My theory is you can trace the beginning of the decline and fall of Western civilization to the collapse of the “Christmas Truce” of 1914.
Every nation in that conflict (except the Ottoman Empire) was avowedly Christian. Most soldiers were Christians, either as being real believers, or at least culturally Christian and believed in and followed Christian teachings.
When the troops sang Christmas carols to each other on Christmas Eve and then came out of the trenches and celebrated Christmas Day with each other, that was the last opportunity for everyone to just put down their guns and say that the whole war was stupid and nobody knew what they were fighting about. But they got back into the trenches.
And everything followed.
Communism and the fall of Russia
The birth of Nazism (Adolf Hitler was a decorated soldier in the trenches—who knows how much of his derangement developed during that period).
Nihilism
Economic dysfuntion which led to runaway inflation in Germany and eventually worldwide economic depression.
World War II (continuation of WWI)
The worldwide spread of Communism and the Cold War
Etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KHoVBK2EVE
That retarded War also firmly fixed Wilson era progressive politics into American life.
Excellent Post- Archduke Ferdinand’s license’s plate A111 118.
In my opinion World War I allowed the progressives running America that time could conflate patriotism with Progressive policies that were sick and anti-American. And a lot of that has survived to this very day.
Good post.
I was going to say something similar but you said it better.