7 December 1941
68 years is a long time in the context of individual human lives.
As Dear Gramma used to say, “A lot of water has passed under the dam.”
But in a larger context, in the world order of things, it is not really such a long time.
The folks who visit this journal doubtless know something, perhaps a lot, about the story of ‘Pearl’ and the events which followed the attack.
So, what is it that one can say about this very important anniversary that might have some relevance in our present day?
In 1950, Winston Churchill recalled his thoughts shortly after the attack:
Silly people, and there were many, not only in enemy countries, might discount the force of the United States. Some said they were soft, others that they would never be united. They would fool around at a distance. They would never come to grips. They would never stand bloodletting. Their democracry and system of recurrent elections would paralyse their war effort. They would be just a vague blur on the horizon to friend or foe. Now we should see the weakness of this numerous but remote, wealthy, and talkative people. But I had studied the American Civil War, fought out to the last deseperate inch.
Half American himself and a student of American affairs, he knew whereof he spoke.
Many folks today do not have the benefit of his knowledge, of his wisdom.
Churchill saw the wolves at the door.
Churchill knew what it would take to handle them and what it would cost.
I fear that many of us today know little or nothing of either – of the threats or of the costs.
Perhaps that is why it is good to remember the events and the meaning of Pearl Harbor all these years later –
The world is not a safe place.
It is not secure and serene and a great international playground.
The generation of WW2 came to know those truths.
But that generation had forgotten those sobering facts too, until 7 December 1941, just as we believe our generations have forgotten them.
Think on Pearl and remember what we have forgotten again.
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1 comment:
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."
For me, the most memorable words of the day...attributed to Japanese Admiral Yamamoto right after the attack. Powerful and prophetic words, although surrounded by debate as to whether or not he actually said them. It was said to have been written in his diary at the least.
There was another "Pearl" on 9/11/2001. Do our enemies today have the same view of the U.S.??
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