A Day That Will Live in Infamy: 70 years later

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.  The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

--Franklin D. Roosevelt-Message to Congress (December 8th 1941)

The attack on Pearl Harbor that marked the United States' entry into World War II was remembered today in Hawaii with several military honors including a moment of silence and F-22's flying in missing man formation.  Many will recall President Roosevelt's words in both his fireside chat and message to Congress asking for a war declaration against Japan.  However, if you read the entire text of that speech, you will notice the additional line that I decided to quote. 

From history.navy.mil

Hostilities between the US and Japan had been brewing for quite some time before actually bombs started to be dropped.  As adamant as the US was in wishing to remain neutral, we were gearing the troops up for battle behind the scenes.  A direct attack on US soil was the final straw.  It took 3 years, but Japan paid for what they did on December 7th 1941.  President Roosevelt called for "absolute victory" in the war not just with Japan but with all enemies of the US.  The entire nation heeded that cry, bringing us out of the Great Depression and establishing ourselves as a world superpower.  President Truman carried through with Roosevelt's desire for absolute victory in the bold actions he took in August of 1945, dropping not one but two atomic bombs on Japan, ending the war with "absolute victory" for the US.  There was so much national pride following our victory in World War II. 

In subsequent years, however, presidents have changed, and so have political priorities.  The United States was victimized by another attack of a different sort on September 11th 2001.  The enemy in that case was not one that flew a flag of any sort.  The enemy that attacked us on September 11th 2001 cowardly hides in caves and issues manifestos via audiotape without showing themselves in public.  President George W. Bush recognized the capacity of this enemy to do evil things to the United States and spent his entire presidency fighting an enemy without borders, doing as best as he could to achieve the "absolute victory" in the War on Terrorism that Franklin Roosevelt had demanded in World War II.  Kudos also go to President Obama for carrying through with that pledge (albeit using different tactics) and ensuring that Osama Bin Laden was brought to justice.  Both presidents understand that this War on Terrorism is not one that will end with an opposing army waving a white flag or declaring surrender.  This is a war that will be fought as long as there are individuals brainwashed enough to feel like hiding in caves and attacking innocent civilians is "honorable." 

Unfortunately, there are individuals in this country that do not necessarily agree with the idea of "absolute victory."  I wonder what President Roosevelt and other presidents would think if he saw what people were protesting about, not just about the War on Terrorism, but on countless other issues as well.  As I have studied the New Deal over the years, its various reforms, and how those reforms impacted the country, I have mostly grown to disagree with the concepts.  However, one thing that was never in question was FDR's desire to make America a better place, as flawed as his methods might have been in my opinion.  His leadership during WWII was never in question.  Nowadays, we see protesters crowding city streets, pitching tents, waving flags of other countries, claiming to be in some "99%," and making outrageous demands that no sensible person could possibly accept. 

It's not really a secret that the 99% was a pot shot at the "Occupy" nonsense going on in cities across the country.  Yes, AK, I understand that their deal is an economic plight not associated directly with any wars, but my point is that why are these people wasting time protesting instead of trying to make their lives (and in turn the country) a better place?  Here it comes...