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Original 'Rosie the Riveter' makes masks to fight COVID-19:
At age 94, Mae Krier is back on the front lines — hard at work, helping her country.
One of the nation's original "Rosie the Riveters" employed by Boeing in Seattle during World War II, she built B-17 and B-29 bombers to help support the war effort decades ago.
Now she's fighting a different war, as her still nimble fingers turn out face masks to prevent spread of the deadly coronavirus.
"People say to me, "You helped win WWII and now you are helping our country win this battle over this virus. These are nice things to hear," Krier said.
She makes the mask like the red polka dot bandanas she also makes to remind people of the Rosies, those women who toiled in manufacturing plants with their heads wrapped in bandanas so their hair wouldn't get tangled in the machinery they used to make supplies for the military serving overseas.
They were depicted by a World War II era poster of "Rosie the Riveter" created by J. Howard Miller in 1943.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday July 15 2020, @02:15PM (4 children)
In no way defending it (in fact, as an "American", I'm very embarrassed at the least) but I wonder how much https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowd_psychology [wikipedia.org] is the main mechanism. That we're more interconnected than ever would contribute to the crowd psychology mechanism that seems to bring the collective IQ down.
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Wednesday July 15 2020, @06:51PM (3 children)
In terms of connectivity, Europe is at the very least on par with the US. It would play a role, no doubt, but it can't explain the difference because the two continents barely differ in terms of technology.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Thursday July 16 2020, @02:52PM (2 children)
Most of my life I've perceived that Europeans are more relaxed and accepting of individual differences than here in the US. Not a psychologist nor sociologist nor anything close so I don't understand the underpinnings. It may be that "Americans" are inherently more competitive, including social things. "Keeping up with the Joneses" is a thing in America. Kids in school have to wear very very certain specific clothes, shoes, styles, hair. There's huge social pressure and competition. And that continues into adult life.
We (not me!) call entertainers "celebrities". That sickens me. Not just because I'm an engineer and somewhat scientific, but I just think there should be higher priorities in life, like science and medicine. Who knows- maybe if we really focused on science and medicine we'd have COVID-19 and most viruses figured out and be enjoying life and, well, entertainment.
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Sunday July 19 2020, @08:55AM (1 child)
I wish I could agree, but no, Europeans are the same greedy "keeping up wiht the Joneses" assholes. We're maybe not as competitive and don't consider it a personal insult if you dare to buy a larger car than I do, but we also love our celebrities (especially soccer players) and actually consider something someone who can kick a football says on par with something someone says who actually studied something worth a damn.
People are people, and people are stupid. It's not a US-exclusive thing.
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Monday July 20 2020, @02:42AM
Thanks for the insight. I don't think it's a black-or-white thing. I'm aware that Europeans celebrate soccer and other sports stars, but I will still argue that much of the US really really celebrates actors/actresses and sports stars even more so. The salaries are a big indication. An entertainer can make millions per year, and frankly work very few hours, but a top medical research scientist makes tens of thousands per year working 60 hour weeks. It just ain't right. Downright embarrassing. But I admit, we rarely (if ever) have people trampled due to sports game riots...