In our moment of “woke” , do not let the Left cancel out the memories of your childhood. We must not agree that the 1950s and 1960s were times of evil. They were not.
Westerns like the Searchers, High Noon, Shane, The Magnificent Seven, and Hombre all explored themes of racial prejudice, of the individual set against the mob, or the few willing to take on the lawbreakers, both the violent and the ‘establishment’. “Liberal” then was something akin to nonexistent conservative Democrat today and agendas mostly focused on a 40-hour week, disability insurance, and fair housing.
My own memories are of two bone-tired heroic parents, who moved a 900-square-foot old house to our farm, as my dad tried to fix the unfixable himself—himself a veteran of 40 B-29 missions. His squadron (much of it wiped out by fighters, flak, or simply lost on the 32000-mile round-trip from Tinian to Tokyo) was a part of the effort to stop a murderous Japanese military empire that wiped out 15 million in China and another 2-3 millions in the Pacific and other parts of Asia. And the militarist would not have been stopped, without the sacrifices of as many lives, which just wished to be left alone in places like Kingsburg and Selma. These were good people and we must honor them, and remember the country they bequeathed, one which millions of people seek to enter each year. This generation seems to think that AOC and Ilhan Omar appeared out of nowhere to build the US and millions then flocked to enter their reconstituted utopia.
I can remember my parents in 1965 driving up to San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral in their unreliable 1956 Dodge wagon, to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. We stopped in Hunter’s Point and picked up some elderly African-American friends of a friend who were without a ride, and all of us joined an enormous line outside the cathedral. As the two enormous doors closed, my mother gave me a hard push into the church, and I was the only one of our party who heard his speech. I still remember his “A man must be judged on the content of his character not on the color of his skin”—words perhaps more revolutionary today than in 1965.
Discussion (32)
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Great article as always Mr. Hanson, your writing, podcasts, and tv appearances are all essential reading, listening and viewing. But there is glaring typo here concerning the distance from Tinian to Tokyo. It's about a 3000 mile round trip, not 32000 miles (12 hours back then). Need to delete a zero.
Dr Hanson— I appreciate your podcasts and commentary. It helps me maintain sanity in our insane world. Thank you Bob PS I just finished Fields Without Dreams— I am farming 100 acres of cash crops (making no money) in retirement, and I found your story riveting.
Great writing and thought by a great American thinker .
Excerpted from the article: "... murderous Japanese military empire that wiped out 15 million in China and another 2-3 millions in the Pacific and other parts of Asia." Do we need another Pearl Harbor by the Chinese to wake (woke) us up. If so, it will be far worse than what occurred under the murderous Japs. But we do have an uneducated corrupt polity, particularly with Biden/Harris (unbelievably incompetent), that could allow such a tragedy. Think if Pelosi became president - Shutter!. My God, how did we get here!
[Unclear about this number] “32000-mile round-trip from Tinian to Tokyo” Flight distance from Tokyo to Tinian 2367 kilometers / miles or 1278 nautical miles. 1,278 Nautical Miles = 1,470.6961 Miles 1,471 x 2 = 2,942 Miles [Best Guess] Which is close to 3,200 Miles P.S. Keep Up the Good Work !
Dr Hanson, I think you have a minor typo on the round trip distance from Tinian to Tokyo. You cite 32000 miles, I believe the actual distance is closer to 3200 miles.
I wanted to thank you, for you provide so much hope and understanding of what is happening in our country. Your words help create Hope. Thank you Sir!
Excellent post, thank you. BTW, I believe B-29 Missions were more in the 32 hundred mile range rather than the 32 thousand mile one.
Vic, Your long view- I mean really long- of our present is really the only interpretation of my present that keeps me sane. Thank you and Kalo Paska. (I've lived on Naxos Island and have returned annually for 27 years.)
Here's to my parents and their generation. The Good People who raised us, worked so very hard to put food on our table and scraped together enough money to send their three boys to college. God be praised that I have been able to do the same and we are, proudly, three generations holding University degrees. Only in America, Dr. Hanson. Only here, where we have the freedom to pursue happiness in all of its forms. I am taking your advice today on this Easter morning as I look across the dinner table at my heroic parents - 91 and 89 years old. We will talk about your article and thank them for the Content of their Character.
How uncanny. Just this morning I was saying to my Italian husband that my friends’ parents, mostly Democrats, and my own Republican parents wouldn’t have wanted this to happen to the country they fought hard to leave us. We were all Americans then, with relatively little differentiating the parties.
VDH, so appreciate your writings and your clear perspective.
Is Martin Luther King Jr next on the chopping block of the woke insanity? They've already tagged Washington, Lincoln - obviously none have studied history nor even bothered to "google"
Thank you, Victor. As a Canadian from a tiny province on the east coast, I look forward to your weekly podcasts and these articles. Although your discussions focus primarily on US issues, I find so much of what you say resonates with us here in New Brunswick. I wish I could go back in time and go to Fresno and take a Classics course from you:) Looking forward to more podcasts and commentary here in NB! Sherrie McLean
Victor, I very much enjoy your writing and podcasting, but there is an error in this article. I don't believe it's 32,000 miles from Tinian to Tokyo. It probably felt like that to the men making the flights, but I think the real answer is somewhat shorter. Steve
Dear VDH, You keep me sane. Im 63 years old, a former head writer of SNL, written many comedy movies, worked on the oil rigs in ND, drove a tow truck in Saltese MT, went to PS 41 and IS 70 in Manhattan, high schools in Pa, 3 colleges, and drove a '66 Dart to Hollywood in 1979 when the corner of Hollywood and Highland was still 3 banks and Lees Drugstore. I live in Carmel and my oldest daughter (of 2) goes to Fresno State, for Criminology, my youngest is in-person high school in Missoula, better for her sanity. You are better for mine. Keep writing, I am a fan.
