World War II, the conflict of 1939-1945, was a life transforming experience for many of its participants, even in small town U.S.A. It was crazy, irrational, nationalistic and international. It enlarged our concept of the world and crossed all barriers of race, creed, space, and national borders. We were allies with communist Russia in the struggle to defeat the totalitarian regimes of Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini. We were allies of China, Burma and India to defeat the aggression of Imperial Japan in the Pacific Area. It became a Holy Crusade as the Christian churches sanctioned the War as the lesser of evils. The war effort was total in that industrial production, agricultural production, shipbuilding and transportation of all kinds contributed to the massive effort to fight wars in several areas and provide materials for our Allies in the Conflict.
World War II enlarged our isolated concept of the world. Military service became a melting pot for regional differences in the U.S.A. Race continued to be a barrier with heavy consequences for Japanese descendents in the U.S.A. and for Blacks at home and in the Armed Forces. The need for workers opened jobs for Blacks and women that had been closed to them. Construction, production and service jobs took people to far away places even before going overseas. These movements sowed the seed for improvements in racial tensions that would culminate in the post-war years.
Materialism, domination by force and fiat (dictated law) were rampant. At the same time sacrifices were made for the common good and group survival, at home and abroad. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, World War II became a total effort in the U.S.A. and was thus supported by national propaganda through movies, song, radio and the press. The few who expressed opposition were sidelined quickly and quietly. The propaganda efforts were tremendous and successful, though at times deceitful.
The concept of ``One World'' was later carried further by rapid communications toward the concept of living in a ``global village.'' We were able to see that what happened in the Phillipines, China, or Burma is a concern for people in Big Springs. The price of corn and cotton in London could influence what was planted on the family farm.
How large is your world today, after forty years of television in your home?
How large was your world in 1932? 1940? 1950?
What happened during the years 1939 to 1946 greatly changed how the people in West Tennessee view the peoples of the world around them. It enlarged their concept of the World in which they lived and our concept of the earth shared by many diverse peoples.