Thanks for this history. I am sure that I am being duped daily on this phone. There is just so much information pouring in that discriminating truth from fiction, especially from those whom you only interact with on here, is impossible. I did once catch a fake email sent to me, allegedly from a childhood friend. It was totally credible until it wrote about feeling sad about a mutual boarding school attendee, Ghislaine Maxwell. Except that Maxwell did not attend our school. I almost pitied the fool who wrote it. Almost.
That concluded with a powerful analogy that really hits home, while thoughtfully weaving in historical facts that demonstrate how Americans from all walks of life contributed to major wartime operations. It also sheds light on how history, in this case “strategy”, repeats itself but under different guises. Very clever, insightful, and well presented.
I have been thinking about this posting quite a bit. Back in the day when I was studying international relations, my professor asked the class - what is the one way the government touches our lives everyday? The answer: the postal service. In liberal SF in the 1980s, it was a surprising moment. Over the weekend I shared this story and your posting with my super savvy IT friend. He/she/they actually paused. I am not a cyber gal, but perhaps I should rethink my trajectory. A picture and a story is worth more than a thousand words.
And the “might makes right” crowd came barreling in. 🌍
Then Britain and France and Canada too,
And a whole lot of allies said, “We’re not through.”
From London to Paris, from sea to the shore,
They learned what “together” was truly for. 🤝
And after the thunder and terrible cost,
They counted the names of the ones they had lost.
They said, “We need rules so this doesn’t repeat,”
So tyrants can’t turn every street into heat. 📜
Then came the big “Never Again” kind of plan—
A promise in paper and hand-in-hand span.
NATO in ’49—a shield, not a club,
To stop the next tyrant from running the pub. 🛡️
Not perfect, not spotless, not always polite,
But deterrence can keep the worst monsters from bite.
Alliances aren’t selfies or trends on a screen—
They’re trust built by decades of “we intervene.” ⚖️
So when loud folks holler, “Drop friends! Walk away!”
We say, “That’s how darkness gets longer each day.”
Because bullies love gaps; they love silence; they pounce—
And democracies weaken when they don’t rebalance. 🕊️
Grandparents know this from history’s shelf:
Isolation’s a story we tell to ourselves.
“Let them fight over there,” feels comfy at home—
Till trouble comes knocking and won’t leave you alone. 🚪
So we keep the umbrella—hold tight to the pole—
A world made of partners beats one-man control.
Because peace isn’t magic—peace takes a brigade,
A promise kept up like an umbrella parade. ☂️🕯️
————————————
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Incredible piece of history
Thanks for this history. I am sure that I am being duped daily on this phone. There is just so much information pouring in that discriminating truth from fiction, especially from those whom you only interact with on here, is impossible. I did once catch a fake email sent to me, allegedly from a childhood friend. It was totally credible until it wrote about feeling sad about a mutual boarding school attendee, Ghislaine Maxwell. Except that Maxwell did not attend our school. I almost pitied the fool who wrote it. Almost.
Seriously Dexter if I could pay you I certainly would because I love your work. I just don’t have the latitude now.
That concluded with a powerful analogy that really hits home, while thoughtfully weaving in historical facts that demonstrate how Americans from all walks of life contributed to major wartime operations. It also sheds light on how history, in this case “strategy”, repeats itself but under different guises. Very clever, insightful, and well presented.
Very interesting history, I've never heard it, though from Dutch parents, a Norwegian and well informed.
I'll send this article to a friend of mine, who reads everything there is about the "war".
There only is one for us. Yet.
I have been thinking about this posting quite a bit. Back in the day when I was studying international relations, my professor asked the class - what is the one way the government touches our lives everyday? The answer: the postal service. In liberal SF in the 1980s, it was a surprising moment. Over the weekend I shared this story and your posting with my super savvy IT friend. He/she/they actually paused. I am not a cyber gal, but perhaps I should rethink my trajectory. A picture and a story is worth more than a thousand words.
Thank you !
I agree with both Rue and Monnina. It is also perfectly timed with voting taking place., not everything is as it seems.
It is an excellent reminder.
✨🕊️🌍 The Allies’ Umbrella Parade
Remember that time when the world was on fire,
And bullies built armies and climbed ever higher?
When maps got redrawn with a boot and a grin,
And the “might makes right” crowd came barreling in. 🌍
Then Britain and France and Canada too,
And a whole lot of allies said, “We’re not through.”
From London to Paris, from sea to the shore,
They learned what “together” was truly for. 🤝
And after the thunder and terrible cost,
They counted the names of the ones they had lost.
They said, “We need rules so this doesn’t repeat,”
So tyrants can’t turn every street into heat. 📜
Then came the big “Never Again” kind of plan—
A promise in paper and hand-in-hand span.
NATO in ’49—a shield, not a club,
To stop the next tyrant from running the pub. 🛡️
Not perfect, not spotless, not always polite,
But deterrence can keep the worst monsters from bite.
Alliances aren’t selfies or trends on a screen—
They’re trust built by decades of “we intervene.” ⚖️
So when loud folks holler, “Drop friends! Walk away!”
We say, “That’s how darkness gets longer each day.”
Because bullies love gaps; they love silence; they pounce—
And democracies weaken when they don’t rebalance. 🕊️
Grandparents know this from history’s shelf:
Isolation’s a story we tell to ourselves.
“Let them fight over there,” feels comfy at home—
Till trouble comes knocking and won’t leave you alone. 🚪
So we keep the umbrella—hold tight to the pole—
A world made of partners beats one-man control.
Because peace isn’t magic—peace takes a brigade,
A promise kept up like an umbrella parade. ☂️🕯️
————————————
We are the Pro-Democracy Comment-Chain Crew, using our comments to boost pro-democracy leaders and indie media. Accelerating the Algorithm Advantage so truth can grow!🌱