Breakfast was being served: coffee and eggs. Some anticipated going dancing, while others discussed last night’s date. It was a normal Sunday morning, until it wasn’t—7:45 AM. Some say the President knew. Some say there had been warnings. Sailors were caught by surprise. Chaos ensued.
49 Nakajima B5N Kate bombers armed with 800 kg (1760 lb) armor-piercing bombs. 40 B5N bombers armed with Type 91 torpedoes. 51 Aichi D3AVal dive bombers armed with 550 lb (249 kg) general-purpose bombs. 43 Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters for air control and strafing. Early forms of radar couldn’t tell the difference. No one sounded a warning.
More than 3,500 military and civilian casualties. 900 bodies remain entombed on the USS Arizona. “A day that will live in infamy,” the President said. Only 16 who were there are still living.
Ask the nearest teenager if they know the significance of this day. I asked mine, one of the smartest kids I know. He didn’t have a clue. He’s not alone. We’ve forgotten what it’s truly like to be at war against fascism. We’ve forgotten the toll the war took on the entire world. Too many still deny the reality. Too many want to bring fascism back.
For decades after, we remained obsessed with the topic of war. Movies from Casablanca to Schindler’s List recounted the many ways the war turned relationships on their ears, gave rise to the question of who to trust, and reminded us of the horrors of evil. We watched with rapt attention. We vowed to never let it happen again.
Then, we elected fascism to the White House. We’ve given the enemy control. The talk is now of tariffs, with no understanding that Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor was in retaliation for US sanctions. We think we’re too big to be at risk. So did every soldier, sailor, and Marine who died on this day. We will never be too big. We can always be brought to our knees.
The men and women who died at Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941 perished in vain if we do not maintain a country that stands against fascism. We’ve lost the meaning of their sacrifice if we allow a felon and his oligarchs to feast on those who are poor, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+. We have no dignity as a nation if we do not recognize the obligation we have to protect the country and the world against hate.
The infamy of this date continues. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember the souls lost. Remember your responsibility.
Breakfast was being served: coffee and eggs. Some anticipated going dancing, while others discussed last night’s date. It was a normal Sunday morning, until it wasn’t—7:45 AM. Some say the President knew. Some say there had been warnings. Sailors were caught by surprise. Chaos ensued.
49 Nakajima B5N Kate bombers armed with 800 kg (1760 lb) armor-piercing bombs. 40 B5N bombers armed with Type 91 torpedoes. 51 Aichi D3A Val dive bombers armed with 550 lb (249 kg) general-purpose bombs. 43 Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters for air control and strafing. Early forms of radar couldn’t tell the difference. No one sounded a warning.
More than 3,500 military and civilian casualties. 900 bodies remain entombed on the USS Arizona. “A day that will live in infamy,” the President said. Only 16 who were there are still living.
Ask the nearest teenager if they know the significance of this day. I asked mine, one of the smartest kids I know. He didn’t have a clue. He’s not alone. We’ve forgotten what it’s truly like to be at war against fascism. We’ve forgotten the toll the war took on the entire world. Too many still deny the reality. Too many want to bring fascism back.
For decades after, we remained obsessed with the topic of war. Movies from Casablanca to Schindler’s List recounted the many ways the war turned relationships on their ears, gave rise to the question of who to trust, and reminded us of the horrors of evil. We watched with rapt attention. We vowed to never let it happen again.
Then, we elected fascism to the White House. We’ve given the enemy control. The talk is now of tariffs, with no understanding that Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor was in retaliation for US sanctions. We think we’re too big to be at risk. So did every soldier, sailor, and Marine who died on this day. We will never be too big. We can always be brought to our knees.
Under the guise of “freedom,” we now have apps that facilitate mothers abusing children for those who like to watch. The assassination of an oligarch yields both rage and glee. We involve ourselves in affairs as though we have a moral imperative while our choices of leaders reach new lows of immorality and inhumanity.
The men and women who died at Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941 perished in vain if we do not maintain a country that stands against fascism. We’ve lost the meaning of their sacrifice if we allow a felon and his oligarchs to feast on those who are poor, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+. We have no dignity as a nation if we do not recognize the obligation we have to protect the country and the world against hate.
The infamy of this date continues. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember the souls lost. Remember your responsibility.
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