From reader Randy Coleman
Hi Chuck,
Check out this interesting info.
Maybe we don’t have it that bad?
It’s a mess out there now. Hard to discern between what’s a real threat and what is just simple panic and hysteria. For a small amount of perspective at this moment, imagine you were born in 1900.
On your 14th birthday, World War I starts, and ends on your 18th birthday. 22 million people perish in that war. Later in the year, a Spanish Flu epidemic hits the planet and runs until your 20th birthday. 50 million people die from it in those two years. Yes, 50 million.
On your 29th birthday, the Great Depression begins. Unemployment hits 25%, the World GDP drops 27%. That runs until you are 33. The country nearly collapses along with the world economy.
When you turn 39, World War II starts. You aren’t even over the hill yet. And don’t try to catch your breath. On your 41st birthday, the United States is fully pulled into WWII. Between your 39th and 45th birthday, 75 million people perish in the war.
Smallpox was epidemic until you were in your 40’s, as it killed 300 million people during your lifetime.
At 50, the Korean War starts. 5 million perish. From your birth, until you are 55 you dealt with the fear of Polio epidemics each summer. You experience friends and family contracting polio and being paralyzed and/or die.
At 55 the Vietnam War begins and doesn’t end for 20 years. 4 million people perish in that conflict. During the Cold War, you lived each day with the fear of nuclear annihilation. On your 62nd birthday, you have the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tipping point in the Cold War. Life on our planet, as we know it, almost ended. When you turn 75, the Vietnam War finally ends.
Think of everyone on the planet born in 1900. How did they endure all of that? If you were a kid in 1985 you may have thought your 85-year-old grandparent didn’t understand how hard school was. And how mean that kid in your class was. Yet they survived everything listed above. Perspective is an amazing and valuable gift. Refined and enlightening as time goes on. Let’s try to keep things in perspective. Your parents and/or grandparents were called upon to endure all of the above – today we are being called upon to stay home and sit on the couch.
Your letters are welcome. Please submit them here.
##RVT948
Chuck, I wish you would print this on Face Book. Thanks…Don
Just copy the link and post on your page.
Thank you Randy and Chuck! What we are being asked to do is not all that hard. if me wearing a mask or staying 6 ft from someone while I am talking to them saves a life, including my own, then I will do it and not make a big deal about it. “Just Do It”
Yes, comply, Sharon. Remember though: most masks contain graphene(look that up). Also: on most or all of these “protective masks” clearly stated in the boxes says” Does not protect against infections or infectious diseases”. Even CDC, FDA have stated not to wear continuously as it will cause health issues for the wearers. So, what are these masks actually doing? It appears it’s a false sense of security. Maybe, you could shed some facts to this.
Thank you.
Everyone in the country should read this.
Unemployment hits 25%, Now. Panic has taken over common sense. Many people alive today were forced into servitude for an unpopular war that we backed out of the country now trades with this enemy, who took over that whole country. Many could not even buy a job as the market was flooded. Just maybe any period can be made to look bad, as I have mentioned only a few.
I am almost 72 now. My parents would always tell stories of the Spanish flu and the great depression and how everyone got thru it by “we are all in this together”. I am totaly baffled by selfish, egotistic comments by people complaining about their individual rights and how their lives are NOT back to normal. If we are “in this together” we can only “solve it together” . Suck it up and do what has to be done so we can get back to the “new normal”.
Some of those people are here right now.
Perspective is interesting. I see that Capt John is 72, and Jesse is nearly there. That seems old– then I realize that I hit 70 later this year… Best wishes you ‘old-timers’, I’m right behind you I just realized!
I just realized you “kids” are coming along. Wish I could wait for you – I turned 85 last month and rollin’ along every day …no time to wait!
New Normal? What IS the New Normal, Jesse Cruise?
Yes the virus is bad. Worse is the amount of panic and lack of common sense. I’m 72 and refused to give up one day of freedom of the few days left to me. Being vigilant and using common sense is all needed to stay safe. Sadly many lack the ability to adapt and lack common sense so the masses were happy to be lead into tyranny. Enjoy every day you have, if it means staying in your safe space great but there still is a world out there too. Choices, make good ones but remember no one lives forever.
Very good, Captain John!
They didn’t do it by sitting home on the couch they did it by knowing they could take care of themselves and that individual lives aren’t as important as society’s life
this needs to be posted on the FB site … so we can share with the youngsters in our lives.
There was so much sacrifice and lifestyle changes during all of these times – for those who don’t know may be that could be highlighted as well – like the draft, women in ‘volunteer’ positions that were mandatory, food shortages, child labor….
Thanx for the perspective
I guess some people aren’t smart enough to take care of their selves if you give up your freedom for security you deserve neither it’s false security they can’t guarantee your safety only God can do that
Well said.
