Yes, I know the big and great story of today is the terrific win by Senator Warnock over a complete abusive imbecile. Also important is the fact that Time Magazine chose President Zelensky and the Spirit of Ukraine as Person of the Year instead of say, Putin. Also, seemingly important is a baseball player who agreed to sign a $360 million dollar contract for playing baseball. Bonus is the ongoing World Cup in a nation that bribed FIFA officials and is fraught with massive human rights abuses. And yet, the very precious few who are still alive to remember the horrors of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor seem to be forgotten.
Kids signed up to serve — like my Dad and my friend’s Dad. Both dropped out of school, were under age and had to get permission from a parent. My Dad served in the Pacific and experienced the horrors during the Battle of Kula Gulf and the Battle of Kolombongara. His fellow crewmen, on the USS Radford, saved 468 from the sinking USS Helena while under heavy attack from sea and air. That’s one kid among many and many more men who were seasoned sailors. He’s dead now. My Mom at 96 is still alive and remembers. Many nonagenarians remember. But the media of 2022 doesn’t because there’s a World Cup and a talented baseball player and a former occupant of the White House who still makes news even though he’s done fuck all for this country other than fuck it up.
Peace and blessings for those who lost their lives in the first attack. Peace and blessings for all the brave men and women who volunteered to serve. Peace and blessings for their families who still carry the memories and pictures of young kids in uniform, looking proud and cocky, and coming back scarred if they came back at all.
I did check WaPo, the NYT, and the Guardian and didn’t see any reference. I did a Mr. Google search and precious little was found. Sure, 81 years is not 80 or 85 or 90 or 100 but that shouldn’t make a difference. Part of why we are where we are is because many people just forget the battles for freedom that are still in living memories like WWII, the Civil Rights Movement, and women’s reproductive rights battles. See which one of them is being challenged today? All of them, Katie.