meant. As much as I knew about the camps, I didn't connect the dots until last night. When the veteran stood looking at the floor and said to anyone who didn't believe that the holocaust happened, "It happened. I saw it. It happened," I was struck by the memory of how my uncle looked so often.

The series had the voices of pain as well as the voices of pride, the voices of loss and the voices of survival.

While Guinness has a very valid point that our culture tends to blur the line between information and entertainment, I think this series did a better job than most.

I am glad it's out there. I hope the series is viewed critically, respectfully, and openly. It isn't all we need to know about World War II, but it is a place to start.

(Thank you for the question - and the second chance to answer it.)

Edit - Gene and Sarge - I've noticed that lack of connection to sacrifice in the current conflict, too. I wonder if the lack of sacrifice on the part of the majority of Americans is related to the loss of respect Sarge laments. It's easy to spout patriotism and wrap oneself in the flag, then go out and get in the SUV and drive down to get an iced latte, and switch the channel if the news comes on. In World War II ordinary people saw the cranes unloading the coffins coming back from the war. Now even seeing a photo of a coffin coming back is news-worthy. Isolation from the loss is not helping us as a county. (It's not art, Guinness. It's real life.)

Answer 2

I saw members of my family go away to our country's wars in my lifetime and I am here today because a Korean soldier took my Dad's place in a line and was killed.
I had family members serve in every war since and including world war II and I do think the series Ken Burns did will educate some who don't have a heavy history background. I have a much more indepth knowledge than the series was able to willing to impart.
I think the series was good for the younger generation to remember what happened and perhaps pique an interest and further their exploration of this incredible, horrendous conflict. I hope that we never forget the sacrifices made at the altar of freedom, and those who laid down their today for our tomorrows.

Answer 3

Well, Ken Burns certainly brought back the feel of the war. He is my favorite historian since the Civil War epic he produced. The major thing that impressed me was how WWII effected everyone so profoundly. Even kids were involved in the war effort. During recent conflicts I have been put off by the reporting by TV reporters who were sometimes caught up in the emotions of events, yet they tended to report casualties like they were giving the score at a football game.

It is impossible for us to truly comprehend the ravages of war while living in America. Our lives go on as if there was no conflict. Having a number of close friends and relatives who are serving overseas has deeply effected me. I remember them each day as I try to understand the issues.

One thing which was brought out in this WWII series was the fact that many soldiers never recovered from the stress of the war. Sadly, my male relations who served appeared to have normal lives, but their lives were greatly affected by being part of this terrible conflict. There was a lot of bitterness and anger which never got resolved and heavy drinking was another real symptom of the war.

Answer 4

To be honest, I'm not familiar with the series, but now I'm intrigued enough to check it out.

I was born in 1976. For the most part, my life has seen peace time prevail, although war always threatened on the horizon, (the cold war, Iran Contra affair, etc.) and I am keenly aware of the sacrifices our soldiers make on our behalf. Some of my closest friends are veterans, and my neighbor's son has been MIA in Iraq for almost two years now. My hat is off to all the brave men and women who have served this country since it's creation, and I am eternally grateful to them.

Answer 5

I'm sorry but I am not familiar with Ken Burns'..The War and I can't, nor can any of us, imagine what it would be like to put your life on the line in any war that is so frightening there are no words to describe what our men and women go through for us to have the freedom and safety they are still fighting to keep.
I am from Canada and we have lost many men and women in this past war. We need to remember all men and women from ALL countries who are fighting for peace. So, God bless each one of them from everywhere, and may peace somehow find its way so the innocent ones being killed for no fault of their own are spared through all this hatred going on.

Answer 6

I'm always humbled by the sacrifices our men and women in uniform have made. I've been there and I've seen the heroes in action. My question to others is... why has support for our soldiers waned. They're still the same ones that were sent to protect us after 9/11 when everybody was willing to go to war. They still fight the same enemy and the same war. They still fight for your right to speak against them. Who changed? Certainly not them. They are all still heroes.

Answer 7

I could not watch it with my father (who fought in the Pacific campaign), as he got all teary. I had to turn it off