Saturday, September 21, 2013

New Column Running in 'The Paper'

Historically Speaking: 
 
Oil: The Cause of War(s)

By Tom Morrow

   This is my first weekly column to be published in Editor Lyle Davis' The Paper weekly publication out of Escondido
. Copies are available throughout North County.
   
   For years, I've noted that among our young people, there is a serious lack of knowledge or interest regarding our history and geography. Past events that most of us have witnessed and places we have visited seem to be boring and ancient information; exotic places seem to be mostly unknown. Finding cities and countries that would be routine to most of us often bring a glazed look or one of puzzlement among our younger generations. If such information isn't on Facebook or Twitter, it doesn't seem to be of much importance to the young.

   History is a window into our past. It's a subject that bores many people, no matter to what generation they belong. But, over the years I've learned that people who are bored with history are those who had boring history teachers. How in the world will anyone know where they're going if they don't know where we've been? Nearly everything in history often is repeated. The trick is to recognize it and, when possible, do something if change is called for.


  Oil is a good example of how one singular subject can cause so much upheaval and war. Oil -- it's a subject of controversy in today's world. It's one of the oldest of reasons for war: those who don't have it, want it, and will do anything to get it from those who have it. It ranks a close second behind religion as a cause of conflict between peoples and nations.

   In the late 1930s, Japan began invading its neighbors in search of natural resources that the rocky, volcanic island nation doesn't possess. There was a vital supply of oil coming from the United States, but when President Franklin Roosevelt realized the Japanese were spreading their tentacles of war throughout the western Pacific, China, French Indo-China, (now Vietnam), Dutch Indonesia, and dozens of South Pacific islands. Roosevelt cut off the oil, which ultimately resulted in Japan attacking the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941.


   On the other side of the world, World War II had already started. On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Led by Adolf Hitler, Germany conquered most of western Europe. The Baltic nations of Romania and Bulgaria willing joined Hitler, who coveted their manpower , but more importantly the oil fields of Polesti, Romania. Germany, like Japan, had no oil fields of their own.


   As simplistic as it sounds, many of the reasons why World War II began could be reduced down to the need for oil. It's a discussion that has been debated for the past half century. And, it's a subject to be re-visit another time.

  Hot off the Press!  My latest novel, "Haunted Bones," has just been printed and will be available at all bookstores and Amazon.com within the next few weeks. This is a murder mystery set here in Oceanside. Now, I realize we never have any murders here in our little paradise by the sea, but for you mystery fans, I hope you'll enjoy it. I'll let you know when it's available.

No comments:

Post a Comment