%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |  A sporadic account of my reaction to life. |
|
Over the years I have sporadically attempted to keep a journal. Each attempt has failed miserably. I think they expired because I established rules that were too ridgid for them. So, this attempt will bring with it very few rules. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** There are many incredibly kind and thoughtful people in WDC. One of them is zwisis. Out of the blue she sent me this flower gift. It reminds me of the Bluebonnets of Texas. Thanks, Sarah. And, I must not forget the very talented katherine76 who created the flower...thank you. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Well, it appears that my blog is going to the dogs. It aslo seems as if folks have gotten me pegged as a dog lover....they're right. Our very own Anyea   has gifted me with this Valentine card. Now I ask you, "How sweet is that?" Thanks, Anyea  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I have been fortunate to encounter many generous and kind people during my tenure in WDC. Debi Wharton is one of them. She gifted me with the following sig. It shows how sensitive and caring she is. It also shows that she read some my entries. She'll never know how much I appreciate the gift and the attention to my blog. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Today is December 7th. To many folks it is remembered as a day that will go down in infamy. To most of this generation it is just another day, forgotten and grouped with the other mundane days of the calendar. I remember Pearl Harbor. Oh, don't get me wrong. I was not there on that Sunday morning when the Japanese aircraft poured from the sky and ravaged the American Pacific Fleet. No, It was years later before I would be born. But, I remember it because my father and my mother remembered it. In fact every person of their generation remembered exactly where they were when over three-thousand of our sailors, soldiers, nurses, and civilians died as a result of a vicious attack on an unsuspecting peaceful people. "Remember Pearl Harbor" would be the battle cry for a nation which was dragged into war. It was the cry which awakened a sleeping giant and forged its resolve to pick up the gauntlet and defeat the Axis tyrants of the Second World War. As a son of a Marine who fought in the battles of the Pacific and a nephew of an 82nd Airborne Sargent who received a Bronze Star for gallantry during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, I was fully conscious of the gravity of that battle cry as I grew up. Years have come and gone and other battle cries have usurped it. It appears this new generation has no emotional or patriotic tie to that old battle cry. Japan and Germany are our allies now. And that is how it should be; and it is that way by design. After the War, the US had no interest in reprisals and retribution on those who attacked us on that December 7th so long ago. We learned our lesson from the Treaty of Versailles, where angry and revengeful victors stripped the German people from their pride and ability to recover from the tragedy of World War I. On the contrary, we put all the resources of that sleeping giant to work rebuilding and establishing new and independent nations of Japan, Germany, and Italy. And, so it is that we forgave them their horrendous actions and worked tirelessly with them to build a new future. Unfortunately, along with forgiveness we seem to appear to have also forgotten their transgressions. I contend that 'to forget' should never have been a part of the deal. We should never forget the battle cry, "Remember Pearl Harbor!," because of the price we paid in lives which were lost over the War years. I can forgive them, but I will not forget the cry. The reasons why we should remember have nothing to do with revenge or restitution. I remember the steadfastness of a people working together in the midst of crisis. I remember how we rose to the occasion and did what it took to assure victory. I remember the loyalty that each American felt for the flag and country. We should never forget. Whether it is "Remember the Alamo," "Remember Pearl Harbor," or "Remember 9/11" we should remember who we are and that we are a united people--united through experiences, crises, and victories. Sometimes, as I look around me today, I wonder who this generation will remember, if anyone. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
 Log in to Leave Feedback |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
