Tom Brokaw identified the generation that grew up during the depression and fought in World War II as the greatest generation. On September 11, over Philadelphia, a brave group of men and women rushed a cockpit to prevent the plane from crashing into the capitol. As Brokaw said, “They did it because it was the right thing to do.”

The right thing to do today is fight over masks and vaccinations. People are threatening school board members and their families with violence. To think a piece of cloth over the face would cause such controversy.

In 1970s vaccine mandates for schools were passed for children. Diseases such as measles, polio, whooping cough, mumps etc. have all but vanished. Americans don’t like mandates. But as a nation we approve of the mandate to wear seat belts; shirts and shoes when we are dining out; vaccinations to attend public schools; speed limits on our highways or life jackets on children when they are on a boat.

During World War II mandates were placed on gas, tires, nylons etc. Americans supported these mandates to help fight our enemy. We now have a new enemy, Covid-19. Now the right thing to do is to dive into conspiracy theories on social media and thrash out against experts.

The right thing to do is to hear no evil, see no evil. Several Republican congressmen have said the January 6 insurrection was a peaceful demonstration on the capital. The blood on the steps of the Capital Building, according to Trump was a “Love Fest.”

The right thing to do is to not get all the answers re the January 6 insurrection. Let us destroy our branches of government protecting men like Bannon from responding to a congressional subpoena. For that matter let no man respond to a congressional subpoena.

During World War II Americans were asked to do with less. During 9/11 the passengers on flight 93 showed unity, courage, defiance and lost their lives. The right thing to do today in America is to threaten, deny truth and support demi-god’s lie. Compassion is gone.

Diane Woolsey

Ogden

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