Gore Vidal: War kills a generation of leaders who might have challenged status quo

[yurbud]

I just heard him say this on Pacifica, referring to his own generation and World War II, comparing it to the current generation going to Iraq.

I can see this being true with the Civil War generation too. The presidents who would have been young men during the war were almost uniform in their mediocrity or at least lack of impact.

That could also be the case in other countries, like the Soviet Union and World War II, or Iran and the Iran-Iraq War.

In both cases, unworkable systems would have unravelled sooner if the hot heads were in the cafes and universities instead of blown to bits at the front.

Change eventually came to the Soviet Union, and the restless young in Iran will eventually throw off the mullahs if we don't strengthen their hand by attacking them.

But I wonder about us. Who were the boomers that were lost in Vietnam? Did our FDR die in a rice paddy and leave us with the Rutherford B. Hayes's, George W. and Bill Clinton?

Those who were exceptional from the WW II generation who managed to make it back alive and were about to take their places of leadership in the 60's filtered out a more selective rain of bullets than the war's.

[bryant69]

1. Well it's been said a number of times that those who choose to join the military

are choosing to slaughter Iraqis in the name of American Imperialism. Assuming that is true, perhaps we aren't losing our best and brightest.

For one of the best examples of losing a generation to war look at post world war I and world war 2 Western Europe.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[maxsolomon]

2. this assumes leaders come from the ranks of the military

since i believe were on a course to a new fascism, i would prefer that this were not the case.

[yurbud]

4. no, it's that idealistic kids are lured by the "crusade" and probably volunteer for the dangerous

missions. Their more pragmatic peers learn how to profit from the idealists' sacrifices, and take that knowledge home.

[liberal N proud]

3. No one will ever know what great people may have been lost

No one knows what contributions to society those who are lost to war could have had.