It’s Friday.
It’s another day to venture out to get that great pre-Christmas deal. Kids will head to school. Adults will go to work. Many will be eager to get the weekend started.
More than seven decades ago, Americans likewise were prepping for the pending arrival of Santa and looking forward to a new year when their world changed in a matter of moments.
The attack on Pearl Harbor, intended to create a barrier to U.S. interference with Japan’s expansion of power, instead galvanized a nation and brought it squarely into World War II, the pivotal event of the 20th century.
“ Harbor” became a battle cry for soldiers and citizens who were awakened to the fact that peace-loving nations sometimes must rise in defense of liberty.
Our remembrance ofDec. 7, 1941, has evolved.
For years it involved bitter reminders of the brutality of our enemy in the years of war that followed. Today, however, we do not mark this “date which will live in infamy” with anger toward the Japanese or by holding on to 71-year-old grievances. But let no one portray our great respect for this day as an outdated sentiment.
The American people must “remember Pearl Harbor” because of its lessons for all generations.
Thomas Jefferson was right when he warned eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
We are reminded this world can be a violent place and this nation must always, always, always stand ready to defend itself against aggression by people who stand against freedom.
That’s not to mean we’re war-mongers. But let’s recall the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and our similar 21st century example, the Sept. 11 attacks on our nation. Both attacks led to huge expansions of government power, debt and deaths of honorable men and women, all of which we can do without.
When we are not vigilant, the nation and the world pays a price. We lose ground. Eternal vigilance means paying attention to the international conditions that can, if left unattended or aggravated, lead to murderous behaviors.
The best way we can pay tribute to those who died in that terrible surprise attack on Dec. 7, 1941, is to embrace freedom and keep this nation strong internally so we can be strong externally.
The people of the United States are generally ready to “give peace a chance,” but nations and violent organizations must know if they strike us, we will do what it takes to destroy their ability to do it again. But we also remember on this day that even the bitterest of enemies can, with time, be forgiven and we can live together like civilized people.
Our thanks to the members of the military who today stand up for the United States; to those who served valiantly in World War II and since; and for those whose sacrifices made it possible to defeat the spread of totalitarianism.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 12/07/2012