Scenes from D-Day then and now

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Wow. Thanks Dave. I remember my father's friends at Ft. Benning talking about those places. They were senior to him, having been at D-Day, my father's first action was the Relief of Bastonne.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

No guys, it was the context that did it. People rise to the level of what is expected of them, and fall to the level that is imposed on them. In my life, I spent a good deal of time with folks from three places in South America, two places in Canada (and let me tell you, PEI people are some of the most interesting people on the planet), seven countries in Europe, Japan, and all over the US. In every place, every culture within every place, what I see is that people are all the same. We all do the same things, given the context we live in. All that "Greatest Generation" stuff in his silly suckup book elevated a single culture in a single situation and context as being special. It is bovine defecation. People are amazing, everywhere. I've seen a seven year old stand up to a grown man with a machine gun-- actually an Uzi, a machine pistol and a stainless steel machete dangling from his belt-- in a shopping mall! (that was Valencia, Venezuela, 1987). It takes a while to process a sight like that. Yes, the guy with the machine gun posing as a security guard was a plant-- years later, those who placed him there organized Chavez's entourage. Courage is everywhere, cowardice is a rare aberration. We have to be careful with our respect for those whose courage is recorded and known. What I learned from my travels and my father's Army friends when I was very young (1951-54), is that if a person has a clear, solid idea of what is good and what is evil, there is no limit to the courage with which they will seek what is good, even to death. As a foreigner with no position but as a foreign missionary construction supervisor, I could only stand as a witness, with my camera ready that day. That kid is what people are capable of, all alone, believing in what he knew from his upbringing, knowing what is good and what is evil. Believe me, the youth of today are as capable as the lessons we taught them. Think Tienamin Square, Kosovo, Sarajevo, etc. And today, Kiev and the rest of the Ukraine. Ordinary people, who know good from evil. The more you know people the more you respect and love them.

[chappy]

2 things. First , Dave thank you so much for that link ,, I have forwarded it to my dad who will find it very interesting.
My Uncle Bill from the UK died during that invasion, and my cousin was born without ever seeing her dad.
Also I agree that todays generations are a lot more than we give them credit for. I too have seen this first hand , in my 33 yrs as a police officer I have seen zeros become heroes because of what is within them.
And believe me when I say I feel, securemin knowingmthat the generations behind me will look after things just fine, waytoomuch,, very well put.
Cheers
Bob