Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on May 24, 2020

Seventy-five years ago, Nazi Germany surrendered to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Later in 1945, Hirohitos Japan surrendered to Douglas MacArthur.

The Ohio History Connection reports approximately 839,000 Ohioans, roughly 12 percent of the states population served in the armed forces during the conflict. Of [them], 23,000 died or were missing in action by the wars conclusion. Blessed be their names.

Washington rationed food and such goods as gasoline and tires, and limited rail travel. Detroit did not build cars for civilians. Steep taxes helped pay for the war and dampen inflation.

Then came victories, with Harry S. Truman (who became president without being a millionaire) in the White House. In Europe, the men and women of the allied powers saved (democratic) Britain and helped save (tyrannical) Russia. In the Pacific, America avenged Pearl Harbor.

Sacrifices, victories: That was the formula Americans and their allies followed during the World War II, a war that started for the people of Europe even before Dec. 7, 1941, and long before that for the people of Asia. The bottom line, 75 years ago, in Ohio, and nationwide: The United States achieved a common goal: Victory over murderous enemies.

In Ohios outstanding public libraries, there are more books about the World War II than a reader can shake a stick at. Nevertheless, it seems impossible for a reader to find an instance when Americans, let alone Ohioans, demanded their right during that war to get a haircut or perm, or buy the daily cholesterol special in a sit-down restaurant.

In all those thousands of books, and videos, too, it is impossible to find an example of Ohioans demonstrating at the Statehouse in wartime to insist they had more know-how about beating enemies than did Eisenhower, MacArthur or the U.S. Navys fleet admirals.

Today, though, after barely two months of statewide warfare against the murderous coronavirus, thats what some Ohioans seem to say. Moreover, they are saying it in an Ohio whose Republican governor, Mike DeWine, of Cedarville, has been nationally applauded for his leadership in fighting a disease that can kill quickly and for which there currently is no cure. And DeWine is doing that with the help of Ohios health director, Dr. Amy Acton, herself the focus of gripes. (Hmm A woman. An educated woman. An educated woman with power. An educated woman with power who is of Jewish heritage: Bigots bingo!)

Its as if on Feb. 7, 1942, two months after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a few Ohioans said, Thats it. We have done enough. Time to move on. In the roughly 44 months from Pearl Harbor to V-J Day, an average of 523 Ohioans a month serving our country in uniform died or became listed as MIA. In the last two months, COVID-19 has killed at least 1,610 Ohioans. We are done? We should move on?

Moreover, some of the Ohioans asserting a constitutional right to such-and-thus merchandise or service dont seem to have the same energetic concern for the constitutional rights of other Ohioans, such as women seeking an abortion; or same-sex couples seeking to marry; or Ohioans at risk of death because some prisons are lousy with coronavirus.

(Ohioans who oppose abortion are not alone, they are sincere, and they reflect many faith traditions. But when has Congress, when GOP-run, submitted an anti-Roe v. Wade constitutional amendment to the states? Or when has the Ohio General Assembly, GOP-run for 24 of the last 26 years, proposed a federal constitutional convention to overturn Roe v. Wade?)

Some Ohioans say they are irked when the state releases prisoners from coronavirus-plagued prisons. It will be interesting to hear what those same Ohioans say about Paul Manaforts release. If freeing a convicted presidential flunky doesnt frost suburbia, heres a four-syllable word for this weeks kaffeeklatsch: hy-poc-ris-y.

The coronavirus has holed Ohios economy worse than the iceberg holed the Titanic. The pandemic will force the General Assembly to make budget cuts that will likely spark Statehouse protests and frantic lobbying. That is the political process. That is Ohio.

But protesting restrictions the coronavirus forced on Ohio? That suggests fighting a disease to save Ohioans lives just isnt worth it. Thats not the state most Ohioans grew up in.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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Ohioans protesting the coronavirus fail to appreciate the war we are in - together - cleveland.com

Category: Jewish Heritage Month
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