Infamy

Seventy-nine years ago, on this day, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and the United States was compelled to enter World War II. A day o infamy.

A great deal of domestic and international achievement and strife – the strife often resulting from the achievement – has happened since that day. From a U.S. perspective the country became an industrialized, mechanized, superpower. This has led us to the Cold War, all the wars (undeclared) since we were attacked by Japan, and it led to great prosperity which has led to an uncaring ruling oligarchy. In a connected way, it has led to globalization – define at risk! – and an increasingly connected but disjointed world. The war ended with the only two nuclear bombs ever used in war; it has led to new nations and peoples being freed from oppression, while others have become oppressed.

A date which will live in infamy the United States of America seems to be disappearing in our collective memory. Many newspapers chose not to publish an article about Peal Harbor Day in the front page of their online news articles; some published a story in print. The story online and print that’s readily findable is the AP story “Survivors remember Pearl Harbor at home this year amid virus“.

It is interesting what the media chooses to not remember or remind us of. The day will always be infamous, but will it be remembered?