Sorry I went away for a while to get some things done.
I was working at the library yesterday and I am reading a newspaper from a small town in Missouri, in 1943. It is just amazing the way the war, and the support for the war in this small farming community was covered in this paper. It's really fabulous social history, and one that you never get by reading the papers in the large urban areas for the same time frame. I was thinking of the conversation you had with your sister about today's war, when I read this from an editorial page:
July 16, 1943
A CHECK-CHART FOR AMERICANS
If you score 90% or higher, you may term yourself a Real American. If you score 80% you are a Good American, and 70% a Fair American. What's your score?
1. Are you buying Bonds on the 5% or 19% Payroll Deduction Plan? If so take 5 points for the 5% or 10 points for the 10%.
2. Have you given blood to the Red Cross or been refused by them? 10 points in either case.
3. Are you growing a Victory Garden? 10 points
4. Have you collected and disposed of all needed scrap materials? 5 points. If your home is saving fats, add 5 more points.
5. If you are a war worker and were not unnecessarily absent a day last month, take 10 points. If you are not a war worker and are enlisted in any volunteer war service, take 10 points.
6. Are you sharing rides, conserving your car, gasoline and rubber? Grade yourself according to your conscience. 10 points for best performance.
7. Are you hoarding unreturned items, or did you buy excessively before rationing began? 10 points if you think you are entitled to them.
8. Did you vote in the last national election. 5 points. Last municipal election? 5 points.
9. Do you repeat rumors that may be harmful to the war effort? Take 10 points if you do not, 5 points if in doubt.
10. Have you helped morale by writing letters or sending gifts to any persons in service? 10 points.
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The paper listed by name every person that donated blood, detailed all the supporting work the women's groups were doing, and even published columns suggesting what topics to write to the soldiers about and what not to write to them, which might discourage them or harm their morale!
Imagine that happening today!
Maybe we can make up our own check chart. Many of the items were specific to WWII, but we could start with some of them:
5. If you are a war worker and were not unnecessarily absent a day last month, take 10 points. If you are not a war worker and are enlisted in any volunteer war service, take 10 points.
8. Did you vote in the last national election. 5 points. Last municipal election? 5 points. If you voted for candidates who support the troops, add 10 points. If you voted for candidates who speak out against the war effort, deduct 20 points.
9. Do you repeat rumors that may be harmful to the war effort? Take 10 points if you do not, 5 points if in doubt.
10. Have you helped morale by writing letters or sending gifts to any persons in service? 10 points.