December 7th - A Day That Will Live In Infamy

[3005 332]

71 years ago, on the morning of December 7th, 1941, Japanese aircrafts bombed the American military base of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. 

 

 

The attack resulted in 2,402 American deaths, as well as 1,247 American injuries. This is the event that singlehandedly brought the United States into World War II. It was the first (and with the exception of 9/11, only time) America has been attacked on its own soil. What are your thoughts on this tragedy? 

[Homura Akemi 974]

I honestly don't think about it much at all considering I wash't born yet, unlike when 9/11 happened. I don't mind little memorial services for it every year.

[Vedana Purity 221]

As much it is painful of what happened during the Second World War, I do not mind a tribute to the fallen. But in all Honesty, we should just let go, and leave WW2 memorials in the past, let those who have suffered rest.

[Batbrony 16,055]

The most that I do dwell on it is that I do think it's important that we mark the occasion every year, both in memory and tribute to those who died in the attack, as well as in order to remind ourselves what finally pushed the U.S. to enter into a conflict as titanic and global as World War 2.

 

May God bless the families of those who lost loved ones in the attack 71 years ago, grant peace to the souls of those who fell in defense of their country, and continue to watch over our servicemen and servicewomen around the globe who continue to defend our country and our freedoms, including all the military bronies out there.

 

[Jghx5 33]

I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN TODAY!  (explain WWII in HD)  A day that should never be forgottten.  Thanks for reminding me.  Now back to WWII in HD.

[RainbowDashie 767]

This indeed should never be forgotten and i think everyone should keep a minute of silence today for the people who lost their family, friends and lives.

[TheEngineer 188]

Isn't nationalism wonderful? You know, I actually spoke to a man at my college who worked for the US government during the cold war and he had an interesting story. He went to Japan to meet some Japanese veterans of WWII and asked them why they fought. They answered him with conviction that "they fought for their country and their family". That's how powerful the myth of nationalism is; it can convince anyone, no matter what they are really accomplishing, that they are fighting for something glorious. In reality, that is almost never true. 

 

Pearl Harbor is just another reminder that we need to set aside our differences and be critical of the national mythology we are sold by our individual nations. 

Edited December 7, 2012 by TheEngineer

[Champion RD92 8,658]

I went to Hawaii about 6 years ago and I went to Pearl Harbor, and I got to go on the ship where the treaty was signed that ended WWII. It was pretty cool.

[longgone 873]

Lol, today in 1st period, I whispered to a friend next to me saying "Do you know what happened today 70 years ago?" He said no, to which I replied Pearl Harbor. Then, about a second after that, my teacher said "Ok, can anyone tell me, without looking at your computers, what happened today 71 years ago, if you answer correctly I'll give you extra points on the test" No one raised  their hands, I slowly raised mine. My teacher said "Yes D-" I then blurted out "Pearl Harbor!". Extra Points for me

 

@RD92 *COUGH* USS Missouri *COUGH*

Edited December 7, 2012 by HistoricallyInaccurate

[khaine21x3 789]

Isn't nationalism wonderful? You know, I actually spoke to a man at my college who worked for the US government during the cold war and he had an interesting story. He went to Japan to meet some Japanese veterans of WWII and asked them why they fought. They answered him with conviction that "they fought for their country and their family". That's how powerful the myth of nationalism is; it can convince anyone, no matter what they are really accomplishing, that they are fighting for something glorious. In reality, that is almost never true. 

 

Pearl Harbor is just another reminder that we need to set aside our differences and be critical of the national mythology we are sold by our individual nations. 

 

Sometimes people really do fight for their survival and country.The US placed oil embargo on japan and the european powers oppressed germany with the treaty of versailles so they had to form the axis powers.It will continue until people are forcibly mixed and only follow one culture and religion under one ruler.

 

It is human nature to oppress and kill others regardless of the political system or races that resides in those nations.

 

But soldiers should be respected as they fight and die for their beliefs and they're always the victim of politics.

