OPINION:
My mother will be 90 years old in 2028. I am thankful for her. She was born on a farm along the state line between Wisconsin and Illinois. Times were tough then. It is amazing how many things have changed since she was born. At the same time, it is interesting to learn how many things have not.
In 1938, Europe was consumed with rising tensions. Nazi Germany annexed Austria. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement led to the Munich Agreement, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. Playing off the emotions of people who were overwhelmed by exorbitant prices driven by sky-high inflation, nearly worthless currency and few jobs, Adolf Hitler was on the march as he blamed other nations and groups for the problems in his own country.
Eventually the Nazis launched a campaign of terror against Jewish people and their homes and businesses in Austria and Germany. It was called Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, as more than 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses, synagogues, schools, homes and even graveyards were vandalized on Nov. 9, 1938. About 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and many were sent to concentration camps.
By the following September, World War II had begun in Europe. The United States, for a variety of reasons, stayed out of it until we got pulled in. On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan conducted a surprise attack on naval operations at Pearl Harbor that immediately drew the United States of America into the war against the axis of evil.
Americans also faced a recession in 1937 and 1938. The unemployment rate was more than 20%, production of durable goods dropped 65% and industrial stock prices fell by more than 40%. A series of factors led to these economic woes, including changes in the level of federal spending, higher labor costs driven by unionization and a push by the Federal Reserve to force banks to carry larger balances, which drove up interest rates.
All of these facts seem odd to write about around Thanksgiving. There is a positive point.
First, I am thankful to still have my mother with us for another Thanksgiving Day feast. We’ve enjoyed spending this special holiday together as a family and understand the privilege of having my mom with us again this year.
Tonette and I have two sons and two daughters-in-law. We love them dearly and are so glad they live close to us. My brother and his family live nearby, too. We are blessed with wonderful family and friends.
Second, we are thankful for all of the positive changes in our lives. When mom was born, she lived on a farm that did not have indoor plumbing and she had to use an outhouse. Her family was forced to share access to a phone on what was then called a party line. And the cars at the time did not have power steering or power brakes.
Today, we often take for granted all of the advances in technology. Talking to my mother about her childhood is a good reminder of how far we have advanced in America during her lifetime. Now, she can even use FaceTime or WhatsApp to talk to friends anywhere in the world.
Third, reminiscing about history during my mother’s lifetime is also an important reminder of what we have overcome during that time. Economic and political uncertainty has come and gone since 1938. Forces of evil have sought to oppress people all over the world. Social and political issues have divided Americans against each other. And yet we have overcome these obstacles throughout our history.
Since my mother was born, Americans led us to victory in World War II, helped market-based capitalism overcome government-driven socialism, ended the Cold War in a way that led to the fall of communism throughout Europe and led with innovations that have dramatically improved our lives through advances in medicine, technology, education and entertainment.
For all of these things and more, we are thankful. Now, as we look ahead to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we need to consider what more can be done to advance the cause of liberty across our nation and around the world.
A recent poll of young people conducted for Young America’s Foundation shows increasing concerns over the cost of living. What can we do that will help people increase wages while working to lower prices? How can we get bureaucracies out of the way to make it affordable again to own a home, pay for health-care coverage or even start a small business?
I am thankful to live in a nation that has taken on big challenges before and triumphed over them. I am confident we can do it again. So, enjoy time with family over the next few days. Eat plenty of leftovers. Watch a bit of football. Then, come Monday, let’s get to work!
• Scott Walker is a columnist for The Washington Times. He was the 45th governor of Wisconsin and launched a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He lives in Milwaukee and is the proud owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King. He can be reached at swalker@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.