The history of those who shed those other tears, the history of those anonymous millions, is what Terkel wants readers and listeners to come away with. What's it like to be that goofy little soldier, scared stiff, with his bayonet aimed at Christ? What's it like to have been a woman in a defense-plant job during World War II? What's it like to be a kid at the front lines? It's all funny and tragic at the same time.
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Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.
Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.
There is nothing that war has ever achieved that we could not better achieve without it.
There is nothing that war has ever achieved that we could not better achieve without it.
She is a wall of brass;
You shall not pass! You shall not pass!
Spring up like read more
She is a wall of brass;
You shall not pass! You shall not pass!
Spring up like Summer grass,
Surge at her, mass on mass,
Still shall you break like glass,
Splinter and break like shivered glass,
But pass?
You shall not pass!
The day when nobody comes back from a war it will be because the war has at last been properly read more
The day when nobody comes back from a war it will be because the war has at last been properly organized.
War is the science of destruction.
War is the science of destruction.
The Establishment center... has led us into the stupidest and cruelest war in all history. That war is a moral read more
The Establishment center... has led us into the stupidest and cruelest war in all history. That war is a moral and political disaster - a terrible cancer eating away at the soul of our nation.
Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That read more
Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.
Where is it written in the Constitution that you may take children from their parents, and parents from their children, read more
Where is it written in the Constitution that you may take children from their parents, and parents from their children, and compel them to fight the battles of any war in which the folly or wickedness of government may engage it?
A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.
A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.
