Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 439
February 28, 2013
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Feb. 28, 1943: Norwegian paratroopers blow up Norsk Hydro heavy water plant at Telemark. Construction of Ledo Road crosses border from India into Burma, with goal of reconnecting with China.
February 27, 2013
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Feb. 27, 1943: Rosenstrasse Protests begin in Germany: Gentile women married to Jews protest treatment of Jews. New songs in Top Ten: “For Me and My Gal,” “That Old Black Magic.” Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom of Worship” appears in Saturday Evening Post. US begins production of steel pennies to conserve copper.
February 26, 2013
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Feb. 26, 1943: Journalists Walter Cronkite and Andy Rooney fly on US Eighth Air Force bombing raid to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Maj. Gen. James Doolittle takes command of US Twelfth Air Force Bomber Command in North Africa.
February 25, 2013
Freedom of Worship
Seventy years ago, on February 27, 1943, Norman Rockwell's "Freedom of Worship" appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. During World War II, President Roosevelt declared Four Freedoms he felt were fundamental to humanity: freedom of speech and worship, and freedom from fear and want. Rockwell's Four Freedoms paintings were made into posters for the US Second War Loan Drive in April 1943.
The freedom of worship is encoded in the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This twofold freedom has defined religious life in America for over two hundred years. No one can coerce us into any religion, and no one can prevent us from following our faith.
World War II was fueled by the Nazis' hatred for the Jewish religion. The Nazis slowly stripped away the rights of Jews one by one, culminating in mass industrialized murder of unimaginable barbarity. Christians who dared to speak out joined their Jewish brethren in concentration camps. While Americans in early 1943 were unaware of the full scale of the Holocaust, they were fully aware of Nazi brutality toward the Jews. The freedom of worship in the United States became more precious than ever, increasing the poignancy of this work of art.
Today the First Amendment continues to define - and divide - us. The secular portion of American culture stresses the first part of the First Amendment, while people of faith prefer the second portion. In reality neither can exist without the other.
Many of the founders of the United States fled Europe because of state-mandated religion. For centuries Europe had been rocked by war and persecution as Catholics and Protestants battled for control of governments. The writers of the Constitution wanted none of that. They wanted a new type of country where your life did not depend on the religion of the current regime. Many people of faith think this country would be better off if everyone believed as we did. However, do we really want people to believe because they have to - or because they want to? God never forces people to come to Him...He draws with cords of love.
On the flip side, secular people must remember that people of faith have the Constitutional right to practice that faith - and that includes the right of speech. The current cry for tolerance carries a hidden message - to tolerate someone else's beliefs means to silence your own. However, the Constitution does not include a right to not be offended. In fact, the right of free speech means all of us will be offended and often. Would you have it any other way? To silence those you disagree with carries the risk that you'll be silenced yourself. To prevent someone from worshipping as they choose coerces them into the religion of no religion.
I believe freedom of religious speech should be practiced with love, respect, and intelligent debate - not with angry, strident, insulting yelling-over-the-other-person. But that's my opinion, and you're free to disagree.
What are your thoughts on freedom of worship?
Today in World War II History
US troops reoccupying Kasserine Pass70 Years Ago—Feb. 25, 1943: U-boats break off attack on Allied North Atlantic convoy ON-166; 15/49 ships have been lost since February 21. US reoccupies abandoned Kasserine Pass. In New Zealand, Japanese POWs attempt escape; 48 POWs and one guard killed.
February 24, 2013
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Feb. 24, 1943: On Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, Japanese execute 132 Australian and Dutch prisoners.
February 23, 2013
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Feb. 23 1943: Rommel retreats back through Kasserine Pass; Americans have lost 192 killed and 2400 POWs in battle. Allied convoy UC-1 loses 7 tankers to U-boats over the next two days.
February 22, 2013
Today in World War II History
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USS Iowa in Pacific, 194470 Years Ago—Feb. 22, 1943: In Norway, Nazi collaborationist Quisling orders conscription of 35,000 Norwegian men for military construction. Battleship USS Iowacommissioned, New York Naval Yard, first of four Iowa class battleships, the last US battleships.
February 21, 2013
Book Beat - When the Heart Heals by Ann Shorey
Rosemary Saxon served as a nurse in the Civil War and wanted nothing more to do with nursing, a profession seen as shameful for a proper lady. But as an unmarried woman, she has no other way to support herself. The new physician in town, Elijah Stewart, takes a chance and hires her, and attraction grows between them. However, Rosemary's homemade herbal remedies run counter to Elijah's modern medical training, and these two souls can't compromise. Meanwhile, someone else in town leaves threatening notes for Rosemary regarding her "witch's brew."In When the Heart Heals , Ann Shorey tells a satisfying love story between two realistic characters. Beneath her prickly exterior, Rosemary is courageously compassionate. And Elijah's gruff facade conceals a warm and noble heart. Engaging subplots and a town full of characters that feel like friends make the novel a delightful read. I highly recommend it.
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—Feb. 21, 1943: US Marines and 43rdInfantry Division take Russell Islands in the Solomons unopposed. Germans open counterattack in Ukraine toward Kharkov.
