Was World War II the ‘Good War’?

Elizabeth Samet argues America’s collective memory of the conflict skews contemporary politics. Is she right? Illustration by Noah Hickey/The Dispatch (Photo by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press). Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. Editor’s Note: The Second World War has captivated Americans for decades, appearing in the books we read, the movies we watch, and even our own family lore. But as the number of surviving World War II veterans dwindles with each passing year, are Americans at risk of losing touch with this history? Alan Jacobs is a professor of humanities in the Honors Program at Baylor University, and a senior fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. His most recent book is ‘Paradise Lost: A Biography (Lives of Great Religious Books).’ More We Think You’d Like