Edited December 7, 2012 by khaine21x3

[AppleJackle 37]

Sometimes people really do fight for their survival and country.The US placed oil embargo on japan and the european powers oppressed germany with the treaty of versailles so they had to form the axis powers.It will continue until people are forcibly mixed and only follow one culture and religion under one ruler.

 

It is human nature to oppress and kill others regardless of the political system or races that resides in those nations.

 

But soldiers should be respected as they fight and die for their beliefs and they're always the victim of politics.

 

Isn't the brony community a perfect example of how that sentence is false? Obviously, most or none of us wish to kill others because of their nation/race/political system. We're diverse and peaceful; do we not represent human nature??

 

And I wholeheartedly disagree...  Those who sign away their autonomy to be murder machines and the tool of politics and politicians ought not deserve respect. Especially in service to countries who obviously pursue wars of aggression. Only self-defense is to be respected.

[khaine21x3 789]

Isn't the brony community a perfect example of how that sentence is false? Obviously, most or none of us wish to kill others because of their nation/race/political system. We're diverse and peaceful; do we not represent human nature??

 

And I wholeheartedly disagree...  Those who sign away their autonomy to be murder machines and the tool of politics and politicians ought not deserve respect. Especially in service to countries who obviously pursue wars of aggression. Only self-defense is to be respected.

 

You can blame it all on Dictators and Emperors for past genocides and slavery but both ancient greece democracy and modern democracy proved that the masses are no better than autocratic rulers.The entire history of humanity just proved us to be savage animals who are capable of making and using destructive weapons, I don't believe that there will be a future where we will not have wars and imperialism voluntarily.

 

The soldiers have a certain perception of reality or they're forced to take the job to feed their families so I think that's it's unfair to blame them, they wouldn't be killing others if it weren't for the government telling them to and that's pretty much the people's fault in a democracy.

[TheEngineer 188]

You can blame it all on Dictators and Emperors for past genocides and slavery but both ancient greece democracy and modern democracy proved that the masses are no better than autocratic rulers.The entire history of humanity just proved us to be savage animals who are capable of making and using destructive weapons, I don't believe that there will be a future where we will not have wars and imperialism voluntarily.

 

The soldiers have a certain perception of reality or they're forced to take the job to feed their families so I think that's it's unfair to blame them, they wouldn't be killing others if it weren't for the government telling them to and that's pretty much the people's fault in a democracy.

 

You see, though, that's because we train people to be that way.

 

The real tragedy is how we not only fail to promote compassion within our society enough, but also how we draw boundaries around who we should empathize with. Everyone sure cares deeply about their own casualties; but who solemnly remembers casualties from other nations and from groups not affiliated with nations? Not only is our empathy divided nationally, but we have been subtly trained to be utilitarian machines. 

 

Not enough jobs to go around? Fight for the last few remaining ones instead of trying to come up with a solution to give multiple people the income they need. What if the other people don't have a living to feed their families? Well, I guess that's too bad, it's a cut throat world after all! Oh, but just make sure to give a few dimes to charity on your way out of the store!

 

Children in India and China being exploited by Walmart and Apple? Oh no! Can't do anything about that or my iPhone might cost me a hundred or so dollars more! Better to buy goods cheaply than to spread human rights! 

 

These are the kind of attitudes that, while not explicitly advocated, are cultural undercurrents in my own country; the US. While no one will say them out loud, it is what everyone thinks. But it is time for people to break that silence and change the broken system that perpetuates suffering in both my country and abroad. 

 

How? It is simple, we need to recognize and take seriously the idea that everyone is equal in their humanity. This is not a pipe-dream, we just need to stop training ourselves to tolerate (and, at times celebrate) death and suffering. We live in a nightmare that is the product of our own imagination. In constructing this nightmare we imagine that our nation is superior to others, that the suffering (and death) of criminals somehow changes the past, and that we can work towards freedom with bullets, bombs, and corpses. Instead of being utilitarian, we need to think of people first before green scraps of paper. 

