Tracking the next pandemic: Avian Flu Talk |
Just A Little Perspective - Read and Learn |
Post Reply |
Author | |
FluMom
Adviser Group Valued Member Since 2006 Joined: February 03 2020 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 14695 |
Post Options
Thanks(4)
Posted: March 26 2020 at 3:41pm |
Just a little perspective~ I talked with a man today, an 80+ year old man. I asked him if there was anything I can get him while this Coronavirus scare was gripping America. He simply smiled, looked away and said: "Let me tell you what I need! I need to believe, at some point, this country my generation fought for... I need to believe this nation we handed safely to our children and their children... I need to know this generation will quit being a bunch of sissies...that they respect what they've been given...that they've earned what others sacrificed for." I wasn't sure where the conversation was going or if it was going anywhere at all. So, I sat there, quietly observing. "You know, I was a little boy during WWII. Those were scary days. We didn't know if we were going to be speaking English, German or Japanese at the end of the war. There was no certainty, no guarantees like Americans enjoy today. And no home went without sacrifice or loss. Every house, up and down every street, had someone in harm's way. Maybe their Daddy was a soldier, maybe their son was a sailor, maybe it was an uncle. Sometimes it was the whole damn family...fathers, sons, uncles... Having someone, you love, sent off to war...it wasn't less frightening than it is today. It was scary as Hell. If anything, it was more frightening. We didn't have battle front news. We didn't have email or cellphones. You sent them away and you hoped...you prayed. You may not hear from them for months, if ever. Sometimes a mother was getting her son's letters the same day Dad was comforting her over their child's death. And we sacrificed. You couldn't buy things. Everything was rationed. You were only allowed so much milk per month, only so much bread, toilet paper. EVERYTHING was restricted for the war effort. And what you weren't using, what you didn't need, things you threw away, they were saved and sorted for the war effort. My generation was the original recycling movement in America. And we had viruses back then...serious viruses. Things like polio, measles, and such. It was nothing to walk to school and pass a house or two that was quarantined. We didn't shut down our schools. We didn't shut down our cities. We carried on, without masks, without hand sanitizer. And do you know what? We persevered. We overcame. We didn't attack our President, we came together. We rallied around the flag for the war. Thick or thin, we were in it to win. And we would lose more boys in an hour of combat than we lose in entire wars today."
He slowly looked away again. Maybe I saw a small tear in the corner of his eye. Then he continued: "Today's kids don't know sacrifice. They think a sacrifice is not having coverage on their phone while they freely drive across the country. Today's kids are selfish and spoiled. In my generation, we looked out for our elders. We helped out with single moms who's husbands were either at war or dead from war. Today's kids rush the store, buying everything they can...no concern for anyone but themselves. It's shameful the way Americans behave these days. None of them deserve the sacrifices their granddads made.
So, no I don't need anything. I appreciate your offer but, I know I've been through worse things than this virus. But maybe I should be asking you, what can I do to help you? Do you have enough pop to get through this, enough steak? Will you be able to survive with 113 channels on your tv?"
I smiled, fighting back a tear of my own...now humbled by a man in his 80's. All I could do was thank him for the history lesson, leave my number for emergency and leave with my ego firmly tucked in my rear.
I talked to a man today. A real man. An American man from an era long gone and forgotten. We will never understand the sacrifices. We will never fully earn their sacrifices. But we should work harder to learn about them,..learn from them...to respect them.
|
|
Technophobe
Assistant Admin Joined: January 16 2014 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 88450 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
There are times, FluMom when I disagree with you utterly, times I marvel at your strength, times I learned from you and times I hope you learned from me. This time I applaud you. Well said! |
|
How do you tell if a politician is lying?
His lips or pen are moving. |
|
Sheep Lady
V.I.P. Member Joined: February 06 2020 Status: Offline Points: 3215 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Amen. |
|
Sheep Lady
|
|
Usk
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 26 2020 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 7305 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Flumom on line school starts Monday. May I use your quote as an introduction and discussion platform? Thank you and bless you for once again showing us your strengths |
|
FluMom
Adviser Group Valued Member Since 2006 Joined: February 03 2020 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 14695 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
That was sent to me by email from a friend who is pretty wise. So I have no problem with you using it it is out in the public. |
|
ME163
Admin Group Joined: September 16 2006 Status: Offline Points: 4552 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Flumom, Even if there are times I disagree with you. I think that you are a good person and a valued member. I have a different perspective from most people. I have to balance the social issues with my personal battle to keep my gf alive. Every day is a struggle to keep her alive. We struggle each day, her COPD and dwarfism issues, my cerebral palsy and back issues . I hope at least that you see our point of view and our desire to be safe and secure. It's a hard nasty fight everyday to keep her alive at times. I battle with insurance companies, state Medicaid and medicare providers, and equipment vendors daily. Now we have to fight with her supplier of N95 masks and gloves. They broke their contract and are no longer will supply her with masks, gloves and CPAP equipment. So, I am scrambling around this month trying to track down supplies for her.. |
|
pheasant
Admin Group Joined: May 20 2006 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 9851 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
History will set you free! And Pure truth is a beautiful thing! Perfect post at a perfect time mom. |
|
The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself......FDR
|
|
WitchMisspelled
Adviser Group Joined: January 20 2020 Status: Offline Points: 17170 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
edited out. |
|
WitchMisspelled
Adviser Group Joined: January 20 2020 Status: Offline Points: 17170 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Nevermind ME.. I'll PM you privately. |
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You can vote in polls in this forum |