It is looking like the fake "WOKE" mob (mixed in with the fake, paid and and often disguised Media and Internet powers) just may be the coming together of many people who are somehow disappointed with their own situation in life, whatever the cause or genesis. They appear to have banded together to feel "power" and it is working... to some degree. But then, after a period of crazy, and then really crazy, their unearned "power" will recede like the tide. My theory is based partly on the fact that you rarely, if ever, hear ANY constructive ideas offered. Just more incessant uni-directional bitching, like wolves howling at the moon. I don't blame the wolves due to the fact that they have no spoken language to engage others. But then again, neither do the complainers, do they?
The Benihana chef, like Alexander, just cut right through the tangled mess made by Critical Race Theory like it was Gordon’s knot.
Thank you for the memory and for the last sentence. I celebrate that your viewpoint hasn't been canceled. If I had time to waste, I would wonder why anyone would oppose what you have to say. How good has your life been! 900 square feet of home moved to a farm in which you live to this day! What a gift, to have a dad who flew so many combat missions and returned home! What excellent circumstances that your family had the heart to pick up an elderly couple from Hunter's Point to take them to listen to the speaking of a flawed man who inspired millions! What kindness, how noble, to have a mother, who pushed you in before the doors closed so that you could share such an excellent thought today! “A man must be judged on the content of his character not on the color of his skin” Thank you, Dr. Hanson, for continuing to fight the good fight of the truth.
32000k mile round trip? I don't think so.
Outstanding piece, Professor, thank you for the sharp insight and perspective. And thank God both our dads made it home from the war in the Pacific.
God bless your heroic father, Dr. Hanson. My uncle was a tailgunner on the B-29 Indian Maid out of Tinian. He was shot down on a raid over Kobe and spent the remainder of the war in a POW camp. The day after the Japanese surrender, the camp commander machine gunned the prisoners. I am told he was later executed for war crimes. Thank you for your tireless commitment to provide cool analysis and reasoned perspective to the irrational time we live in. And thank you for your books.- "Ripples of Battle" is my favorite. Bob Crocker York, PA
So true. Gods purpose will stand!!
Greatest generation ever--we boomers were so fortunate to have had these role-models! Our own children now struggle to even instill in our grandchildren a basic love for our country against the pressures of the insidious woke cancel culture. I am hoping all of this radical, destructive chaos will hopefuly soon be ended with a rising of human logic and integrity. Basically, as my mother used to say, "Enough is enough!"
The demographics of the US state that about 20% are black. I am not a racist. Nor do I feel inclined to apologize to anyone for my ethnic background that includes origins in Scandinavian countries, Siberian, Russian and a smattering of Pima Indian probably due to my Arctic ancestors who eventually crossed a land bridge into North America. I look very white, with blond hair, fair skin and blue eyes. This "woke" movement is ridiculous and has only caused a backlash in my opinion. I am so irritated by the entire group of people who are promoting the concept that white skin is bad because somehow white people have continued to oppress blacks and other minorities. My recent ancestors immigrated to Canada from Europe and eventually many moved to New England, where I grew up. The town where I lived was mainly white Catholics or Christians. We had 1 black person in our high school graduating class of 248 students. There was never any racism practiced against that young man. He was just a student and one of us. I have worked with many black and minority people during my career. They were all professional colleagues, many of whom become lifelong friends. My pet's veterinarian was a black man. One of my managers was a black man, who like me, had an MBA. One of my primary care doctors was a black woman. There was never any issue about skin color. These "woke" people are just making a mountain out of a mole hill. "We the People" means all of us. The citizens of this country need to wake up about the "woke" movement and call it for what it is. To summarize, the "woke" movement is just ridiculous.
Thank you for this Mr. Hanson...
There is no way I, nor any one in my family, will bend a knee, unless it is to our Creator. My own father was there alongside your father as he flew a PBY for recon and rescuing the downed out of the drink. Those of us in my family understand the sacrifices taken for the very reasons you explain. You will not find us doing anything other than honoring those who kept America a land of the free. We honor our flag and those who kept it flying. I appreciate your attention to the need of giving thanks to and honoring those who maintained the freedoms we currently enjoy. Thank you, Victor Davis Hanson, and thanks to your father.
Those who claim racism is ruining America are themselves ruining America.. My dad grew up in a small town where blacks and whites picked cotton but went to different churches and school. Yet the children all got along, and everybody helped everyone else. Now we are seeing blacks who want separate everything, and they are never called racist. A colleague told me that blacks could not be called racists. Oh, please!
Agree completely with your theme, but the round trip was 3200 miles, not 32000. Which is still a remarkably long return trip in both distance and time, given that the B-29 cruise speed was 220 mph. This relatively low speed by today's standards made the jet streams at 30,000 a very important and yet unknown factor when navigating over a featureless ocean. Iwo Jima saved many lives that would have been lost mysteriously had it not been captured by our Marines. About one in ten of the 70,000 Marines who landed on Iwo JIma were killed in the ensuing battle.
Good to have heroes. You're one of mine. Thanks! And thank you to your parents.
Victor, I am 84 and from Tulare..I know of what you speak. God Bless you...keep it up. L. Jones
Great story. Many on the left would deny you your memory of MLK, arguing he must be viewed only from their prism. Thank you for sharing that.