Ross: Hatikvah means "the hope"
Jack: I know, but how could one have the strength to hope for anything after Bergen-Belsen? I don't think I could have maintained a frame of mind to care about life. There were those who threw themselves on the wire.
Ross: and those that survived to fight again.
Jack: I remember the line attributed to Admiral Halsey at Midway as his pilots were taking off to fight superior Japanese forces, "Where do they find such men?"
Maybe even ordinary pishers like us are capable of great things when confronted with immensities. As Boomers, we have never really been called on to protect anything more serious than our standard of living.
It is strange to have lived a life devoid of both hardship and heroism.
Beg to differ...You said "As Boomers, we have never really been called on to protect anything more serious than our standard of living."
ReplyDeleteBoomers were the fodder of the civil rights movement. Countless beatings, many dead, including three workers in Mississippi.
Boomers put their lives on the line to end the war in Viet Nam. They also put their lives on the line fighting in Viet Nam. Different beliefs and values, same courage.
And closer to home, boomers fought for free speech and peoples park. It may seem trivial now, but at the time it was important, it was real and it was dangerous.
Boomers started off hoping to change the world for the better. Don't blame them if they were not completely successful. They tried.
i have to agree with the scorpion. many people continue the fight against ignorance, discrimination, and poverty. this battle is not documented like wwII and we don't see the atrocities on the news, but it is still a very important fight....
ReplyDeletemaybe your friend needs to volunteer in his community. then he'd see how much there is out there to do and how much he can contribute.