In my home town, I’m acquainted with a diverse group of people. Because of our respective careers , my husband and I know folks from every race, religion, and socio-economic background. If I were to sit down with some of them and ask, “what is our foreign policy?” I don’t think anyone would give me the same answer.

Some professors, politicians, and military could probably voice a well informed opinion. But even in this college town, those people are few and far between.

When FDR signed a declarration of war against Japan, everyone understood USA foreign policy — Everyone in the USA understood our foreign policy when FDR declared war against Japan in 1941..

When I was a child, the USA foreign policy was pretty clear. We were fighting Germany and Japan. The Germans hated the Jews, and the Japanese hated us. If we didn’t enter the war, they would take over our country , kill our priests, and make us do horrible things to our fellow human beings.

A few years after WWII ended in 1945, almost every young man I knew was drafted and sent to Korea. Again, we had a pretty clear foreign policy: Fighting communism.

Then we entered the long, agonizing war in Vietnam. Our sons, brothers, husbands and fathers were drafted to continue the fight against Marxist communism. Most of us protested. However, the politicians convinced us that if our guys didn’t fight and die in Southeast Asia, we’d soon be ruled by the communists. We lost that war, but saved our democracy.

The State department says their foreign policy goals are to preserve national security, promote world peace, promote democratic values, work with our allies to solve international problems. and further cooperative foreign trade,

But how is the average American supposed to figure out what the United States is up to all over the world? The cold war is supposedly over, but we’re impeaching a president because he held up aid to a corrupt Ukraine in their fight against Russia. Does that make sense? If that’s what we’re doing, it looks like the cold war is really a hot war.

Supposedly, we’re not at war with anyone in the Middle East. But if you were alive on 9/11, it felt pretty much like Pearl Harbor to those of us who were around both times. We actually were at war after 9/11, but it was never declared.

If you were alive during the Pearl Harbor attack, 9/11 seemed like we were at war again — No one questioned our foreign policy when FDR declared war against Japan

We’ve been sending our troops all over the Middle East for years, even though we don’t need their oil any more We’ve got all the oil we need right here in the good old USA . Also, we have wind farms and other forms of cleaner energy. But the politicians give us the same old excuse they did about communism. They tell us we’re fighting terrorism there so we don’t have to fight it here.

Why are we trying to maintain toxic relationships with countries who hate us? Any therapist would tell us that’s crazy. Our foreign policy is incoherent to the average person who goes to work every day, worries about paying their mortgage, and educating their children.

People cared more about our foreign policy when men were being drafted against their will. Now that the US military is an all volunteer service, no one feels as strongly as they once did. And more importantly, our foreign policy doesn’t influence their vote nearly as much as the cost of health care, prescription drugs, and the unemployment rate.

What is our foreign policy? Does anyone really know?

Wow! What a wonderful night it was on CBS. Friday evenings, we typically watch Public Broadcasting, or our station of choice to catch up on the week’s news. Unfortunately, politics doesn’t make for a very good night’s sleep, so it was a relief last Friday night, when we were treated to reruns of “I Love Lucy,” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”

It was great to remember that kind and gentle era when comedians didn’t swear, brag about their sex life, or express their political preferences. Comedy shows were a way to relax , laugh , and get your mind off your troubles. Good comics found it remarkably easy to be funny without ever referencing POTUS, affordable care, immigration, war, climate change and all of the other serious issues that today’s comedians think they need to lecture us about.

And yet, there was plenty to be upset about in the early fifties when ” I Love Lucy” was a popular show. Our boyfriends, husbands and brothers were drafted into the Korean War. Jim Crow laws legitimized segregation. The Cuban revolution brought Communism to our doorstep. Medicare didn’t exist, and few had health insurance.

Comedians didn'try to influence our vote in the 50's

LUCILLE BALL AND DESI ARNAZ SIMPLY MADE US LAUGH AND FORGET OUR TROUBLES

In the early sixties, while we watched “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” the Berlin Wall was built, and our men were being drafted into the Vietnam War. Mistakes were made by all politicians, but there was a certain civility that kept things on an even keel. News reporters and journalists were no doubt biased, but they tried to be objective and civil. And entertainers simply entertained.

English teachers often advise budding writers not to “mix their metaphors.” I wish performing artists would stick to their knitting and not try to mix their specialties. They’re not political scientists , elected officials, or trained military strategists.

DICK VAN DYKE AND MARI TYLER MOORE ENTERTAINED US IN THE SIXTIES

Actors should act, singers should sing, dancers should dance, and comedians should be funny. That’s all we want from you, guys. We don’t want you telling us how to vote or mocking elected officials. When we want entertainment, we’ll watch ” Dancing With the Stars” , or the Hallmark Channel. If we want to hear about politics, we will turn on the news channel of our choice.

So, thanks to Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz , Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for making us laugh during some tough times.

Tag: Korea

WHAT IS OUR FOREIGN POLICY?

The State department says their foreign policy goals are to preserve national security, promote world peace, promote democratic values, work with our allies to solve international problems. and further cooperative foreign trade,

Supposedly, we’re not at war with anyone in the Middle East. But if you were alive on 9/11, it felt pretty much like Pearl Harbor to those of us who were around both times. We actually were at war after 9/11, but it was never declared.

THANKS, LUCY, DESI, MARY & DICK

English teachers often advise budding writers not to “mix their metaphors.” I wish performing artists would stick to their knitting and not try to mix their specialties. They’re not political scientists , elected officials, or trained military strategists.