“We have so much to say, and we shall never say it.”
– German-Swiss soldier and author, Erich Maria Remarque, was born on this day in 1898 (died 1970).
German novelist Erich Maria Remarque is best known for All Quiet on the Western Front about the German experience in World War I. The book was made into a movie which won the Academy Award for best picture in 1930.
Long term readers will know that I’ve spent much of the last year reading, listening to podcasts, and watching programs and movies based on World War I. Watching this film was a two-fer since I’m still working my way through the list of Best Pictures. I have a few to go.
Historic Occasions (click the pic)
Remarque’s quote rings true with my current project, that of my grandfather’s diary from World War I. As I’ve studied and written and researched and listened, I have realized that there is so much to tell about that war that I never knew. Things that I never learned in school. Not just because I was only getting the American perspective, but that we never really spent that much time talking about the 20th century.
But you know in some of our history lessons the things we’re talk boil down to “Us = good. Them = bad.”
It’s just not that simple.
Oh sure when you talk WWII and bring in Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito, there’s a lot to be said about the good/bad references. At the same time, thousands of Germans, Italians, and Japanese were caught up in a war they didn’t start, that they didn’t understand. All they knew was that they had to follow their country’s leaders. And many brave individuals chose not to do so. That’s another post or hunnert…
The soldiers going off to war, the families sending them off, are often left with no choice. In my script I ask the question…what about the German mothers who also prayed for their sons?
It’s pretty much the same with what we’re seeing in the political realm today. I still contend that we’re not really that angry. We’re not really that far apart in what we believe and what we want for our country or our families.
It’s usually the politicians that get us into this mess. And it’s about time we realized they’re not going to lead us out.
There is no leader who will rise up to take us through the Red Sea and lead us to the promise land because he’d either call for an environmental impact study or want to drill for oil.
Personally, I’d like to toss out all of our “leadership” and start all over again. But that’s not going to happen.
All I can do is watch what I say and what I do.
And maybe, with things like my script, I can say some things for those who didn’t get the chance to say them on their own.
On this day in history.
Also on this day in history, the Pledge of Allegiance was formally adopted by the U.S. Congress. On Flag Day in 1954 the words “under God” were added to the Pledge. I grew up saying the Pledge daily in school. Maybe you did too. That’s not such a bad thing.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
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