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OPINION OCTOBER 26, 2020 ¦ 47

of today’s political leaders and citizens portray all. Certain segments of the workforce resented
mask and distancing recommendations as some- and demonstrated a hateful disdain for women
thing akin to “slavery” or “internment camps.” In and African Americans who entered the work-
the 1940s, America’s youth volunteered to shed force to fill the jobs previously reserved for white
their blood on foreign shores in order to liber- men. Suffice to say there existed the potential for
ate and protect their fellow man. Now Americans deep and destructive division here at home.
of all ages appear to be almost possessed in their But unlike now, the Greatest Generation was
opposition to these simple and painless recom- shepherded through it all by President Frank-
mendations, all so they can satisfy their desire to lin Delano Roosevelt, a true war-time president.
party in bars and dance clubs, or on beaches, or Rather than fanning the flames of division and
attend large gatherings without masks or distanc- derision, FDR succeeded in uniting us. FDR
ing. Even worse, another segment has decided never told Americans that the government’s ra-
that defying these simple public health measures tioning of coffee, gasoline or lard or adhering to
is a means of making a political statement. Some- blackout mandates were the first radical steps
how too many of us have fallen prey to this new in an effort to abridge their individual freedoms
perversion of patriotism. and Constitutional rights. FDR did not politicize
How did we get to this place? How does being common sense measures intended to aid the war
a patriot mean that in the face of a national cri- effort. Roosevelt was able to convince the Ameri-
sis, which has killed thousands and brought our can people that they all had to pitch in and make
economy to its knees, you do whatever tickles great sacrifices. He inspired the American people
your fancy, even if that means jeopardizing the to do what President Kennedy pledged we would
ongoing war effort, because that is what this is, a do for the free world nearly twenty years later,
war. Consider for a moment the stark contrast in that is, pay any price, bear any burden and meet
the attitudes and actions of the American people any hardship.
now as compared to World War II. Compare those burdens with something as
Beyond the obvious sacrifices associated with simple as being asked to wear a mask, or to so-
the horrors of combat on foreign shores, many cially distance in order to protect yourself and
of us are unaware of the hardships endured and more importantly, to protect others. Is the call
sacrifices made back here on the home front. to wear masks and socially distance so high a
Our government imposed unpopular and in- price, so heavy a burden, so great a hardship,
convenient restrictions upon American citizens. compared to what those who have gone before
Basic goods and commodities such as automo- us have endured? The American people are ca-
biles, tires, gasoline, fuel oil, nylon, meat, cheese, pable of great things when they are guided by
and eggs just to name just some were rationed sound leadership. To win this war and revive our
or made completely unavailable. Blackouts were nation’s economy those in charge must halt the
required along our coastlines. People’s lives were false narrative. We must unite rather than divide,
fundamentally altered in countless ways. There and our leaders must inspire us to do all that is
also existed a certain degree of strife and divi- necessary to triumph over the virus, regardless
sion among the American people as we entered of the political consequences. That is what true
the war. Many were opposed to sending America’s patriotism looks like.
youth off to be cannon fodder on foreign shores. ¦

Many Americans were angry that basic commod- Attorney Carl Secola’s office is in Hamden,
ities were being rationed or were not available at Connecticut.

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