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Cathy's Critiques |
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Remembering World War II: The Rhetoric and Politics of National Commemoration at the Turn of the 21st Century
“The one time the nation got together was in World War II. We stood as one. We spoke as one. We clenched our fists as one, and that was a rare moment for all of us.” A Critical Analysis By Cathy Gniewek Barbara A. Biesecker theorizes that the World War II era constitutes righteous American values absent in today’s culture. Challenging the need for national renewal, Biesecker questions if in today’s society citizens should return to values of the past. Has the drive for self-autonomy overcome collective responsibility? She uses the idealized World War II values depicted in media representations of patriotism, national unity or self-sacrifice for the common good as a gauge for which today’s American culture is judged. Biesecker supports her conclusion based upon the historical portrayal of World War II veteran’s military experience as depicted in the film, literature and in national memorial exhibits. In the film, “Saving Private Ryan,” the collective efforts of self-sacrificing World War II veterans to fulfill the mission to find a sole Private Ryan through the tragic and often fatal obstacles of war celebrate the era’s valor of everyday man’s victorious feat to overcome self-autonomy in the interest of the common good. Years later, standing beside Captain John Miller, a fallen veteran’s grave, Private Ryan himself questions this action as he asks if his own life was worthy of the sacrifices of those who died in his rescue. Private Ryan’s life symbolically represents maintaining national unity as the “American Dream” that is worth sacrificing to protect. Extending investigation into literature, Biesecker examines the book, “The Greatest Generation,” by Tom Brokaw that compiles a collection of forty-seven life stories of Allied war effort contributors. Overcoming multiple obstacles of war, these stories offer a narrative from the eyes of real people who rose to attain the “good life.” “The Greatest Generation” demonstrates that valor surpasses boundaries of ethnicity beyond stereotypical white male contributions and celebrates the unsung heroes of this era. Further, “The Greatest Generation” redefines the concept of the “American Dream” from national unity to a value of individualistic responsibility for achievement of one’s own successes despite the obstacles. Biesecker further expands stereotypical boundaries by showcasing historical military contributions of women by citing “The Women in Military Service for American Memorial” in Washington, D.C. for its celebration of the diversity of roles women served in the war that were no less valuable then her male counterpart. The glass ceiling in the museum serves as a political statement of women’s new role in society achieving equal status. The placement of the 1997 built memorial situated in the ceremonial gateway to Arlington Cemetery is nationally and gender-specific significant as its location is alongside dominant male memorials on the Washington Mall. The symbolic white male-dominated glass ceiling has been broken as the concept of the “American Dream” is now redefined to include recognition of social equality for all. Visibility is power. Power to transform culture. Visibility is dictated by the media’s interpretation of past era’s societal roles based on current cultural acceptance practices. Biesecker’s critical examination of World War II era values depicts the changes in historical narratives as they reflect new societal roles over time. Expansion of World War II values of patriotism to include recognition of all war effort contributions regardless of ethnicity, gender or form of service is justified. National renewal would not be served by a reversal to World War II standards eliminating recognition of social equality -- rather it should consider future expansion to transcend partisan consideration into a sense of unity. Has the drive for self-autonomy overcome collective responsibility? National values of individualistic equality and collective efforts both serve the common good. National unity is significantly evident today through collective actions of everyday individuals through their contributions in events of disasters such as September 11th, Hurricane Katrina and the War in Iraq. Sources: Barbara A. Biesecker, “Remembering World War II: The Rhetoric and Politics of National Commemoration at the Turn of the 21st Century,” Quarterly Journal of Speech, Volume 88, Number 4, November 2002, pp. 393-409. Tom Brokaw, “The Greatest Generation” (New York: Random House, 1998), 15.
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