Let’s Remember Pearl Harbor

A quotation from the famous speech of President Franklin D. Roosevelt has become a permanent part of American memories. It went like this: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked..”
“Remember Pearl Harbor” became the rallying cry, just like “Remember the Alamo” became a call to arms way back in 1836, 105 years before. There was a song, written by Don Reid and Sammy Kaye, with those words, that became popular during the Second World War:

“Let’s remember Pearl Harbor,
As we go to meet the foe
Let’s remember Pearl Harbor
As we did the Alamo.
“We will always remember
how they died for Liberty
Let’s remember Pearl Harbor
And go on to victory.”

The war had been raging in Europe for quite a while before Japan and the United States entered the fray. By the time it ended in 1945, more than 52,000,000 people died in countries the world over. The United States suffered 431,000 deaths. The big difference in casualties between WW1 and WW2 was the percentage of civilian deaths: 5% in WW1 and 67% in WW2.
Jesus said, “There will be wars and rumors of wars.” We know that to be an accurate prediction. The history of civilization is a history of wars between tribes and nations. Sad but true.
Yes, let’s remember Pearl Harbor, and all the places where people died in wars during the ensuing 70 years, remembering also the words of our Lord Jesus, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”