By Barbara Morris
Every once in a while, when I hear or read a progress report about our war efforts, it bothers me that our population seems very unconcerned and unprepared to deal with emergency situations. War certainly is a lot different than it was in the 1940s. Technology has moved almost faster than the speed of light; however, it cannot fix everything — we discovered that, in ways we will never forget, on Sept. 11.
When injuries occur, especially in large numbers, sources of assistance are strained almost to the breaking point. We have been given a window of opportunity to be prepared, not only for some kind of war emergency, but for any kind. I have thought about taking an updated first-aid course, but so far I have not followed through. Shame on me! There have not seemed to be enough hours in the day to do everything I feel I must do. I still feel that taking such a course would be appropriate and prudent.
During World War II students had no choice. We were taught first aid and in high school we were forced to choose a “war course.” Mine was mechanical drawing (drafting), as it was called in the war plant where my sister was employed. In those days we lived and worked for the war effort. Teenage boys turned into responsible young men, willing to volunteer to make sacrifices in lands in which they had never thought to visit, let alone fight or die.
Here at home no one wanted to let them down. We recycled paper, metal and fat. Gasoline, meat, butter and sugar were rationed with a system of stamps and usually, we had to wait in very long lines to spend them. We kept in as close touch as possible with family and friends serving in the military and gladly shared our precious rationed items with them in boxes sent regularly to let them know we wanted them to have a share of home-baked cookies, etc. Everything was geared toward preparing for emergencies that might or might never come.
Air raid sirens wailed, wardens put on metal helmets and grabbed their whistles, leaving the comfort of homes and businesses to go into the streets and make sure everyone took cover and traffic stopped. At night, they had the added job of enforcing home and business black-out orders. Not even a glimpse of light was to show, and, at least in our area, that was strictly enforced. We not only had black shades, we had heavy drapes on top of them that went well beyond the window edges. Students had to wear identification tags at all times and were encouraged to invest in war stamps and bonds, as well as to sell and plant vegetable seeds for Victory Gardens. We also knitted, rolled bandages and participated in fund raisers for the American Red Cross.
Movie, radio, music and the written word reflected our high regard for our military and the causes for which they were fighting. Our elected officials, at least as they presented themselves to the public, were more interested in portraying a unified force supportive of the president than in advancing their own careers or in promoting some partisan plan. There also were salary freezes and anti-strike laws meant to assure no interruption in vital activity.
I can’t help but wonder how, or if, those who are here now will respond to an emergency if we are called on for help. We know many will, as they did during and after other emergencies, but what about the rest of us? Are we even willing to follow the simple requirements of being good, law-abiding citizens?
Certainly, conserving water during a drought situation is one important test. Yet some still insist on breaking the law by washing their cars, sometimes daily, and washing the sidewalks when a broom would have sufficed. And there still are those making unreasonable selfish demands on government for funding and attention that will divert them from the more important duties of winning the war. Let’s all try to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
