We have all heard the expression 'It's just a matter of time.' Well, time has caught up with me on this particular intellectual challenge. Ten months ago I started strong, steadily writing my thoughts on this subject of pacifism and world events. Now I fear that I have hit the wall, my friends. I sit down to begin research on US-Japanese diplomatic relations in the 1930's and 1940's, but am only able to think about the chocolate in the pantry or the next household chore that needs to be completed.
I am wondering how I ever had the drive to write on a research oriented topic in the first place. So much reading; so much analysis; so much questioning and re-positing. Quite frankly I find even the thought of doing more research to be tiring. How will I keep going? How will I keep my research fire stoked? Perhaps a little break from the research end of things is in order. Maybe then I will gain a little strength to scale the wall.
Over Christmas I had an extraordinary opportunity to interview Papa Jack (Kristin's father's father) about his experiences as a B-24 bomber pilot over the Pacific. Papa Jack shared stories about training and combat that transported me back in time to America and the Pacific Theatre during the mid-1940's. Watching Papa Jack mentally re-live his war life I felt my own mind overwhelmed with the prospects of living a life where anti-aircraft fire daily threatened to extinguish my own life. A life where small mistakes made in the air meant life changing injury or even death. From where does the strength and courage come to live this kind of self-sacrificial life? I never did ask Papa Jack that, but I imagine he would say that he did what he had to. Perhaps an even more poignant question would be how did he find the strength to move on with life after his war experience?
Papa Jack gave me the contact name of his bombardier who lives in Columbus. I would very much like to visit him in Columbus and learn more about his experience with Papa Jack and his military career after the war ended. This continued personal look into WWII bomber life might be the right rabbit trail to briefly lead me away from and then back into my current diplomatic policy questions about the war.
About Me
- Paul
- Curiosity has occupied my mind for as long as I can recall. Why is the earth here? How valid and reliable are human perceptions? What essential nature makes an object what it is? Who or what decides when a belief is true, false or otherwise (is 'otherwise' really an option here?)? These questions often percolate up to my conscious mind in ordinary daily life. However, anyone merely practicing his guild (my guild is physical therapy) is by necessity forced to sideline any rigorous attempt at sating his curiosity. Fortunately I have been able to begin studying my guild thus allowing me to devote some time to questions. I am doing that by taking some graduate courses in statistics and epidemiology. Statistics: the science of twisting the truth. Epidemiology: the art of untwisting the statistics. This blog is a space for my meandering questions on topics ranging from baby poop to mathematics and reality.
2 comments:
paul,
thank you for keeping at it! it is inspiring!
keep a look out for a 'dogface' post in the near future!
you know, you really should visit Hiroshima and conduct some research there! i'm sure you have the time and money.
also, in these interviews it would be intersting to know how much the pilots knew or cared about the purpose of their missions....or about the people they were targeting.
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