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Planes and Playdough: A Reflection on Courage

I was up early to catch a plane back to Alpena on the 10th of November - the 2nd day after the election, so I turned on the TV to see what the latest post-election news was. As I surfed through the channels, I chanced upon some old footage from WW 2. It had been awhile since I had seen any of these, though growing up in the post WW2 era, I remember seeing many of these “news reels” being shown, but it had been years ago.Unfolding in front of me were some very disturbing scenes with Japanese Kamikaze (suicide pilots) attempting to crash their planes into US ships! Thousands of rounds of ammo were being fired by the men behind the guns on ship as they desperately attempted to shoot these fanatics out of the air. They were fighting for their very lives…and often losing. The noise of the guns, the explosions and the roar of the Zero engines drowned out the voices of the men. Some planes exploded in the air and others made it through the firing, hitting the ships and exploding.
Suddenly I was gripped by the reality of it all and I thought, “These were the neighborhood men I grew up by…my neighbors, my uncles, businessmen in town; and to think many of them were only in their teens and twenties!” 
Here's a link to the video: 
 http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Kamikaze+Attacks+in+Color&&view=detail&mid=C040B2477D2741575F09C040B2477D2741575F09&rvsmid=C040B2477D2741575F09C040B2477D2741575F09&fsscr=0&FORM=VDMCNL
Later in the day I had more disturbing news. It was reported that some college students were so distressed (and scared) about Mr. Trump’s election win that they needed special meetings, with pizza, in order to console themselves. Many were crying and completely distraught! It was reported that counselors at the University of Michigan were having the “kids” play with Play Dough to help them cope with the trauma. You may have also heard about students who have been demanding “safe places” on campuses in order to shelter themselves from those who have different views.
Follow this link to learn more about the "Trump Hysteria": http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/11/...
Wow! How can these students be so “fragile” and contemptuously weak, when only a few years ago their grandfathers at the same age (or younger) endured, sacrificed, and won a World War, with many sacrificing their lives? We need to ask ourselves, “What have we done to our children?” In an age of “helicopter moms” and absent fathers might I suggest that we are in trouble? Just saying. May I also suggest that we need to focus on raising our children to be strong in the Lord, as Joshua 1:6b commands: “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” -Pastor Gary A. Smith (Reposted from 11.23.16)

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