In Late Memory

[Walker]

In Late Memory

In typically patriotic, US-centric, military-fixated fashion:

In memory of all those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i; and in the larger war of which that attack was but a small part.

(For those of you who don't know (though I assume most/many of you do), on December 7, 1941; forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy made a surprise attack on the US Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i. The intention was to destroy the US Pacific Fleet, thereby preventing the US from entering the war, or at least having any effectiveness in the Pacific. In retrospect, this was what is generally termed A Bad Idea. In the attack, the US lost 2,402 people; and many more in the war--WWII-- that ensued.)

And yes, I know this is late. I forgot what day it was until about seven in the morning... today. Which is pretty pathetic. Two days late.

 

[TheJJMax]

Re: In Late Memory

Yes the Pearl Harbor attack in Hawaii (not Hawai'i) was unfortunate.

 

[Tsuyu]

Re: In Late Memory

Yes the Pearl Harbor attack in Hawaii (not Hawai'i) was unfortunate.

Actually, it was fortunate, in a tragic sort of way. It was the wake-up call the states needed to join the Allies.

 

[TheJJMax]

Re: In Late Memory

Actually, it was fortunate, in a tragic sort of way. It was the wake-up call the states needed to join the Allies.

True, true. :'(

 

[Firis]

Re: In Late Memory

I dont think it was good for anybody, we lost men and got ****ed off, Japan crapped their pants and said "We have awoken a sleeping giant!" we lost even more men in battle, slightly helped out in germany which was practically already taken by the good'ol Soviet Union then we attacked the outlying islands of Japan, then nuked them twice then they surrendered... the only good that came from WWII is to say we are America dont **** with us, which still hasnt worked since everyone wants a shot at us, andthat most of the WWII participants have allied now...

 

[Firis]

Re: In Late Memory

I do lol, that is my opinion on the war that thats all that came from it...

 

[Skotekal]

Re: In Late Memory

But you are seeming to state it all on fact. And how can you have an opinion on how it happened if it isn't what happened?

 

[Walker]

Re: In Late Memory

Yes the Pearl Harbor attack in Hawaii (not Hawai'i) was unfortunate.

Research it. There's a bit of a controversy on the name. Unless you were taking a stand on said controversy.

Actually, it was fortunate, in a tragic sort of way. It was the wake-up call the states needed to join the Allies.

That's one side, yes. I do agree with you... but it sounds a bit... skuzzy. Though not as much as it would have at the time.

I dont think it was good for anybody, we lost men and got ****ed off, Japan crapped their pants and said "We have awoken a sleeping giant!" we lost even more men in battle, slightly helped out in germany which was practically already taken by the good'ol Soviet Union then we attacked the outlying islands of Japan, then nuked them twice then they surrendered... the only good that came from WWII is to say we are America dont **** with us, which still hasnt worked since everyone wants a shot at us, andthat most of the WWII participants have allied now...

I disagree with you, but is this really the kind of thing/time to start arguing? Just seems a bit skuzzy (that word again!) to bicker about them on the near-anniversary of so much death.

 

[Firis]

Re: In Late Memory

P.S I had no idea it was that day two days ago until the "day that will live in infamey" quote that the president said popped into my head just a few mintues ago

 

[Tsuyu]

Re: In Late Memory

That's one side, yes. I do agree with you... but it sounds a bit... skuzzy. Though not as much as it would have at the time.

Yeah I know it sounds a bit... skuzzy? But once you think about it - those people who died there that day probably saved countless other soldiers on both sides, because no doubt America's involvement shortened the conflict in Europe.

 

[Arseface]

Re: In Late Memory

I dont think it was good for anybody, we lost men and got ****ed off, Japan crapped their pants and said "We have awoken a sleeping giant!" we lost even more men in battle, slightly helped out in germany which was practically already taken by the good'ol Soviet Union then we attacked the outlying islands of Japan, then nuked them twice then they surrendered... the only good that came from WWII is to say we are America dont **** with us, which still hasnt worked since everyone wants a shot at us, andthat most of the WWII participants have allied now...

I agree with te first part, but there's more to it than that. Plus there was more good than the "I am woman, hear me roar" bit. It was the primary event that lead to the establishment of the next world order, the Cold War, which dominated everyones lives for the next forty odd years.

Japan had a more than decent naval fleet, they weren't scared until they didn't have a fleet anymore.

True the states more than fought hard to get back to Japanese soil, and will always be respected for that.

The states had a great deal of influence in the European theater.

Not really. You have to take in the big picture. Sure you helped out heaps with the push into Germany from Western Europe, but it was really uneccesary (from Germanys point of view at least). The USSR had basically muscled their way to Berlin, and when the USA and other western powers got there, the only thing stopping them from saying "**** off, Germanys ours. I think I'll take France aswell" was the USA's fledgling nuclear arsenal, which they had already shown their resolve to use.

We weren't trying to place ourselves on a pedestal and award ourselves the "Invincible for four years running" trophy. We were protecting our interests in going to war. And we were allies with the allied nations before this war, which is why we were sending them supplies and stopped selling to Germany.

