Another Pearl Harbor Day; and this in the midst of reports urging our surrender, a horrifying return to realpolitik, moaning about wars and rumors of wars. Oh for a return to the good old days of World War Two when we were all pulling together towards a common goal.
Only we weren’t at all, were we?
There were isolationists and angry mothers in the 1940s too. There were cowards, draft dodgers and conscientious objectors. There were those who argued we were fighting the wrong battle – no matter where we were fighting.
A democracy at war ought to be a fearsome enemy because of its very nature. War must be meaningful, it must be fought hard because above all it must be short. Life is just too good in a democracy for its people to tolerate long wars and extended sacrifice. But in an age where we can’t even contemplate a Hiroshima to achieve victory – how can we win any wars? If you won’t do what’s necessary then there’s no point in getting involved.
That may be the lesson of Pearl Harbor Day: be certain – before you begin – that you are willing to do what is needed to achieve an end.
On a brighter note, I won’t have to force myself to watch Pearl Harbor this year. For two reasons: one, it’s a movie night and two, I can watch 1941 instead.