PJB: Was It ‘The Good War’?
posted by Linda

By Patrick J. Buchanan

“Yes, it was a good war,” writes Richard Cohen in his column
challenging the thesis of pacifist Nicholson Baker in his new book,
“Human Smoke,” that World War II produced more evil than good.

Baker’s compelling work, which uses press clips and quotes of Axis and
Allied leaders as they plunged into the great cataclysm, is a virtual
diary of the days leading up to World War II.

Riveting to this writer was that Baker uses some of the same episodes,
sources and quotes as this author in my own book out in May,
“Churchill, Hitler and ‘The Unnecessary War.’”

On some points, Cohen is on sold ground. There are things worth
fighting for: God and country, family and freedom. Martyrs have ever
inspired men. And to some evils pacifism is no answer. Resistance,
even unto death, may be required of a man.

But when one declares a war that produced Hiroshima and the Holocaust
a “Good War,” it raises a question: good for whom?

re: a good war ?

It united America into a massive, moral cause, and if one weren't
being held captive/hurt/killled, then one seemingly had a good
feeling.of community.

The USA was "the arsenal of democracy."

Since I was born in 1944, I can VAGUELY recall fragments of the later
1940s.

People did buy war bonds, and the radio & movies constantly urged the
purchase of war bonds.

In the public schools, "savings stamps" were sold through the 1950s.

Otherwise, Buke is "right" that WW II was a horror.

In article <0bca3ac6-bb31-4f61-9f00-488736c55b36@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
iamthewitness.com Radio googlemail.com> wrote:

Only for the USA. But then alt.history.british - and other unlikely places,
appear to be reserved for USAians to celebrate their being in ignorance of
everywhere and everyone else.

On Apr 14, 2:31 am, "iamthewitness.com Radio"
googlemail.com> wrote:

Er....why is it "compelling?"