“I guess some people aren’t smart enough to take care of their selves ”
THAT’S your takeaway from the events of the first 75 years of the 20th century?!?
So much for all the whining I’ve been hearing! Until the 50s the experiences described were common in one way – death came early and often. The Hippies wanted to blame it all on their parents, but they were short-sighted. LIFE is full of pain and challenge. It’s how you deal with it that makes you an adult. That and how you treat the people who are going through the bad times now.
Perspective, indeed. The retirement community I recently moved into has another location in the St. Louis area. A resident of the nursing center there just recovered from COVID-19, in time to celebrate his 107th birthday. The man actually did live through the Spanish flu, Great Depression, two World Wars and all the smaller ones and now this. I’m guessing he probably has more perspective than most of us. Here us a link to his story in the St. Louis paper. https://www.stlmag.com/health/107-year-old-st-louis-man-survives-covid-19/
Best perspective I’ve read in a long time! Excellent and thank you!
Amen! Well said.
Talk about a bucket full of perspective served up with a dose of reality- that article is “crystal”!
Too bad we cannot bring back the CCC or the WPA for the unemployed. Trouble is, there is no place to charge their phones..
Oh man… What a mind opener!
Doesn’t this just prove our current crop of plotiticians & zealots (at every level, on all sides!) have not studied or learned from history?
This means our current world leaders are just as stupid as those of the last 150 years.
The first report of the ‘doomed to repeat it’ quote is attributed to Santayana in 1905. Oh man if someone would only have listened!
History lesson that does not have any bearing on current conditions.
Oh really?
Polarized politics and stalemate.
Special interest groups & violence.
Religious wars
Trade wars
Cold wars
Racial cleansing
Slavery
Human trafficking
History has taught us that the grown ups don’t care about considering the other sides opinion and sooner or later they just start hitting each other.
What will it be this century? A billion dead?
Thanks for proving the point that ‘those who forget history are doomed to repeat it’.
Here’s where we are heading because of the overreaction to this pandemic – Workers Who Maintain Supply Chains Warn of Worldwide ‘System Collapse’.
Your history lessen has some errors, the Vietnam war did not last 20 years it started in 1962 when President Kennedy sent Special Forces as advisers to South Vietnam and ended in 1973 with our first defeat in history. It seems to be a trend with spineless Commanders in Chief to back away instead of annihilating the enemies will to fight.
Those numbers were correct, as the US only became involved after the French forces fell at Dihn Bihn Phu and the US had to prop up the (corrupt) South Vietnamese government against the communist North. You read an article about perspective, then you comment with propaganda straight from OAN/Fox News. As someone who served a career in the Navy, and spent my fair share of time in theater during the GWOT, you obviously have never been in a house-by-house firefight like we endured in Fallujah or Herat. We lost in Vietnam because we were sending conscripts into a battle with one hand tied behind out backs, because we DID NOT want the Soviets or Chinese to escalate the war into a global, nuclear, conflict. It lost the support of the people because not enough of the South Vietnamese were willing to fight for their corrupt leaders. We basically had the same thing in Afghanistan – leaders looked out for themselves or their village, instead of a nation that Britain and France cobbled together.
And before you whine about ‘spineless CinC’s’, remember it was GW Bush who took troops out of the ‘Stan to invade Iraq (based on a lie about WMD’s) and changed the mission to ‘nation building’ in both theaters when the situation fell apart. And, it was Trump/Pompeo who met with the Taliban WITHOUT allowing the ELECTED Afghan government to show up. That was the same trick Nixon used in Vietnam….
Like I said, you need some perspective yourself. (And the greatest defeat we ever suffered was the sacking of Washington during the War of 1812, followed by any number of bl**dy battles during the Civil War.
Thanks Bob, and others. Most were not even born yet! Here’s my research!
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-long-was-the-vietnam-war.html
I served 13 months in country, I know what went on. My comment was about the politicians who kept us from winning just like they’ve done In Afghanistan. The boots on the ground did their jobs, so don’t climb my case about war.
When reading those death tolls, remember that the world population was one-third what it is today – so triple those numbers for an equivalent for today.
That sums up how the Greatest Generation endured. The whinny snot nosed brats of today have no idea how tough it was to grow up and survive 1900 to 1975. Everything I have I worked for. Nothing was given to me.
Thanks for the perspective Randy! Timelines and data staggering 🥴
Very interesting perspective. My dad was born in 1900 and lived thru all this, passing away at 78-1/2 yrs. He never complained, had it tough for several years, walked several miles to school – uphill both ways – and used to reminisce about the great times of the roaring 20’s and how great this country was thru all the noted turmoils! He lived those years – and I too thru his memories. He often remarked about his great life compared to what mine, as a young man was. Thanks for the memories!
Wow is all I can think to say.
Thanks for the great article from “history” Randy, and just wondering if you’re from Punksie, Pa?.