LH: I think we have to put this in the prespective of the time.   We did not have TV/Internet/etc; in the days of WW2. A report by a Murrow from London or the reporter (Hicks) on the D Day Invasion armada was considered a communication marvel.

The newspapers of the time printed shocking photos of atrocities heaped on our troops--in Japan. Later, of course, Concentration Camp shots---and before that troops in Europe freezing during battles like The Bulge.

I mention this to put things into perspective of the time which we have to think of when we speak of it. As we would in any era.

So, the sad part is that, and it applies today as well, that the vast majority of the public think in stereotypes, read headlines, and form opinions (these days) from sound bytes.

So, to unite the nation and get "patriotism" you had to build the cause the way it was built. In truth--it was the "good war"--as is said.   Did we do bad things like incarcarate the Japanese-Americans--yes. That can be whole diffrent thread. But your comments dealt with spreading hate and carictature of the enemy.   To that end the media --such as it was then---did what they had to in uniting this nation to defeat a terrible threat.

Can we equate that with today's events and with the Bush administration?   I don't think so. By that I mean that they are the ones that have more media and outlets in their control--newer technologies, if you will---and are using it for purposes totally opposite to what we had to do in WW2 to defend ourselves. This is all about power, arrogance, and, frankly, the Iraq invasion was akin to the Reichstag fire---if the administration wants to make analogies.   An event to create a situation.

It may well be that it is too bad that the USSR is kaput. Perhaps the "balance of terror" kept us all in a safer mode. Who knew.

Would that human nature were such that peace and good will were the mode. But it is not so.

We can continue this thought by talking of religion--all faiths--does it divide or unite (I opt for divide), international allegiances shifting like sand over time, or that we can go to space but cannot do the simplest things on our own planet.

But that can only take us far afield from this discussion---yet, it is all of a piece.

Bill Hahn