A FAVORITE MOVIE AS A Y0UNG BOY

THERE ARE FEW MEN MY AGE WHO DID NOT PLAY WAR BACK IN THE LATE 1940s. We had dads, uncles and aunts, cousins and friends of the men and women who fought in World War Two. There were few women in combat at that time, but their pesence in combat was isolated; womens contributions in World War Two were volinimous: medical personnel, training, supplies, ferrying aircraft (fighters and bombers), so they did get in the picture. Our neighborhood games were mostly Japanese war games. We had no idea there would be more than enough wars to last. I think we figured the U.S. had won the war of wars and it was a matter of memory. So, we played war....and we shouted war slogans that make me ashamed as I recall them today. There is always the shame factor in the games we play. If we don't admit it, the media will unleash it. Since the time Jimmy Carter served his long four years as President, text books changed and we were suddenly the cause of all dearth and depression in all of the thrird world nations. But getting back to John Wayne and the Sands of Iwo Jima. We played war. It was always the Japanese we were fighting, never the Germans. And certainly not the Russians. Nobody but a few wise men like my Uncle Jim realized that Joe Stalin was a number one ass hole. Okay, maybe the top brass knew it. Yes, they did. Ike sure as hell knew it. Did us kids in the neighborhood know it. No, not until the Korean War began. So, John Wayne will forever be the eternal soldier and Marine fighting those.......Japanese. But strangely enough, most of us never felt any hatred for the Japanese. I believe it was because, in the end, they did the right thing, they really did surrender. It is so much different than the wars we have fought since. Of course,we have not dropped any atomic bombs on our enemies lately. Somehow, those two bombs made all of the Japanese realize we weren't joking. You know what I suddenly realized? Boys and girls just don't play war games anymore. But I do know some areas where they do. They call us the same names us boys called the Japanese...."You, blankety blank, blank blank. Scarry? It is not comforting, especially since the Homeland Security is going to do combat with hurricanes and acts of God. Acts of God? God, I hope Homeland Security does not declare war on God instead of the terrorists.