During World War II, FDR held no inaugural balls.

But then again, Roosevelt had class!

Along with how the Clinton inaugurations cost less in times of peace and prosperity.

not griping about the post, it is wonderful. JUst realized that i did not see the full paralell, because i dont have any constant awareness that this is in fact wartime.

I bet many.. most? .. americans have the same feeling. This war is a distant thing to many with no family or associates involved.

For us, please add my title here to your post when reposted anywhere, to drive home the full parallel with FDR. thanks.

i know this sounds incredible to some. I am not diminishing your awareness, just pointing out that some live detached from some of what is going on.

I am in a parallel way, amazed how many are never aware of the suffering of the homeless... 1oo,ooo die from it each year. Twice as many as died in Nam.

And it is all at high noon in the downtowns of every US city, on the sidewalks. Not hidden like the Nazi camps. Yet many americans have no constant awareness of it.

any cancellations then? I bet some were. Civil war especially.

All such wastes of money should be ended till poverty is gone here.

ignoring the Geneva Convention rules, or having lavish parties, but we are "at war" when it comes to controlling the public behavior.