Posted by
Locutisprime on Thursday, December 07, 2006 11:10:04 PM
Today is the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. How many Americans really noticed that today? How many really care? Some say that the collective memory of any society, subsides after about seventy years. So I suppose Pearl Harbor day will in the near future, become one of those obscure history factoids, that no one really cares about. and history will once again repeat itself because of the failure of memory.
I wasn't born when the attack happened. But I grew up hearing of it from my elders and learning the history of it in school. But today, most grade school kids have no idea what it represents to this country. The day enjoyed a short lived revival when America was attacked on September 11th 2001. Due to the comparisons made of the cowardly way that both attacks were launched against this country and the thousands of unsuspecting innocent victims. But that too has long since subsided. In my opinion. No one really cares to be reminded of these days long ago. Either then or as recently as five years ago.
Today at the USS Arizona Memorial, 500 Pearl Harbor survivors met for what may very well be the last time. These men are getting old now. very old. Most are well into their eighties now and don't have that many birthdays or reunions left in them.
Some of them spoke of that day long ago today. Some for the first time in many many years. One was quoted as saying that he only speaks of it now, "because the kids need to know about it and remember." The kids? No, not the children. But those who are well into their 20's, 30's and 40's. Those that never knew of or were taught much about the sacrifices this nation and her people endured on that day. These kids of today, are too involved in their Blackberry worlds and their stock options and 401 k's to concern themselves with the mundane aspects of 'ancient' history.'
But was it really that long ago? And have they nothing to gauge that reality against? Nothing that rises to the level of placing a lump in the throat? Apparently not it seems. These Americans have already put September 11th 2001 out of their minds. And they have fallen into lock step behind the populist appeasers and those that "just want to get on with their lives and get out of Iraq" They have no idea what true sacrifice is or what it meant in the past. Just so that they could live their insulated and technology connected lives of today.
They have no time for such mundane musings as remembering history and they certainly could care less of what is actually going on in the world right now. All they want is their spring water and latte's and the latest line on this week's sports teams and the idea that they will succeed where others have failed. But they haven't paid the blood dues yet. No, not yet.
But that payment is coming and the winds of the desert schirocco are blowing strong from the east. And with them come the banners of the crescent and those who will gladly relieve America of her riches and the lives of her people if only given the opportunity.
Today, Tom Brokaw (former NBC anchor) said, That what happened on December 7th 1941, forever made America indivisible. Did it really/ You decide. I think not. September 11th was this generations wake up call from history. And apparently? No one was listening.