Remember Pearl Harbor!
DECEMBER 7, 1941 (FRIDAY) – Today is December 7, which might be “just another day,” were it not for its historical significance as the opening day of World War II for the United States. Sixty-six years have come and gone, and the date seems to be engraved indelibly upon our minds. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared, it is “a day which will live in infamy.” Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The war was on.
Now the war has long since ended, and Japan is one of our strongest allies. If Rip Van Winkle had gone to sleep sixty-six years ago, and ended his nap today, he might think Japan won the war, with all the famous Japanese product names seen today in our country.
That’s the way it seems to be. Two countries go to war. Great losses ensue, then it ends. They declare peace, then become friends and allies. Wouldn’t it be nice if we just skipped the war, and went on to have peace. It’s a pipedream, however, because some folks in this world will always prefer war, and it takes two to have peace. One nation attacking another brings war, no matter how badly the other nation might want peace. Jesus said there will always be “wars, and rumors of wars.” That prophecy has been fulfilled to the letter.
The world will move on to a new history, and some day December 7 will be one of the dates in school history books, and not much more. We will be long gone by then, but our descendants will be here. What kind of heritage are we giving them?
Kipling said it well:*
“Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!”
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*”Recessional,” by Rudyard Kipling