In these days of xenophobia and indifference, we look to history to remind us that we are One World. This one-minute video depicts the first shipment of food sent to France and Italy from each of the American states, following World War II.
Friendship Train with food for France and Italy
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In these days of xenophobia and indifference, we look to history to remind us that we are One World. This one-minute video depicts the first shipment of food sent to France and Italy from each of the American states, following World War II.
That was a wonderful thing. Thanks for reminding us about it. There was so much generosity in so many directions after that war. There were not very many fat British people in those days but we mostly avoided starving because of the rationing system - though it didn't stop the black market activity - and by government encouragement for people to forage for wild plants that were edible to supplement the basics. And then the Australians did something wonderful too. Thousands of them sent "care packages" to British households. I was too young to remember whether our package was addressed to us personally or not but I do recall there was a senders address and our family were befriended by their family for several years.
It reminds me too that not only goods crossed the ocean: there was romance too. Okay - ignore that I have a big crush on the Dutch singer Ilse DeLange but the 2008 movie Bride Flight and her song from the movie, Miracle tell the story so well. Check them both out - they are easy enough to find.
Not to forget either the Australian experience as expressed in one of my favourite songs by "The Waifs" - Bridal Train. Here it is at
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And let's not forget the 'Friendship weapons' and other goods being sent to Ukraine, without which it would be a very different story.
That was a wonderful thing. Thanks for reminding us about it. There was so much generosity in so many directions after that war. There were not very many fat British people in those days but we mostly avoided starving because of the rationing system - though it didn't stop the black market activity - and by government encouragement for people to forage for wild plants that were edible to supplement the basics. And then the Australians did something wonderful too. Thousands of them sent "care packages" to British households. I was too young to remember whether our package was addressed to us personally or not but I do recall there was a senders address and our family were befriended by their family for several years.
It reminds me too that not only goods crossed the ocean: there was romance too. Okay - ignore that I have a big crush on the Dutch singer Ilse DeLange but the 2008 movie Bride Flight and her song from the movie, Miracle tell the story so well. Check them both out - they are easy enough to find.
Not to forget either the Australian experience as expressed in one of my favourite songs by "The Waifs" - Bridal Train. Here it is at
It's also nice to hear an Australian accent in a song. It's usually that Transatlantic twang.
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