BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE

69 years ago today, the United States was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Then President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, declared it "A day that will live in infamy". At that moment, we declared war on Japan and shortly thereafter Germany and Italy declared war on the United States bringing America fully into World War II. From that point forward, we had to defend ourselves in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war. We were still in the "great depression" and unemployment was still very high. Many of our young men immediately joined the armed forces and went to war. Many died and many were severely wounded both physically and mentally, but it had to be done. Before the war was over millions of people all over the world, mostly civilians, were dead or permanently disabled , but it had to be done. Little babies were killed and maimed for the rest of their lives, but it had to be done. Great cities that had stood for thousands of years were leveled, but it had to be done.

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Was there a reason Germany attacked all its neighbors? Probably not., Was there a reason Italy attacked all its neighbors? Probably not. Was there a reason Japan attacked all its neighbors? Probably not. Is there ever a reason for countries to attack each other? No. Yet it goes on and on to this day all over the world.

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Great peacemakers and philosophers have risen and died over the millennia sharing their wisdom with us of life, love and peace. We revere them. We worship them. We pray to them. Yet how do we show them our respect. We kill each other in their name throughout time. We love you Jesus, so we have to kill the non-Christians. We love you Muhammad so we have to kill the infidels. We love you God, so we have to kill our children. We say "but it had to be done". Maybe we are destined to be forever killing each other. It seems to be the case. It has to be done.

I hope not.

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Maybe we will all join hands around the world some day and feel love, not hate. If we are to survive as a people, IT HAS TO BE DONE. We are approaching holiday seasons where we preach love, peace and hope for the future. I wish these feelings would never end. But I'm afraid there are too many two-bit narcissistic dictators around the world ready to drop a bomb on someone for no reason. I'm afraid there is not enough love in the world to prevent it. I hope I'm wrong.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!! PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TO MANKIND!!