I'd like to show my foreign viewers what old America used to be like before our spiritual ebb tide took place. Too many of the old timers are gone and those left perhaps have forgotten and the young hipsters of today have no clue what the brief period of homogeneous America was like. It’s all diversity now and any reference to a common thread that gave content and meaning to generations is greeted with self-righteous scorn by the left and its armies of trendies and academic apologists. I believe they are missing one of life’s simple discoveries in their allegiance to hysterical dance videos and the guttural spasms of current music. Perhaps the older generations failed to communicate. More likely, the electronic coliseum diverts their attention.
During basic training in Camp Pendleton our platoon congregated during a rare rest period in VC village’s church. It was Christmas time and our platoon commander ordered us to sing Christmas songs. Much to my surprise he was met with total silence because no one even knew a Christmas song - except me. I was the oldest in the platoon at 26 and it became clear to me that I was witnessing a generational and cultural failure because the youngsters of 18 who comprised the group didn’t even know Silent Night. What about songs like The Yellow Rose of Texas or Orange Blossom Special which should make the hair stand up on the neck of every American boy? What about the original drum and fife version of Custer’s old tune, The Garryowen? It was standard with Army cavalry units even during WWII.
If song and music is the American poetry of today as poetry was the tranditional inspiration of Russia, then it may be possible for the dry words of history to come alive with sounds and images transmitted around the world by the Internet. Perhaps the best video I’ve seen of what old America used to be like is a WWII clip from A Human Comedy with Van Johnson found on YouTube. GI’s on the troop train sing Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – a church song they all knew. It’s funny how war and the prospect of death brought out the spiritual side of Americans in those days. Those that saw it, like men kneeling in church, knew it was real. It’s also the substance of what made Sgt. York a hit.
