OT: December 7, 1941 and September 11, 2001

JackWESQ · September 10, 2008 2:55PM

December 7, 1941. Off the top of your head, do you know what happened that day in U.S. history? If not, that was the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. That was about 67 years ago. Is December 7 just another day on the calendar? Maybe, maybe not. (I think more maybe ... unfortunately.)

September 11. Will that day ever be just another day on the calendar? In 10 years? 20 years? 50 or 100 years? I don't know. But if it ever does become just another day on the calendar, I would imagine it would take at least 50 years.

/s/ JackWESQ

joestalin · September 10, 2008 3:22PM

I was not alive during WWII, but I can remember that Tuesday morning in September like it was yesterday. That is the day the world
changed forever. I think history books will talk about time before and after the attacks. They will never be forgotten. It is too bad that history
must endure these landmarks in its future-acts of cowardliness, while other events slowly die away in print and in memory.

There are still many many people who live on this earth now alone...hurting and unable to forget. May God one day heal their wounds.

God Bless those who fight for us here and abroad, so that we can sit here and talk about less important things.

Kevin

storm888 · September 10, 2008 4:42PM

I often attend the December 7 memorial services. Many of my
good friends were there; most have passed away.

Many of my friends parents - civilians - told us THOUSANDS of
stories as children about "what happened" that day, and in
the times that followed.

My father's ship was three-days out of PH, when he got word to
hurry back.

The subject is still VERY "difficult," in Hawaii. Once a year, the
topic is public; the rest of the time PH is for the tourists. When
I was a ute, the topic was REAL touchy, too. Nothing changed.

A number of my good friends - or their parents - were put into
internment camps. Reagan arranged to send 'em all $20K, but
the subject is still not "polite" to talk about except in private.

///////////////

As soon as all of the countries/savages responsible - in whole
or in part - for 911 have been blown off the map and plowed
under, I would certainly support a "national holiday."

stevek · September 10, 2008 8:30PM

Let's hope we never forget 9/11 because frankly the only way that date will not be remembered is if a larger tragedy similar to it occurs. For example, I doubt if many remember the exact date of the Oklahoma bombing. If some mass murderer terrorist was able to ignite a nuclear bomb or series of WMD events in US cities or areas, then I'm afraid that 9/11 might turn into a footnote compared to that.

So let's hope that 9/11 never becomes a footnote and be ever vigilant towards these terrorist killers, and never become complacent towards them by staying on the offensive and doing whatever it takes to stop them!

Goot · September 10, 2008 8:56PM

Although I was down in Florida, 9/11 was surreal for me. I was a 5th grader and I can clearly remember the principal coming over the intercom, the teacher being in and out of tears, and eventually being sent home early. I woke up the next morning thinking it HAD to be a dream......I walked out of my room and saw my dad sitting there on the couch still watching the coverage....no dream.

That day changed my generation forever.

thekid8 · September 10, 2008 10:24PM

<< <i>
There are still many many people who live on this earth now alone...hurting and unable to forget. May God one day heal their wounds.
>>

I agree

BobaFett72 · September 10, 2008 10:35PM

Well, my Dad was in WW2, fought in Japan and I was a History major, so I have always kept track of historical dates/events and such. A lot of my patients in the clinic like to quiz me when I schedule them for appointments on Dec. 7, (mostly older patients) It surprises them that I know the significance of the date. Given that 60 years have passed it shouldnt surprise anyone that it's becoming a distant memory to many and insignificant to younger generations. In 60 years, 9-11 wont have the same meaning or impact that it does now. Sadly it will most likely be overshadowed by other tragic events, wars etc. Such is the nature of history.

kidzfund · September 11, 2008 12:33AM

I hope 9/11 does not become another day on the calender like V-E day or Flag Day, but I think it will.

BobaFett is right - it's human nature and other events will happen over the course of time.

In 30 years, will there still be memrial events broadcast on TV? I don't think so. We don't see Pearl Harbor memorials on TV today.

God Bless America.

Joe

Leiascards · September 11, 2008 1:37AM

The thing with Pearl Harbor is there are fewer people who were actually alive then and as more and more pass away it will slip further and further into history. In 50 years when those who remember 9/11 actually happening are outnumbered by those who don't we will see the same thing happen.

I still remember the same response Goot in 1986 when I was in the 5th grade and watching the Shuttle explode just after take off like it was yesterday, but neither of my sisters really remember it happening.

clydecoolidge · September 11, 2008 2:58AM

There's a couple factors here;

1. As time goes on, the people that were alive during the Pearl Harbor attack will die making vivid memories fade

2. The attack on Sept. 11th was against civilians. That will inevitabley be a more "horrific" memory than an attack on a military installation.

magellan · September 11, 2008 3:05AM

I wasn't alive for Pearl Harbor but try to always acknowledge "that day in infamy" as well as Veterans Day, Memorial Day and other dates where Americans sacrificed their lives. My Uncle had just left Pearl a short time before the attack and was later involved with some of the atomic bomb tests.

9/11 will simply never be forgotten as long as I'm alive.

TheVon · September 11, 2008 3:12AM

I think it is important to remember all of these dates. How about June 6th too?

My personal issue with these dates is that I don't quite know how to acknowledge them in a meaningful way. I think about them, I think about the sacrafices made, the tragedy, the lives changed . . . but what can I do, or what should I do, with these thoughts? Trying to make sense out of the chaos and inhumanity is just overwhelming.

DrJ · September 11, 2008 7:28AM

9/11 will eventually fade out of the public consciousness as new generations become detached from the day's events. It is just how it goes with history. There are many days which have had a larger world impact that are forgotten until someone opens a history book.

mickeymantle24 · September 11, 2008 8:38AM

I believe 9/11 will be something rememered forever!

kingraider75 · September 11, 2008 11:38AM

As long as the USA exists, then 12/7/41, 6/6/44 (D-Day), and 9/11/01 will not be forgotten. If we start pledging allegiance to the WalMart and McDonalds flags, then we are all in trouble.

Mac53 · September 11, 2008 11:54AM

<< <i>Although I was down in Florida, 9/11 was surreal for me. I was a 5th grader and I can clearly remember the principal coming over the intercom, the teacher being in and out of tears, and eventually being sent home early. I woke up the next morning thinking it HAD to be a dream......I walked out of my room and saw my dad sitting there on the couch still watching the coverage....no dream.

That day changed my generation forever. >>

What's weird about this post is that if you change "Florida" to "Indiana" and "9/11" to "November 22," my story would be exactly the same.
I can't say that the JFK assassination had nearly the impact of December 7 or September 11, but it seems like the whole world changed on November 22, 1963.

rube26105 · September 11, 2008 12:21PM

<but it seems like the whole world changed on November 22, 1963.>

i can remember them announcing that when i was in school

noanswersonlyquestions · September 11, 2008 12:23PM

I truly believe every generation will have their days that are remembered. My grandparents will never forget Pearl Harbor or the day the atom bomb dropped. Both my parents remember every detail of what happened the day Kennedy was shot. I remember sitting in our classroom and watching the space shuttle explode. It was a really big deal that a teacher was going into space so we had all were huddled around the TV watching when it happened. My daughter was only 29 days old when the attacks on the twin towers happened. Will never forget that day. And, as such, my children will also have days in their future that they will never forget as well. Hopefully not as many painful ones as the previous generations have witnessed.

OT: December 7, 1941 and September 11, 2001

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