Today we have Pearl Harbor Day marked on our calendars. It is a reminder to loyal Americans and a warning to those who mean us harm.
It is a reminder to be alert. We need to wake up and realize that there are countries and religions out there that want to conquer or destroy us. They have fifth columns in the country that want to aid in any way they can. This would include the resurgent Russian Empire and devout Muslims in many parts of the world. This would include modern China. It would include many of the talking heads sitting in the United Nations. A good question to ask is, “If they are really out to get you, is it really paranoia?”
It is a reminder that the government is authorized to punish evil. As a country based on Judeo-Christian values we are taught to limit our response personally and let the rule of law deal with the problem. At the same time the Bible authorizes the government to punish evil. There comes a point where Americans no longer are patient. Japan learned the hard way. Germany learned the hard way. Both were brought to heel by an aroused America.
It is also a reminder that after the push for justice comes the time of healing. We often forget this. Pearl Harbor day should also be a reminder to forgive.
Today Japan and Germany stand as monuments of the American Way. Historically, defeated nations were further humiliated, destroyed and even sold into slavery. It often meant what we would label as genocide. Picture how Europe ignored the pleas of Woodrow Wilson to restore Germany and ended up creating the response that led to World War II. Consider how Japan treated the Chinese after they had taken over the country. Instead we stepped back, took a deep breath and began to rebuild those who attacked us. That is also a message of Pearl Harbor Day.
Maybe Americans that consider themselves wronged by history should remember that. Some Americans want reparations for slavery. Some Mexicans, I hesitate to call them Americans, want to change the national boundaries and give the southwest back to Mexico. Some Americans have demanded, and received, payments for actions against Americans of Japanese decent during World War II. The list of demands grows. It is time to grow up and move on.
Alexander Pope in “An Essay on Criticism” said, “To err is human, to forgive, Divine”. Historically, how uniquely Christian. Culturally, how uniquely American. Or at least it should be.
homo unius libri
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