Off Topic – and random, but…
It is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour today (7th Dec).
Or as it was called, “A day that will live in infamy”.
Well, not being American, I don’t have such strong feelings about it. But Americans certainly did (do?). It provoked outrage, “awoke the sleeping giant” (sic), and instilled a steely determination to settle the score with that dastardly enemy.
Even not being American, I grew up inculcated with the mythology of the event. But this year I had occasion to re-examine my perspective. And you know what, that perspective now throws a somewhat different cast on the situation.
As much as the attack – and Imperial Japanese attitudes and actions in general – were reprehensible, America’s response and attitude in hindsight look a little less like righteous outrage, and rather more like rascist outrage.
“how dare those slanty eyed, jumped up pigmies, trespass against our god blessed providence… bastards…. we don’t let them Niggers get ideas above their station… we certainly aren’t going to let a bunch of Gooks step over the line… time for a lynch’n.”
… just saying!
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