A day of infamy: forgotten

"What happened on December 7 in 1941?"

My professor posed this question to my History of Journalism class this morning. I have to say I was embarrassed that one of the other students, known for inserting small comments every now and then, confidently interjected, "D-Day."

Pearl Harbor is the second largest terrorist attack that occurred on American soil in our country's history. Over 2,400 Americans died, military and civilians combined, and my generation doesn't even know the date by heart.

The USS Arizona Memorial where around 1,000 men are entombed in the harbor still.

Ask a Millenial what happened on September 11, 2001 and they will all be able to answer that correctly. Almost 3,000 people died on 9/11— just 600 people more, but it sticks out in my generation's memory just because it was more recent.

Our public education system is failing my generation if we can't also rattle off what occurred on that day in 1941 just as quickly as 9/11.

I count myself lucky that I come from a military family where sharing knowledge and history is common. I know some people aren't as fortunate in that aspect, but I don't think there is an excuse for not knowing when Pearl Harbor happened.

It was like the 9/11 attack of their time, and we should know that by heart.

"Yesterday, December 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."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was quoted saying the above to Congress in a call to war speech that made history in itself.

I believe that we need to continue to bring this up to the younger generations— along with the other events that occurred before, and since. Educate them, show them the grisly images, the screaming of citizens and the billows of smoke coming from the bombed carriers.

The past is ugly, and we need to know it so that we can avoid it for the future.

Remember, if we do not teach and do not know what happened in the past, we are doomed to repeat it.

Sincerely,

                               A Pondering Pen