To a lot of younger people today, the sudden attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 is just a note in history. A note that I am sure many think has no relevance on their lives today.
They couldn’t be more wrong. With the attack launching us onto World War Two and the all out effort to defeat the Axis powers, not only was our own freedoms preserved, but former enemies that we defeated came to enjoy freedoms and became our partners.
There have been efforts since the attack at controversy. Claims of advance knowledge of it coming, allowing it to happen, even that then President Roosevelt provoked Japan into attacking us (sound familiar, Ron Paulies?)
I doubt much of that mattered that peaceful Sunday morning to the men and women that were abruptly thrust into war by the surprise attack, though.