War and Peace

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We'll be hearing a lot today about war and peace.

Mostly war, I suppose, and that is understandable. Today is, after all, the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor — the event that literally pushed the United States into World War II although one could argue that it had been getting more and more involved in the conflict in the months leading up to the attack.

It is an event that still resonates with people of my parents' generation. They were children when the attack occurred, and, although my mother has been gone for many years now, I remember her telling me of the peaceful Sunday afternoon that suddenly changed when the news came across the radio that Pearl Harbor had been the victim of a sneak attack.

It is hard for me to imagine anyone going through the American education system and not hearing a recording of FDR's famous speech to Congress, when he said that Dec. 7, 1941 was a "date which will live in infamy."

That date has certainly lived on in people's memories.

For me, today brings back memories of 20 years ago when I was working for a small daily newspaper, and I participated in the production of a special section commemorating the 50th anniversary of that attack. For weeks, we solicited 1940s era photos of local residents, both living and dead, who served their country — and we published articles about many of them and their experiences.

That project coincided with my graduation from graduate school. A week later, I was going to receive my master's degree. There were many things demanding my time and attention.

It was a grueling period in my journalism career, to be sure. I had no idea there were so many WWII veterans in the county where I was living — until we took on that project.

Most of them were living then. Far fewer are apt to be living today — and it does make me wonder when we will stop observing Pearl Harbor Day in the kind of semi–official way that we have in recent years. It seems we are moving in that direction with the attrition of people who still remember that day.

That happens with some of history's significant dates. So much time goes by and the people who remember the event pass away, and we are left with holidays and/or anniversaries for which we must be reminded the origin.

Take Veterans Day. It used to be called Armistice Day, which was the observation of the anniversary of the end of World War I.

Hostilities in that conflict ended in 1918, more than 90 years ago. The last time I recall anyone mentioning that event was when I studied history in high school — and my memory is that my history teacher really didn't spend much time on it.

To be sure, the outcome of World War I wasn't very popular in Germany, which paid a heavy price — and that could be said to have played a role in the eventual rise to power of the Nazis in the 1930s. Kinda depends on one's interpretations of things.

Chronologically, though, it is beyond dispute that anyone who was old enough to serve in that war would have to be around 110 years old today. There are a few of those left in the entire world, but not many. Armistice Day long ago lost its meaning as the World War I generation dwindled — so today it is known by the more generic designation of Veterans Day.

Which is not to be confused with Memorial Day. That is a completely different holiday in a completely different time of year — but it does have a similar history.

It started out as Decoration Day, a day for honoring those who died during the Civil War. I don't think there is a particular anniversary connected with it; the graves of Confederate soldiers were decorated in several Southern cities during the war and the practice simply continued after it ended.

Obviously, no one who was alive in the mid–19th century is still living — so there is no one for whom Decoration Day has any meaning. We continue to observe it, though, under the more generic name of Memorial Day.

The purpose evolved to include remembering those who fought in all wars, not just the Civil War, and in recent years it has expanded to include memories of anyone who is no longer living, even if that person didn't serve in the military.

George Carlin used to point out that sports like football that tend to emulate war are played in facilities that use such generic names as War Memorial Stadium or Soldier Field. It is part of the competitive nature of sports, I suppose, that the places where these games are played should bear names that conjure violent images — even though a sport will never be as violent as war.

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But not everything that happened on Dec. 7 has been violent.

Sometimes there has been peace and hope.

On this day in 1972, for example, Apollo 17, the last manned mission to the moon, was launched. As they left the earth and began making their way to the moon, the crew looked back and took a picture of the earth that is known today as the "Blue Marble."

Seen from that vantage point, the blue marble looks so peaceful, just floating along in the black velvet of space. One would never guess that so much turmoil exists on the surface of that marble, that there is savagery loose upon the land capable of causing great pain to millions without the slightest hint of remorse.

Yet the image of the blue marble sparks in many of us that wish for peace on earth and good will to men.

Not a bad thought to keep in mind during the Christmas season.

The Lessons of Pearl Harbor

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The USS Arizona sinks during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack.

