Every American generation has triumphed

Wokeness isn’t America’s toughest challenge

Today marks a pivotal moment in world history. Exactly seventy-nine years ago, the sun rose to cast its light on the beaches of Normandy, France.

Dawn warmed the bodies of thousands of young men, many still in their teens, strewn dead across the beaches. It also warmed thousands more who had experienced the most terrifying day of their lives and marched towards more.

It was D+ 1, the day after D-Day, the day when the tide began to turn in World War II. It was the day we took the offensive against the abhorrent ideology of Nazism, and started to break its deadly grip over Europe. 

There was no time for rest, only action. Without time to mourn their colleagues or dwell on the chaos surrounding them, our soldiers progressed against ruthless Nazis who were massed and ready for the fight. The cost of failure was unthinkable, and our young men moved forward, driven by their shared values of freedom and democracy, and their belief in the enduring spirit of America.

Every American generation has faced its unique challenge. Every American generation has triumphed.

Soon, we faced a new, complex challenge: the Cold War. There were few battlefields, yet we were closer than ever to Armageddon as my generation of school children practiced “duck and cover” drills, a chilling rehearsal for thermonuclear war. As with WWII, the world came close to losing. America’s strong, resilient democracy and the decisive leadership of Ronald Reagan won that fight.

Then came a fresh battle on September 11, 2001,  just ten years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Elements of radical Islam decided to take us down. After a shockingly audacious attack, America braced for more horror on our shores.

We took the War on Terror directly to the enemy and while that too cost thousands of lives, America won once again. We had no parade or V-Islam day to celebrate, but the men who brought carnage to our shores are, by and large, dead at the hands of U.S. soldiers.

Only time will tell if our current challenges will turn out to be more dangerous. They’re certainly less clear. Yes, we may be wiped out by the Chinese, Russians, global warming, or when our AI overlords decide to end us … but maybe not. The further away we are from an issue, the more blurred the line becomes between overhyped dangers and major threats.

And, as often happens, without a clear adversary, we focus on our own differences. The “Nazis” of today are pale shadows of the originals: a soy-fueled Antifa fool with a brick, a gender-confused teacher, a blue-haired Facebook moderator banning “evil” conservatives.

To be clear, they’re wrong and we’re experiencing the effects of their misguided principles. They inflict real harm. Their ideologies lead to a dark society and must be defeated.  

Once again, we will triumph because the cost of failure is unthinkable. As Gen. Eisenhower wrote, “The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.”

— Ken

Hmm …