This post was published in the Wilson
Times July 24, 2020
My
wife recently got into reading “Citizens of London” by Lynne Olson, which I had
read a few years ago after a friend strongly recommended it and lent me the
book. Because I have a fear of losing a loaned book, when my wife said she was
reading something else and wasn’t in the mood for a history book, I returned
the borrowed book, and we both turned to other reading.
Several
days ago, my wife expressed an interest in Olson’s history of England in the
early days of World War II, so we ordered our own copy of “Citizens of London,” and my wife,
usually a fiction reader, devoured the account of Winston Churchill and his
family, journalist Edward R. Murrow, the little-known U.S. Ambassador Gil
Winant, and presidential adviser Averell Harriman in early 1940s London.
My
wife’s takeaway on this well-written and fascinating history has to do with
similarities between 1940 Great Britain and 2020 United States. What impressed
both of us were the similarities in the two nations as Hitler’s war machine
threatened Great Britain in 1940 and a pandemic threatens the United States in
2020.
When
Murrow, known as the father of broadcast journalism for his pervasive
broadcasts from a London under siege by German bombing, rotated back to America
briefly, he found the atmosphere in New York surreal. Unlike London, where food
and other items were being rationed, children were being relocated outside of cities
to avoid German bombing, strict blackouts kept homes and businesses dark, German
submarines were strangling shipping, and bombs fell almost every night, New
York streets were quiet, and the economy was humming as the Great Depression
waned. It was business as usual in the U.S., despite the threat of Hitler’s
venomous speeches backed up by a seemingly unstoppable war machine.
Murrow
and others had trouble readjusting to ordinary life in New York, having lived
on the edge of an arbitrary scythe in London for so long. Despite the
horrifying existence of the British population, there were few complaints. The
populace hung together, knowing that anyone could be next; Germany targeted
residential areas as well as military targets. A Londoner could be killed by a
bomb at any time, day or night. Valiant British fighter pilots harassed and
shot down some German bombers but could not stop the attacks. Through it all,
with inspiration from Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the British population
accepted the shortages, dangers and discomforts of the year-long “Blitz.” There
was never any doubt that the enemy was Germany, not each other or a political
party.
Contrast
that to the situation in today’s America. Leaders, including elected officials,
are pointing fingers, blaming others and forsaking the common good for “what’s
in it for me?” Wildly fanciful conspiracy theories are increasingly accepted in
preference to scientific and historical facts. Some Americans stubbornly refuse
to accept the truth because a fanciful conspiracy is more fun. Some refuse to
accept simple rules aimed at stopping the spread of a virus that has killed
more than 140,000 Americans.
The
Washington Post recently published an article about the difficulties of a
general store in Oriental, N.C., which had posted a polite sign asking shoppers
to wear a mask in the store, in accordance with a state mandate. The first sign
did no good. People ignored it, putting the store’s staff and other shoppers in
jeopardy. Another sign, more prominent but still polite, was also ignored. The 63-year-old
female clerk behind the counter was screamed at and threatened. One shopper brandished
his handgun. The county sheriff refused to enforce the statewide mask mandate
The
store finally gave up on the mask mandate, fearful for the staff’s safety, and
locked the door. Shoppers could ring the doorbell, say what they wanted and
have it delivered to them outside the store.
That
would not happen in 1940s London or anywhere in any time when the population
was polite, considerate and reasonable.
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