Will we ever see a generation like those who fought in WW II again?

Question

I am not questioning anyones patriotism here, but do you think we will ever see the courage & sacrifice made on such a national scale again?

Answer 1

No generation suffered more than they did, which gave them perspective, made them grateful for what they had, proud of what they accomplished, and willing to pay the ultimate price to defend it.

There are those that learned it well well from their parents and grandparents,... sadly, not enough it seems.

Most of today's kids are overprivilaged, brainless brats.

Worthy causes have been seriously lacking also.
Every skirmish since Korea has been for profit, not for the safety and sovereignty of the United States or any other nation.

It's hardly a strong impetus to fight when it's only to line the pockets of the Military Industrial Complex, under the guise of "patriotism."

Answer 2

I gather you're buying in to the whole "Greatest Generation" thing. Simply untrue.

What exactly is it you see as "like those who fought in WW II"? For one thing, most of them were drafted, and forced to fight. Pearl Harbor did inspire many to sign up, but most were drafted.

There was much cowardice, too. Not everyone was John Wayne. There was also much profit made -- by soldiers from their comrades, by business-owners supplying weaponry.

The idea that everyone was brave and everyone sacrificed was more from the movies than reality. (Well, a lot of the sacrifice was forced rationing -- but there were cheats there, too.)

Then there are other things to consider. That was the generation who had no problem with rounding up innocent citizens and imprisoning them (and confiscating all their property), keeping them behind barbed wire for the duration.

Blacks, who were expected to serve and sacrifice, weren't considered human, and were segregated; they returned from war to find their situations not at all improved by their courage and sacrifice.

Women were barely considered human, and were expected to turn off their brains, and turn on their uterii after the war.

If you get your history from romanticized sources, you get a distorted view.

There are a lot of things that have happened since -- the disappearance of the middle class, the U.S. consistently being on the side of oppressors against the oppressed, corruption, vanishing hope for the future.

Every generation is both unique, and like every other -- just as individuals are. The world is not that of the 1940s.

I think the trend toward identifying, not just with our own country and Europe, but with all humanity, is a GOOD thing. I look forward to its increase over subsequent generations.

Answer 3

Lets hope we never have to.

I believe those people were no more special than any other generation but that the exceptional and horrific circumstances bought out the best in people's human nature ( and in some cases the worst ).

I think most veterans would happily never see that situation again even at the expense of never again seeing people behave with such heroism

Answer 4

Not if this YA! board is any indication.

The "greatest generation" knew what shared sacrifice was all about. They came through the depression, where nearly everyone was poor. When World War 2 began the country was united, and was united until the 70's/80's. That generation believed in what was best for the greatest number of Americans, not just the rich.

Answer 5

Hello, Yes when our backs are against the wall just like the services are doing of today , The enemy in WWII had uniforms and fought in them, we still have the same courage but who is the enemy, when it comes this time large armys will not be needed but stealth and cunning of small units.With "the gloves off" Hope I'm proved wrong.

Answer 6

They are all around you. For too long we have put that generation on a pedestool.

We forget that time and circumstance are as much as play as anything else with every generation.

The WWII generation had the luxury of total commitment to the problem at hand. How hard is it to stand up to the clear and present dangers at hand when the whole country is behind you?

For my money...it almost takes more courage and sacrifice to place yourself in Vietnam, Korea, or Iraq..when you could simply stay at home. Especially when the reasons for going to war are so unclear as compared to defeating Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

Answer 7

Yes.

Its happening today, just suppressed and attacked so badly that national American national pride has been eroded to the point its barely recognizable.

The apologists in the media don't want to lift up those who are defending America in order not to infuriate the terrorists.

Its hard to rally around the flag when it being burned, stomped upon and hated by its own citizens!

Answer 8

This type of courage was driven by extremely adverse circumstances. The courage and sacrifice was witnessed on all sides in the war and is a human trait it these circumstances. there is no doubt in my mind that current and future generations would respond similarly in similar circumstances, I just hope we never see those circumstances again.

Answer 9

it would probably take a second American Revolution at this point to find that level of "courage and sacrifice on a national scale"

but really, who knows what the future holds.

Answer 10

This administration has effectively erased 99.5% of any good that the USA has ever accomplished before them. It is a shame. I have left the country because of Bush and his greedy goons has used the good name of the USA to further their own personal agendas and to make themselves richer with the blood of poor people around the world, and the blood of poor people that make up the majority of theranks of our military. He is a disgrace. To answer your question, Sure we COULD see the same as back in the days of ww2. It will not be in our lifetime or our kids lifetime. It took hundreds of years to get to that level that we were at during ww2. Bush and (somewhat) Clinton,all but destroyed that hard work. I am ashamed to have ever been 'employed' by the USA.