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My reflections of our WWII history may seem empty to many in these times. We are a nation divided today. There is an aversion of many to claim our victories in WWII as conservative, but they were not. It was a shining moment of patriotism when conservative, liberal, Democrat and Republican stood shoulder-to-shoulder, and too often died that way too. Their love of country transcended politics.

WWII came upon our nation during a generation of strong liberalism in our history. Republicans and conservatives led the vanguard against early efforts to involve our nation in the European war. But the Republicans and conservatives were not alone, many Democrats wanted to avoid war too. Until the attack on Pearl Harbor approximately 80% of our population opposed our involvement in the war. This at a time when liberal Democrats held control of both houses of Congress.

Even after the attack on Pearl Harbor and FDR's address to Congress for a declaration of war, it was only against Japan. It took Hitler's declaration of war against the USA days later to get FDR to address Congress a second time that week for another declaration of war on the European front.

What differs today is that all encompassing patriotism. We lack a leadership that can bind our nation as one in patriotism. Patriotism has less to do with waving our flag, reciting a pledge, or spending money to power the economy, and more with protecting our great heritage. It is a heritage built upon freedom, not liberalism or conservatism, but the freedom to choose liberal, conservative, or anywhere in between.

It should be noted that as our men returned from the European and Pacific wars the battles had change a great many to the extent many liberal Democrats suffered losses in both houses of Congress. It was not politics that made these one-time liberal fighting men into voting conservatives. It was the experience of self-dependence and dependence upon those in their immediate proximity during the combat of war that molded them.

Much like the adversaries we faced in WWII, our adversaries today seek to limit freedom. Regardless of ones religious convictions, our nation stands by the freedom of every individual to read a Bible, or choose not to. It is the same with any book, and this free exchange of knowledge is quite liberal in the eyes of our adversaries.

So now I look with a heavy heart upon our nation, kept free with the blood and guts of young men of various political persuasions and party affiliation, and the one element that bound them together, patriotism for a way of life worthy of patriots, and I wonder who will lead us to the patriotism of freedom in this hour of need. May we find it again as our enemies are gathering strength even now.

I find the history of Great Britain a strength right now. As with conservatives in the USA, conservatives in the UK, led by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, sought to avoid war at all costs. It was as though a divine covenant had a leader ready in the wings to stir the patriotism of his countrymen when war erupted. Winston Churchill happened to be a conservative as was Chamberlain, but he was a patriot first and foremost. Never did he place politics above his patriotism.