I’m sure by now most of
you have seen the pictures of the 18 year olds in 1944 climbing the beaches of Normandy and the 18
year olds today looking for crayons and safe places. I’d like to go back a
little farther to 1917.
The 1916 election was won
by Woodrow Wilson, thus making him the first Democrat since Andrew Jackson to
win two consecutive terms. Wilson ’s
major platform was “He kept us out of the War.” That didn’t last long, by
April of 1917, the United
States had entered the “war to end all
wars” under the direction of General John J. Pershing. To raise military
manpower for World War I, the Selective Service Act of 1917 was enacted by
President Wilson. In the beginning the age of young men was from 21 to 31
however it was later changed to 18 to 45.
Many of these young men
became known as 'doughboys, mostly because they were covered in dust and dirt,
making it look as if they had been in a flour bin.
Why am I writing about
this now? Well over the last few years and especially the election of 2016 it
has become apparent to me that an 18 year old today would not or could not
survive in 1916. Please allow me to say I’m not talking about ALL 18 year olds.
I do believe that there are however, many more than there should be.
Life in 1916, in general,
was very different than life today. I’m not just talking about all of the
technological advances, but life itself. First of all, most American’s still attended
church regularly. Very few teens were able to go to high school let
alone college, and work was an issue of necessity, but also pride. Young men
would work for free in order to learn a trade or find any kind of work that
would support a family.
Many were still working on
family farms. Farm workers start as soon as they can walk. Their work ethics
are impeccable. Cows don’t milk themselves, chickens don’t gather eggs and no
animal feeds itself. Farm work doesn’t take a recess or a vacation. Moreover
safe places were to protect one from a severe storm or tornado.
Life in 1916 was not about
feelings; it was about survival and purpose. There were no government programs
to meet ones needs. If one needed help, for a short time, it usually came from
family, neighbors or churches. Families with an extra room would take in a
boarder to give a cheaper residence to someone and to bring in extra money. No
job was beneath anyone.
I remember my Father
telling me his mother would bake bread and sell it. His job was to deliver. He
also left school at 11 to help support the family and this was much later
around 1934. The times weren’t that much different nearly 20 years later.
Moving ahead to my
generation in the 1950’s, the end of the baby boomers, I started working as
early as I can remember. Not in the usual sense but as an example I had a great
aunt and uncle who had a farm. At harvest time all the connected families would
go to the farm to help my aunt and uncle. The men and boys would harvest the
fields and the women and children would can or ‘put up’ as we would say the
produce. Even a 3 year old can learn to shuck corn or snap beans. There was
something for everyone to do.
Another time I remember an
older neighbor couple needed to clear a field. I was about 5 and my brother 8.
Mom and Dad were young and at my age I didn’t realize my folks were being paid I
just thought we were helping. My job was to gather twigs and throw onto the
fire to keep it going. I’m sure it was nothing but busy work but I was very
proud of how many twigs I could find. It kept me busy, out of the way and gave
me a sense of pride at the good work I had accomplished. By the time I was 9 or
10 I had learned to iron. I would iron for my aunt and probably made a dollar a
basket. She also paid me to bake her Christmas cookies. I’m sure today my
parents would be charged with child labor laws but I though I was doing
something great.
So when did things change?
I’m not sure but once going to college became as common as going to high school
and children were asked how they felt about things, the next thing you know
everyone got a participation trophy. What? How do you feel? I am not talking
about health, I’m talking about feelings… my feelings are hurt, my boss is
mean, the customers were nasty, the company made me work late… blah,
blah, blah… boo hoo.
Moving forward again to
today. The 2016 election, all of a sudden, a legitimate election is no longer
good enough. He hurts my feelings, he makes me feel bad, my candidate didn’t
win, etc. Oh no, what shall we do? My response is ‘get over it’. Move on, the
world is not coming to an end. But no, that would be the adult thing to do.
Instead let’s whine and complain until I get my way. Really? College
students are given ‘safe spaces’ or ‘comfort dogs’ and even ‘crayons and play
doh’ so they can relax and feel better about themselves. Hence the nicknames,
cupcakes, snow flakes and may I add doughboy, just a very different doughboy.
This brings me back to the
beginning, 1917-2017. The doughboys in ‘the war to end all wars’ was as tough
as one can get. There was no whining, crying or looking for a safe space. The
only safe space they had was a foxhole! They were tough and mature when they
entered the war and even more so when the war was over. No one had heard of
arrested development. Scientist J. B. S. Haldane states arrested
development as a "major evolutionary trend in human beings" is
"greater prolongation of childhood and retardation of maturity." In
1917 there were no excuses for anything, if one was wrong one confessed and
accepted the consequences. Over, done, move on.
Now before I get slammed
about my broad brush, I’m not claiming that ALL young people are like this, I
just suggest that many are. In fact I have the utmost respect for the military,
especially now that we are an entirely volunteer service. However it’s not just
young people, look at what the left is doing to try to delegitimize the
President elect. What happened to the game is over there is a winner and a
loser, the teams shake hands better luck next time.
So as we turn from 2016 to
2017 it will be interesting to see what happens at the Presidential
Inauguration. Which Doughboy will we see, 1917 or 2017? Only time
will tell. Speaking of Doughboys, I suddenly have an urge for some cinnamon
rolls.