Some of you need to go back and read the newspapers from World War II. During that war, the newspaper was totally committed to the war, as were the people. Churches had "blanket parties" on Wednesday or Thursday night in which the women made blankets for the soldiers. After school activities for the highschool kids were announced in the paper----the scrap metal drive will meet at 100 West Main and cover NE Norman this afternoon. Look for these items. On the comics page, the last block of every strip had the subject of the strip ask you to "Buy Bonds."
The front page of each days paper showed you exactly where the last known position of American troops in the Pacific or Europe was. It wasn't any secret. Of the entire newspaper, about half was devoted to church, school, civic club, and other meetings that involved the reesponse of the people to the war.
There wasn't any quest to buy a new car. They weren't making any. There was no 1943 Much of Anything with white sidewall tires. In fact, you couldn't buy tires either. Some of you are old enough that you still have the Ration Tickets for Butter, Sugar, Gas, Rubber, and Meat. I don't remember what all was rationed, but you couldn't get any of it without a ration card. Everyone was involved in the war. Everyone was sacrificing for the war.
In the wars since, there are a few guys who got drafted or volunteered that are involved. Everyone else is watching TV and going to the Ranger games. The public has never been involved, not since WWII.