What does this all have to do with the attacks on Sept 11th you might ask? Please have a little patients with me... I'm getting to the point.....
Why did WW2 start? After doing some research, it came back to me. In Europe, it started with Germany and Hitler's ideals in his book, "Mein Kampf", which was written before he came into power. He believed that if there was a "master race" then there would have to be other races that were inferior. He believed that Germans were the master race that they were destined to rule the world and that the world should bow before Germany.
In Asia, it was the same recurring theme as in Europe for the most part. There was a spreading idealism that Japan had a divine right to unite Asia. The attack on Pearl Harbor was preemptive against the American fleet that was stationed there. The idea was to knock out the Pacific fleet so the Japanese wouldn't have to worry about us in the Pacific. "I'm afraid we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled it with terrible resolve." Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto said this after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Sept 11, 2001.... another day that will live in infamy. I'm sure that all Americans can remember exactly what we were doing that day. I was stationed overseas in Gaeta, Italy in the Navy. My wife and I had just gotten home from a shopping trip in Naples. She was putting away our groceries and I was staying out of the kitchen so I wouldn't get in her way as she was "slaving away" as she likes to say it. Well, I sat down to watch a little TV while waiting for the dinner that she wanted to cook for us. I was channel surfing when I came across a live broadcast from New York. I saw the first tower on fire. I was hearing things about how an airplane had crashed into the tower. All I could think of was what kind of idiot doesn't see something that big on such a good weather day. Then I saw the second tower get hit on live TV. I didn't know what to think at that point. I just stared at the TV in total disbelief. That couldn't have been an accident. The odds were just too high for two accidents like this to happen in such a short time frame.
There is a recurring theme again in all of this. There is an old saying that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it and this is what I am seeing. I think we are loosing our focus on the War on Terrorism because of Iraq. When was the last time you heard about what is going on in Afganistan? Aside of the new UBL tapes that is. That aside, I can see history repeating itself, only this time, WE don't have the resolve to finish it, but our enemies do.
Don't kid yourself in believing that there is absolutely no link between WW2 and the attacks on 9/11. Hitler's ideals were all about conversion of the masses. Either you became a Nazi or you died. If you're not with us, then you are against us. It was that simple, unless you were Jewish. They weren't even worth saving to him. Japan wanted to control the Pacific. What better way than to make the Pacific a part of Japan? These radical Muslims are more or less like Hitler. There is NO talking to them. There is NO just leaving them alone and they will leave us alone. They want us ALL to convert to the Muslim belief or die. It's just that simple. Either you are with us or against us. I just hope that I'm not the only person who can see this.
I'm sure that I can't be the only person who can see this. Now you know why I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed in that we don't have the tenacity to see this War on Terrorism through. I can't help to wonder if our parents/grandparents didn't have the tenacity to see things through during WW2. I know this; the western half of the US would be speaking in Japanese and the eastern half in German, that is of course assuming the two countries didn't just duke it out to see who gets America. Just think of what our parents/grandparents had to go through just to see the end of WW2. I asked my mother and father-in-law what it was like in the Philippines. My father-in-law marched in the Bataan Death March. My mother-in-law told me that her mother would cover her and her sisters in mud so that the Japanese soldiers would find them ugly and would not want to rape them or worse. In America, Japanese Americans were put into prison camps, yet they gladly came to our defense when called. Most volunteered.
Now I ask you, what did you when called upon? Did you make excuses of why you couldn't help knowing that there was no real good reason? Now, I know that most everyone will say that I'm an asshole and the like because I'm judging them. "I didn't go into the military because I don't believe in war." "I'm too old and couldn't go into the military." Why do you think that's what I'm talking about? Did I mention it? Why did you assume that I was suggesting you go into the military because I know that the military is not for everyone. What about lending a helping hand in New York or at the Pentagon? What about sending financial aid or maybe food or clothing for those in need (i.e. the rescue workers for one)? If you did step up in anyway, I salute you and have nothing but the deepest respect for you. If you had a family member that stepped up and you gave that person support, then I salute you and have nothing but the deepest respect for you. If you did like Cindy Sheehan did, then shame on you. If you did nothing to help in anyway and yet you could have, then shame on you. If you want to bitch about my thoughts and cuss me out about them, then don't expect a response back because I'm not going to waste my time with you.
My heart and prayers still go out to those who have lost loved ones due terrorism; from the bombing of the Kobe Towers to the USS Cole to 9/11 and everything in-between. Please accept this candle so that we may never forget...
