We finished watching "The War" last night. It was hard. It has been difficult to see all the graphic suffering and learn of the mistakes made in strategy and human error. In the end, the stories of the people they follow are never over. Decades later they are still suffering from flashbacks and altered views of the world and humanity. It's painful to see the effects of war, most clearly on the innocent. But I'm glad I watched it, because I believe I understand my parents' generation better. I also see why the need for distraction was so great, and how the new technology of TV enabled people to look at stories that were simple and innocent, and try to believe that they, too, were Ozzie and Harriet and Lucy and Desi.
And now we have a new distraction - the cell phone and computer - to keep us running away from a terrifying economy and acts of terror by others and ourselves. My friend and I were walking to an art museum the other day and we noted that every person had ear buds and most were texting or talking on their cell phone. We were the only ones looking around, enjoying the warm day, and seeing what was so. To us it seems tragic, but soon, after our generation passes, there will be no one to notice.
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