Greatest Generation? Really?

Just this morning I was discussing an aspect of WWII that most people would not call great; the targeting of civilian populations. Prior to then it was considered uncivilized but suddenly became morally acceptable. When technology made it possible to separate the fighter from the enemy the logical leap to total war became palatable.

Today? As PDB88 points out, consider the attention given to the killing of even one “non-combatant”; imagine millions!
 
Targeting civilian populations occurred prior to WWII....


Scorched earth was pretty close during the Civil War. I personally think wars would be over much quicker if it was still practiced...
 
I'm not sure that you can ever describe a "greatest generation" from a military point of view. Our service members have a history of doing whatever is required of them, even those who have gone into the service via a draft. Why would we think that our warfighters now are any more or less valorous or capable than those who have gone before (or vice versa)?

I do think from a technology/econometric point of view, one could argue for a "greatest generation." Those who were of the age to fight in or lead fighters in WWII:
- overcame the economic horror of the Great Depression to generate the greatest economic power in the world
- in the process, the "Arsenal of Democracy" produced trucks, tanks, aircraft, and other war materiel to support British and Russian troops in addition to the largest US military force in history
- For better or for worse, the same generation made many truly revolutionary technological developments: the first widespread use of penicillin; development of radar, sonar, analog computers; atomic weapons, leading us to nuke power; jet engines & aircraft; rocketry; spacecraft/satellites, including the Apollo moon landing; TV; the structure of DNA; integrated circuits. Note that a lot of these inventions were not made by Americans.
 
usually baby boomers, AKA the Worst Generation

Yeah, right.. not like all the 'heroes' we're used to seeing in your generation.
Try and keep it real partner.. :rolleyes:
 
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