For the entire Federation, it was an interesting day—absurd, ridiculous, laughable, and yet... somewhat frightening.
It was like that joke people often told: a bank robber going to rob a bank on the day the police, investigators, and agents received their pay...
A joke was still a joke. In the end, the bank robber certainly would not fare well, because they were facing three shifts of heavily armed federal law enforcement officers.
But reality was no joke! The Federal Government's army had actually been taken hostage. It sounded utterly ridiculous.
When had soldiers become some kind of "vulnerable group"? What were they supposed to do next? Agree to the demands of these kidnappers... no, these armed insurgents?
Or, as far as the Federal Government was concerned, were those soldiers people who could be sacrificed at any time and in any place?
Every possibility had its supporters. Some people were softhearted and emotional, hoping the Federal Government would respond proactively, rescue the soldiers fighting abroad for their country, and bring them home.
Others were hard-hearted and more rational. They hoped the Federal Government would not be so emotional about this matter. Sacrificing some people might be regrettable, but what could be gained through that sacrifice would be far greater!
Things were always like this. When a young couple wanted a divorce, some people supported them divorcing while others supported them staying together. Everyone had their own reasons, and everything they said sounded right.
At nine in the morning, Mr. Truman delivered a speech on television.
The speech took place in his office. With the outbreak of war, he had to appear on television from time to time to explain some of what was happening and convey to everyone what might happen in the future.
It was not that he liked appearing