AO Sig wrote:
The Ripley Aquarium in Gatlinburg had a special exhibit for 2 years about Pearl Harbor; they had incredible photos of the aftermath, plus models of the shipyard and naval base, descriptions on where things occurred, etc. It was impossible to leave the exhibit without feeling moved.
I don't want to sound like a curmudgeonly "get off my lawn" kind of guy, but the current generation truly has little insight into the impact that the events that fateful Sunday morning had on everyone. I read today that this year's ceremonies are the first ones to occur without a survivor of the Arizona in attendance. A few years ago I was touring a WW2 destroyer at Charleston Harbor, heard some scouts complaining that they needed air conditioning on the boat; I could not help but comment to them that several hundred young men spent 4 years on that ship, weathering storms, attacks, tight quarters and, yes, no air conditioning, to preserve those kids' liberties.
My maternal grandfather was a naval surgeon in the Pacific, stationed in New Guinea for a good part. My father was part of the Big Red One in Europe. My wife's father was a radar operator on the Hambleton, her stepfather was also a naval officer. I try hard to make sure my own kids understand the gravity of this day and what happened; too many of their peers are oblivious.
I hear ya, AO Sig. What you are citing, though sad at times, is also the inevitability of history. We have only faced two existential threats to our nation since its founding, the Civil War and WWII (and perhaps the War of 1812). As much as we were stung by 9/11 our nation’s very existence was never in question. Because of that I think it was almost required that there was a Greatest Generation. Like a wise man once told me—nothing like an imminent hanging to focus one’s attention. You either rise to the occasion or you die.
As frustrating as it might feel, it is our duty to continually remind the young ones of the sacrifices that were made in any struggle that came before them so that they might enjoy the fruits now. But do not be quick to anger if they do not. If you live in a house of plenty it is difficult to internalize that your grandparents had to scrounge for food.