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Today is the 67th anniversary of a day of tremendous significance for people in my parents’ generation — the attack on Pearl Harbor.

It was early on Sunday morning, Hawaii time, when the Japanese planes arrived in Pearl Harbor and reduced the ships there to burning wreckage.

Back on the American mainland, it was around lunchtime. I’ve heard stories of people coming home from church that day and eating their Sunday meal, then turning on the radio and hearing reports of the attack.

But the recollections I’ve heard in my life, unfortunately, came from people who were mere children themselves when the Japanese struck. And their memories were from children’s perspectives.

The day Pearl Harbor was attacked, my father was 11 years old, less than a week from his 12th birthday. My mother had turned 10 in August. Their attention spans still must have been drawn to childlike things — dolls and marbles and such.

It was the people of my grandparents’ generation who were (moderately) young adults when the Japanese launched the "date which will live in infamy," as Franklin Roosevelt famously put it.

Unfortunately, most of the people in my world who were part of my grandparents’ generation passed away when I was still a child.

So I have had to rely on what I’ve found in the writings and the records from that period.

And what I’ve always found intriguing in Roosevelt’s speech to Congress and the nation (via radio) the following day was not his talent for turning a phrase, like "a date which will live in infamy" — although he clearly had a gift in that regard.

What struck me was the way he skillfully made his case, like an attorney in a courtroom, for America's entry into a war he had made obvious steps to avoid up to that point — in deference to the isolationist mood of the country.

In fact, Roosevelt had won an unprecedented third term the year before — in large part because he could claim to have kept the country out of war.

One hour after the attack began, Roosevelt declared in his speech, Japanese officials sent a response to the Americans’ latest overture for peace. In that reply, the Japanese rejected it, claiming that "it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations," yet the Japanese response "contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack."

Roosevelt also observed that, due to the great distance between Japan and Hawaii, it was "obvious" the attack was premeditated, planned "many days or even weeks ago."

History has yielded records that prove that Roosevelt was right beyond his wildest dreams. The attack on Pearl Harbor had been considered for years.

Here's the text of his speech. Like "The Gettysburg Address," it was brief but it played a major role in American history.

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"Mr. Vice President [Henry A. Wallace], Mr. Speaker [Sam Rayburn], members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: 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 [Hirohito] looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador [Kichisaburō Nomura] to the United States and his colleague [Saburō Kurusu] delivered to our Secretary of State [Cordell Hull] a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

"It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

"Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

"Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

"As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

"But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. 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. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

"Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces — with the unbounding determination of our people — we will gain the inevitable triumph — so help us God.

"I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dec. 8, 1941

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While it was disgraceful in the following years when America put Japanese-Americans into its own concentration camps, in 1941 Roosevelt did not make racial or religious factors part of his case. He emphasized the unprovoked nature of the attack.

It isn’t surprising that Pearl Harbor, like September 11 a few generations later, made such an impression on everyone who lived through it, young and old alike. Like the Kennedy assassination or Nixon’s resignation, it was a moment that was shared by everyone.

But it also was memorable, of course, simply because it was so unexpected.

And a glimpse at the casualty figures bears witness to its devastation:

• 5 battleships sunk,


• 2 destroyers sunk, 1 damaged


• 1 other ship sunk, 3 damaged


• 3 battleships damaged,


• 3 cruisers damaged


• 188 aircraft destroyed, 155 aircraft damaged,


• 2,345 military and 57 civilians killed,


• 1,247 military and 35 civilians wounded.

It seems to me that there is a lesson in that for the people of Mumbai and India.

In the aftermath of last month’s terrorist attacks, I read several columns in online Indian publications that complained of an "openness to strangers" that prevailed in Mumbai before the assault. Such an openness, it was said in many columns, "invited trouble."

It is said today, as it was said in the days following September 11 in this country — and I’m sure there were those who said it after Pearl Harbor — that this is the price you pay for living in an open society.

And while there may be a movement in India to clamp down in the name of national security, I would remind the politicians in that country that the administration of good security policy requires good sense from those who make the policy.

There are valuable lessons to be learned from history.