December 07, 2005

Day of Infamy

Quiet Waters Hilo Bay Big Island

They will never forget...

They that were the young children of Japanese decent that were residents of Hawaii when the airmen of the rising sun of Imperial Japan made their way to beautiful unsuspecting Hawaii and killed thousands that sunday morning. They have spent their lives dealing with the shame. I met a number of them while living in Hawaii.

One man spoke of a carefree childhood untill the day the planes came to kill...then he remembers the internment camp the disrespect to his old reletives and the disgrace.

We take our freedom and our safety for granted. Even after 9-11 we grow more and more complacent, loosening standards at airports, and sympathizing with the Enemy. The war on Terror is an old war. Its battle fields is first and foremost the human mind, its strategy is time, because we have such short memories. We forget that terror is nothing new either, and that it has been used to no avail in the past, and that it will be the weapon of choice in the future.

Let us review that famous speech to the nation by FDR, and honor those that died in the attack as well as those that survived to tell the tale

President
Franklin D. Roosevelt

December 8, 1941

To the United States Congress


Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt