[Qcwa] pearl harbor day

[Tommye & Jim Wilhite]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeffrey D Angus" <jangus@socal.rr.com>
To: <qcwa@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 3:14 PM
Subject: [Qcwa] pearl harbor day


> A day that will live in infamy.
>
> Obviously, having been born in 1953, I missed it, but I had a neighbor
> that used to
> carry on about it. From listening to him, I doubt if he ever forgave the
> Japanese, and
> (unfortunately) blamed everyone for it. Such as his stories of driving
> about Signal
> Hill in southern California with his buddies looking for local japanese
> people to beat
> up. (Cue theme music for "That's entertainment.")
>
> On the flip side, two brothers that run a local garden supply and repair
> center spent
> thier youth in Arizona compliments of the government. Tak won't talk
> about it, but his
> older brother George always has these really bizzare stories of what
> they did to amuse
> themselves.
>
> Jeff
> wa6fwi
>
> -- 
> "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
>  safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin
> "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
> Tara Morice as Fran, from the movie "Strictly Ballroom"
>

The first line of your message has lost none of the meaning, but most of its
passion, especially in the past 15 years.

What happened on that day, December 7, 1941 is equivalent to a modern drive
by shooting in a small city somewhere in California that killed everyone.
Should that happen, I assure you everyone in California would seek revenge
and not forget for a generation.

My regret is that WW II was the last time this country was united in the
face of devastation.  A good student of modern history would tell us that
Korea, Viet Nam and the Gulf wars were and are being fought for the same
basic principals; however the safety and security this country has enjoyed
since 1947 on its shores has made so many complacent about threats to our
way of life.  Recent history has fallen victim to Political Correctness and
the entire truth may disappear forever.

We should never forget our veterans who defended this country starting on
Pearl Harbor Day and display the pride and sacrifice they gave for us.  With
so few of them remaining, we should understand their feelings over having
lost sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and most of all, friends standing
beside them on the battlefield.  We should take a page from the history
books of 1953 and defend their rights to express themselves whenever and
where ever they choose.  Do not chastise them, do not reject them, do not
exclude them for without their sacrifice our country would be nothing in
modern history books.

Our history began much before 1968, do not destroy it and do not try to
rewrite it.  Instead, study it and the values the greatest generation held
dear.  Honor them for those values and strive to be as honorable and
peaceable they desired to be.  We owe them for their sacrifice and
belittling their contribution is not proper nor honorable, even today.

My father who is 90 years old is just beginning to talk about his part in WW
II in Europe.  His brief discussions of the loss of friends and relatives is
particularly moving to me, especially the brief parts of his stories about
the liberation of two Nazi death camps.  We should forgive, but not be blind
to those who would destroy our way of life over convictions be they
economic, religious or personal beliefs.  My father has not, nor would
today, drive a German car, but he does not belittle them.  In uncertain
times, uncertain measures must be expended.  Today we face the same
challenges and history will record how we faced our own people just as how
we face our enemies.  Fortunately this country survived by building values
on our challenges not by belittling some actions.  We still embrace
emigrants who display and practice what this country represents, not those
who are here to tear it apart.  Mistakes are made but we recover from them
unlike the enemies we face.  Honoring our past is the only path to freedom
and our right to embrace those who choose that path.  Build on our
civilization positively, don't let others destroy its foundation.

Honor our veterans, soldiers and leaders to present a determined face to our
enemies..

73   Jim
de W5JO