The Bakersfield Voice

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At age 3, the phrase “20 years ago” in my parents’ conversations with friends dazzled me. I realized it meant that “way back when” — before I came on the scene — things happened!

I now look back over my own 83 years, recognizing this year as an octogenarian milestone, marking my first “awakening” as an individual. I join with those in this “select” body, some of them over 20 years older than myself! The trick, of course, is whether or not we all remain awake.

Try to remember — my generation of Americans liberated Western Europe in 1945. In the 1980s and early ’90s, later generations, with help from our good humored but say-it-like-it-is, President Ronald Reagan, had the job of liberating most of Eastern Europe, and was completed without a single combat casualty! (Russia, however, remains “toxic” thanks to poisonous Communist residue.)

Over 50,000 American lives were sacrificed between 1950 and 1953 to liberate South Korea. President Eisenhower, a republican like Ronald Reagan, ended the mindless hilltop-to-hilltop slaughter. My generation was there. Some of my generation also went to Vietnam — the second no-win political sacrifice of American lives.

Presently, another republican, President George Bush, commands troops who are decimating terrorist enemy leadership, winning freedom for Afghanistan and Iraq. We have lost fewer than 70 personnel per month over five years. WWII cost more than 5,500 lives per month; Korea cost 1,500 lives per month; and Vietnam cost approximately 700 lives per month. Who managed war casualties better? FDR? Truman? Eisenhower? Johnson? Or George Bush?

I own and have owned at least 15 computers since 1987. I use the Internet daily. Is that sufficient evidence I am still — pretty much — awake? Thousands from my generation — still totally involved, well traveled, and affluent — are concerned for our nation. Though we are the “ancient ones,” the “old guys” and so forth, please know that we know what is true. America is a promised land! Our children know that there is a divine plan of salvation from the fall of Adam. God gave us agency — the power to prove ourselves. Through the atonement of the son of God, Jesus Christ, our sins are erased — if we live God’s laws. Everything on the earth so testifies. Divine design is everywhere.