Scrapes and Burns

I’ve been watching Ken Burns’ documentary series about WWII on PBS. I’m a news-junkie and a documentary-freak, so I’ve enjoyed what I’ve watched so far.

Mostly, that is.

Not because of the quality or content of the presentation, but because of the implicit commentary that lurks between the lines of the entire series. And I doubt Ken Burns set out to do anything other than create an accurate and compelling history of one of America’s most-defining periods in time.

The men and women interviewed talk about things very matter-of-factly. They recount horrors and shortages and courage and necessity in the same tone of voice. The subtext--that our country had no choice but to mobilize our military personnel and industrial resources—almost drowns out what they’re saying.

Their words hold a quality of inevitability and righteousness that paints a stark contrast to our contemporary world, where the US is deeply divided about the necessity and righteousness of the Iraq war. Few speak of it with the conviction or dedication that they did during WWII.

What Ken Burns’ film does, without ever mentioning it, is call into question the arrogance and cynicism of our contemporary leaders. It never mentions Afghanistan or why we have inadequate troop levels where the real war should be. Never even hints at it.

It doesn’t have to.

Any thinking person who sees the film would likely arrive at the same questions.