Yeah, WWI marks the start of the USA entering wars late and claiming victory trend (that was tounge in cheek, don't crusify me. Even if it is true).

Research it. There's a bit of a controversy on the name. Unless you were taking a stand on said controversy.

Who cares. We all know what you're talking about.

Yeah I know it sounds a bit... skuzzy? But once you think about it - those people who died there that day probably saved countless other soldiers on both sides, because no doubt America's involvement shortened the conflict in Europe.

It really didn't against Germany. Whether they would have had to deal with the USSR or not is another question entirely.

 

[Minorthreat]

Re: In Late Memory

Loss of that much life regardless of reason is still quite distressing. Very nice view of the memorial in that pic walker. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Skotekal]

Re: In Late Memory

Quite unsettling. Sort of unneeded, but since I don't know all that much about the history of previous wars, I just can say that it was apparently better in the long run.

And just as another question, why is America involved in wars all the time? Yes, Canada is somehow in Iraq right now too, but I don't see why we are... Unless we were dragged in just because. And I think there is some British soldiers posted there too? But why do other countries go if we really don't have much to do with it at all? Again, I am not all up to date with war. Forgive me.

 

[Walker]

Re: In Late Memory

Quite unsettling. Sort of unneeded, but since I don't know all that much about the history of previous wars, I just can say that it was apparently better in the long run.

And just as another question, why is America involved in wars all the time? Yes, Canada is somehow in Iraq right now too, but I don't see why we are... Unless we were dragged in just because. And I think there is some British soldiers posted there too? But why do other countries go if we really don't have much to do with it at all? Again, I am not all up to date with war. Forgive me.

I will ignore everything else. Only I WILL say that Canada has been in just about every war the US has been; with the possible exception of the Mexican War, Spanish-American War, Phillipine Insurrection/War, and the "Indian Wars." For that matter, so has the UK. We were either fighting against you/them or fighting beside you/them. If you can name one more war featuring the US that UK/Canada haven't been in, I will give you a brownie, blueberry muffin, cookie, or possibly rep. (EDIT: And yes, I do count wars in which the US decided it was a good idea to invade Canada as 'wars involving both the US and Canada'.)

And the reason they're all involved is because they're allies. That's what allies are supposed to do. Fight each other's wars.

____________________________

Also, Minorthreat, thanks; but I can't take credit for the image. I hit google image search for "Arizona Memorial" and grabbed the best-looking one on the first page that would load without crashing IE.

 

[Arseface]

Re: In Late Memory

And just as another question, why is America involved in wars all the time?

Because (and perhaps rightly so) America sees itself as the hero's of the world, having to save eneryone from the baddies.

Yes, Canada is somehow in Iraq right now too, but I don't see why we are... Unless we were dragged in just because. And I think there is some British soldiers posted there too? But why do other countries go if we really don't have much to do with it at all? Again, I am not all up to date with war. Forgive me.

Old treaties that pacts that were made long before you or I was born. NATO, ANZUS, etc.

 

[Skotekal]

Re: In Late Memory

I see, thought there might be some justification there, but I guess not. Add that is just slightly stupid. Causing a fairly senseless war, and we get dragged. I guess unfair has a new meaning.

 

[Firis]

Re: In Late Memory

I dont think IrQ IS SENSELESS, ****... sorry about caps but im lazy, anyway we beat a dictator and got revenge, we thought nukes were there, but we were wrong... now we should be virtually non existent there, we are training the Iraq police andm ilitary force now and have established capitalism, its time to bug out and leave a couple dozen drill sergeant in for a few more months then bug them out aswell...

 

[Arseface]

Re: In Late Memory

I see, thought there might be some justification there, but I guess not. Add that is just slightly stupid. Causing a fairly senseless war, and we get dragged. I guess unfair has a new meaning.

I dont think IrQ IS SENSELESS, ****... sorry about caps but im lazy, anyway we beat a dictator and got revenge, we thought nukes were there, but we were wrong... now we should be virtually non existent there, we are training the Iraq police andm ilitary force now and have established capitalism, its time to bug out and leave a couple dozen drill sergeant in for a few more months then bug them out aswell...

Iraq was a good war to have from the perspective of the Iraqi people and the western rulers. The Iraqi people got rid of a brutal dictator, while the western rulers got to further their own agendas in the Middle East and their own countries. Ruling through fear has never been so easy.

 

[Skotekal]

Re: In Late Memory

But shouldn't America just bugger off and mind their own business? Okay, we know your army is massive, and we know you could whoop ass in almost any war now. I don't see their business in Iraq. And if they came there to solve a problem, and now it is solved, shouldn't they just get out now?

 

[Arseface]

Re: In Late Memory

But shouldn't America just bugger off and mind their own business? Okay, we know your army is massive, and we know you could whoop ass in almost any war now. I don't see their business in Iraq. And if they came there to solve a problem, and now it is solved, shouldn't they just get out now?

It's alot more complicated than that. They didn't just get in there to oust Saddam. They did it to get a foothold in the Middle East, which they haven't quite done yet.