Members of the Greatest Generation lived through the Depression of the 1930s, learned to cope in hard times, and took responsibility with dedication and humility. During World War II, they answered the call. Sixteen million served, including a million African Americans and 44,000 Native Americans. Women went to work in factories turning out planes, tanks and munitions.
May 8, 2025, will mark the 80th anniversary of V.E. Day, the official end of World War II in Europe and the final repudiation of the horrors initiated by Adolf Hitler.
Out of World War II came the Marshall Plan, which helped Europe rebuild and helped restore the European economies, including Germany’s. NATO was created to bind nations together for security. Each nation pledged to come to the aid of member nations under attack.
The only time this has ever been tested was after the bombings of the World Trade Center. A combined NATO force of the United States, Canada and 22 European nations (including Denmark) went to Afghanistan to root out the perpetrators. The past 80 years have been relatively peaceful, due to the world order that was created after World War II, a legacy of the Greatest Generation.
Our president has said that Adolf Hitler did some good things. Under Hitler’s leadership, six million Jews were exterminated, many in gas chambers specially built for the purpose. Because of his thirst for expansion, Hitler started the bloodiest war in history, claiming the lives of over 60 million people. What were the good things he did?
Our president recently stated that Ukraine started the war against Russia. Russia placed over 100,000 troops along the border with Ukraine and proceeded to invade. It is the invading country that starts the war. Our president has cut off intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, blocked aid that was approved by Congress and declared that Ukraine should give up territory and give up the idea of joining NATO.
Support for Ukraine has been approved in bipartisan actions by Congress. Yet, our president has decided that we should side with the aggressor nation. Why, suddenly, does Congress remain silent while the president upends the 80-year-old world order and throws Ukraine under the bus? Why is Congress silent when our president threatens to annex Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of our ally, Denmark?
The title “Greatest Generation” was not bestowed until many years after World War II was over. Greatness is determined after the consequences of our actions have had time to reveal themselves.
In the years to come, what will the current generation be called?
Paul Rogers
Water Mill
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