>"there really is something incredibly romantic about the era of war mobilization. Ordinary people had a purpose simply assigned to them, and if nothing else I think it's still the case that people in all eras crave purpose."
Sure. Food rationing, mass poverty, inability to do anything but prescribed work, mass hysteria. All things to look forward to.
If enemy attacks you then you do not have to sit it out. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. But calling this "do" romantic is pure BS in my opinion, well unless somebody craves looking at mutilated corpses in "romantic" way.
Sure. Food rationing, mass poverty, inability to do anything but prescribed work, mass hysteria. All things to look forward to.