--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "jacquesdebierue"
<jacquesdebierue@...> wrote:
>
> --- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "Mark R. Harris"
> <brokerharris@> wrote:
> >
> > I agree with Kevin completely, especially about
that "greatest
> generation"
> > nonsense. The "greatest generation" was mainly
a bunch of 18 to 25
> year olds
> > just like any other 18 to 25 year olds; they
were called on to do
some
> > things and they acquitted themselves reasonably
under the
> circumstances, by
> > and large. That's fine but it's not some
never-to-be-repeated
greatness.
> >
>
> From witnesses: for many of that generation, the war
was the most
fun
> thing they did, despite the factual horror of it,
which people will
> readily acknowledge. It is understandable: you get a
special sense
of
> companionship, of fraternity, even of community.
Maybe something
that
> a lot of people, especially men, lack in their
normal lives. I would
> not doubt the sincerity of the sentiment or belittle
the sentiment
> itself. Of course, nostalgia (always a bad sign) has
created myths
out
> of something undeniably real. And the movies tend to
feed on
nostalgia.
>
> Best,
>
> mrt
I'm not sure of the exact wording, but, 'when legend
conflicts with fact, print the legend' For those of you
unlucky enough to never have seen it, that's from The Man Who
Shot Liberty Valence. Though it's a western it deals with
some of the themes we discuss here. Mark
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 27 Mar 2008 EDT