Just Thinking

Yesterday was a big day in American history but you would be hard pressed to realize it if you relied on the main stream media or even public schools or universities for your information.

Yesterday was both the anniversary of the opening of the Civil War and the anniversary of the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Did you happen to read or hear about either event yesterday?

I love the fact that ours is a forward looking country. We tend to look to the future much more than we dwell on the past and on the whole - that's a good thing. However, at some point it changes from ignoring the past to being ignorant of the past.

Ignorance is bad. Can we at least agree on that?

As a country - we are pretty much ignorant in terms of our history.

One reason yesterday holds a special place in my heart is because yesterday was also the day on which Harry Truman became the President of United States. Truman and Roosevelt (Teddy not Franklin) are my two favorite 20th century presidents. It is interesting to me that both became president via the office of the Vice President because of the death of the duly elected president. Both were chosen for the office of Vice President because they were good men who as history would have it - had greatness thrust upon them.

Harry S. Truman was a regular guy writ large. He liked his glass of bourbon and his poker games. He was an honest politician and he was probably more proud of his service to his country as an officer in the Army in WWI than he was of his time as President.

Truman dropped the bomb(s) on Japan and I bet he didn't lose much sleep over the decision. Anyone who has studied the bloodshed on Iwo Jima or anyone who had a relative who was in the Pacific during WWII would tell you that Truman did the right thing.

I'm not sure there are many Democrats left who would have the stomach to do the right thing today. Truman wasn't popular. His polling numbers at the time were very bad. Truman did some unpopular things but he did them because they were the right thing to do. Truman recognized Israel. Truman integrated the Armed Forces. Truman dropped the bombs. These decisions were very divisive in many circles of the day.

History has been kind to Truman because he was almost always right in his ethical choices.

I wonder if Harry Truman would be able to recognize today's Democratic Party.