EVER THE OPTIMIST PART II ;OPTIMISM EVEN UNDER A CLOUD

PEACE ANNOUNCED IN SYDNEY 1945

So, we had despatched the Nazis and the Empire of Japan - PEACE - right? Well, sort of.  In Europe, those pesky, gloomy Russians were acting up, and their Communist cousins in Asia, China and North Korea, were keen for a fight.

Having just battled for years to make the world safe and free, the former Allies, though tired of struggle, were not about to see the entire effort brought to naught by the Communists.

But somehow we seemed, at least in some quarters, to lack the language to deal with the situation. After all, the Russians were our recent Allies! And every American academic and Hollywood producer LOVED China and the Chinese who had been "sold" to the Allied peoples as just so nice and right - they had been attacked by the Empire of Japan too, hadn't they?

WINSTON CHURCHILL DELIVERS "IRON CURTAIN" SPEECH

As so often in the past, Winston Churchill, now a rather older man than his years - he was 72 -  came to the rescue with his clear thinking and his mobilisation of the English language. On 5th March 1946 at Westminster College in Missouri in the USA, he gave a speech "The Sinews of Peace" in which he declared that an "IRON CURTAIN" had descended upon Europe dividing the free Western countries from the Russian-oppressed Eastern countries. As if scales had fallen from their eyes, the bewildered and politically-confused, and most Americans, now clearly saw that this was NOT Peace but in the words of American financier Bernard Baruch first used on 16th April 1947, it was "COLD WAR".The days of VICTORY hubris began to rapidly fade.

War did, in fact, break out again in Korea on 25th June 1950 when North Korea (backed by the Soviet Union and the by then Communist China invaded the Republic of Korea (South Korea) which was supported by the United Nations. Australia was actively involved in support of the U.N. with its Army, Navy and Air Force. Once again General Douglas MacArthur led the Allied Forces coming out of his role as post War "caesar" ruling defeated Japan in exemplary and impeccable fashion. After initial near-total success the invaders were outflanked and driven back in a brilliant and daring amphibious landing at Inchon.

GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR AT INCHON LANDING

This little optimist was coming to terms with the world slowly unfolding around him. I had clearly been aware of the Second World War. I know this not only because it must have been so, but because of specific memories. On the 15th August 1945 the older daughter of our neighbours across the street, Judith Dryden ran breathlessly across the street to our back door to announce that the War had ended. "I know that," said 5 years old me "That happened months ago" back flashed the correction: "NO. THAT was the Germans. Now the Japanese have surrendered - it is all over". Clearly, my grasp of the situation had been less than perfect.I had been well aware of the Japanese involvement in the War - I can also remember having been to the movies with Mum and Dad one evening and seeing a War film in which valiant American pilots were outwitting diabolically evil Japanese pilots. On this evening rather than catch the bus home as we normally did, we went to Lidcombe Station To catch the train. As we waited on a crowded Platform 4, a plane flew overhead with droning piston engines. Suddenly the movie experience led this little fellow to announce at the top of his voice"How'd you like a Jap up there with you?" .Mum and Dad were quick to hush me up after this embarrassing unpatriotic challenge! 

But steadily, I became aware of a new topic of conversation: the Atomic Bomb.

At first, it was simply the awesome means by which we had brought the Empire of Japan to its knees and surrender. But gradually, it came to be spoken of as a threat posed to us by the Russians, who were believed to have developed such a weapon also. The sight of its explosion and mushroom cloud was horrifying and magnified in our imaginations by the movie Newsreels. Yet .....surely this would never happen! But the media were ever happy to oblige with scare stories and Government soon obliged with advice on "what to do if" ....most of it rather pointless as later revelations would show. 

But life went on...and that, at a gathering pace of prosperity and modernity. Post War Australia quickly shook off the remains of World War II: the Labor Government was defeated in 1949, rationing of food and petrol was gradually lifted and gone by the end of 1950  (good riddance to the wretched Ration Books symbol of deprivation). During the War, Australia's export trade had suffered badly, but imports - mainly of war materials from the United States, had soared. The result was that after the War Australia had substantial US Dollar debts and imports from the United States were severely curtailed. I can recall being amazed when I saw a marvellous new 1948 Buick Straight Eight which I was told in hushed tones belonged to a Labor Party Senator, at a General Motors Dealership in the city - it was the first car I ever saw which had internal lights that came on automatically when the door opened. For some people US Dollars were available! But I can recall much talk about the shortage of U.S. Dollars. There was also much talk about "putting value back into the Pound" (this was of course pre Decimal Currency which did not arrive until 1966.) To-day we would laugh at anyone attempting to roll back inflation!

The day to day improvements in life in Australia in some way distracted us all from the dreadful thought of the Mushroom Cloud which might have overshadowed my optimism.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASS 1947 SURROUNDS OUR BELOVED FATHER CON DONOVAN

YOUR BORN OPTIMIST IS SECOND FROM THE LEFT IN THE FRONT ROW

But it was not only material improvement that was affecting my life but also Spiritual and educational factors that were involved. In 1947 I made my First Holy Communion and my life was forever changed - far more than I knew at the time. Heart and mind and spirit I belonged to Christ and have done and will do to the end of the way. Educationally, I finished my Primary Schooling at St.Peter Chanel's Convent School run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. (Nuns were authentic Nuns and devout Catholics in those days.) and in 1950 commenced in Fifth Class at Marist Brothers High School, Lidcombe. I can't recall any of my fellow students being concerned about the Bomb - if they were, it was not deemed worth talking about.

There exists in Australia what is popularly known as the "she be" system.It comes from the expression "she'll be right" that is: no need to worry about (whatever) it will be OK". As should be obvious this is NOT a noble approach to many situations, it is not an admirable way of proceeding. But it has its uses - I guess it was able to deal with Atomic Bomb anxieties!