 

A better world is within our reach if we consider ourselves as part of the whole of humanity and apply that belief in our lives everyday. 

Edited December 8, 2012 by TheEngineer

[khaine21x3 789]

^

 

Agreed, we all think only for ourselves and people in some countries vote to kill and enslave darker skinned races worldwide just so they can get better wages.

 

Tho the problem with jobs and living standard can only be improved in an autocratic government if the country isn't to practice imperialism and most people would fight for the right to oppress others through voting and democracy.

[Nohbdy 4,108]

A tragic day, no doubt, and one that must never be forgotten as a symbol of the deadliest conflict in human history. And one of many symbols of that terrible half-decade of fighting, a half-decade that claimed the lives of millions. The scale of destruction and sheer loss of life is staggering.

 

The war is long behind us, but we must all remember the lessons that our great civilization learned through blood, toil, tears, and sweat, lest we make the same mistake again. It would be a mistake that may well cost us centuries of progress. The horrors of war must be experienced to be fully understood, but I hope none of us will ever have to experience such horrors.

 

H.G. Wells put it very nicely: "If we don't end war, war will end us."

 

Incidentally, December 6, 1865 marked the date that the United States ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery once and for all.

Edited December 8, 2012 by Aquila

[~Cider Barrel~ 125]

Ah just what i wanted on the internet....Depression.

Come on guy's it was a bad time back in the day but think about it....

 

Today's the 8th of December which means New Pony Episode!!

[Betez 1,734]

Oh god, that was today?

 

I feel so embarrassed for not knowing the date of when this happened.

 

It's a shame. But like others have said: It's sad, but we shouldn't dwell on it.

[Just some guy 1,070]

Speaking as somebody who is a resident in Hawaii,I can honestly say that I did not think much of the attack today.

 

If anything,this would only give more incentive to tourists to come over here and spend their money.

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

That day was really horrible.  I mean I cannot even come close to comprehending the hell the people there went through.  Yeah, it's amazing how many people forget this.

[ReGen 1,466]

Sad thing for it to happen, but even worse how we were suddenly flung into a war that would bring thousands of more deaths.

 

I hope that the families of those who died or any survivors are okay.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

Tragic, just...tragic. A harbinger to a conflict that would eventually kill many millions. The human race is interesting like that, we're capable of so much beauty, but at the same time, so much horrors. We can make dreams come true, but just as much (if not more), we choose to make nightmares.

 

Should we dwell on it? No. Should we learn from it? Yes. Never forgetting the lessons of the past is the greatest memorial imaginable t those who have fallen. Unfortunately, looking at the state of the world, looks like humanity didn't learn its lesson.

Edited December 8, 2012 by Sky Nomad

[Spring Storm 276]

I didn't even think about Pearl Harbor till right now to be honest 8P It was horrible; any act of violence is, really. My respects go out to those who died and the families who missed them dearly.

[khaine21x3 789]

Tragic, just...tragic. A harbinger to a conflict that would eventually kill many millions. The human race is interesting like that, we're capable of so much beauty, but at the same time, so much horrors. We can make dreams come true, but just as much (if not more), we choose to make nightmares.

 

Should we dwell on it? No. Should we learn from it? Yes. Never forgetting the lessons of the past is the greatest memorial imaginable t those who have fallen. Unfortunately, looking at the state of the world, looks like humanity didn't learn its lesson.

I wouldn't worry about it, the next world war will involve nukes and there won't be anymore humans to repeat their mistakes after the nukes falls.

Edited December 8, 2012 by khaine21x3

[HeartOfSilver 41]

I have a lot of connection with Pearl Harbor Day. It's a very important day because my grandfather enlisted in the Army the day after Pearl Harbor and he served our country during WWII. He said the attack inspired him to be a part of something bigger than himself. 

 

Also December 7th is my birthday.