Jay Kersting's Blog

In case we have forgotten, today is Pearl Harbor Day.  Pearl Harbor is a place and not a person.  I think made that mistake when I was five. 

Of course, today is the day when we commemorate the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941.  Obviously, unless you are as big a dullard as James Brolin, you never say "Happy" Pearl Harbor Day.  (If you don't get the reference, Brolin said "Happy September 11th" and chuckled about it on a radio show in Connecticut earlier this year.) It is day that needs to be lived like any other, with the addition of reflection on our past, 1941 being the focus.  In fact, we need to treat this date as a major turning point in our history.

Sure, the Japanese attacked us.  Sure, it was a surprise attack.  Now, the history lesson.

It wasn't supposed to be a surprise attack.  And I don't mean that the military, or the FDR administration, knew the attack was coming.  The Japanese intended to notify us that an attack was coming.  To not let us know would have been dishonorable.  Those who took part in the attack from the Japanese side thought that the USA had been told an attack was coming, just not the location.

It is true that diplomatic codes used by the Japanese had been cracked.  But the military codes hadn't.  So if you think that FDR could have stopped the attack and didn't, you are probably, but not definitely, incorrect.  

There are a lot of questions that are unanswered 66 years later.  One that is not, is the job done by the men and women of that era, both overseas fighting and at home.  For those in the armed services, the sacrifices were obvious.  Those at home had to deal with shortages, rationing and dozens of other issues on the homefront.

Today, we are in an on-going "War on Terror" and many are making great sacrifices.   Most of us, live life like we have always done so.  We are going to work, going home.  Drawing a paycheck.  Buying Christmas presents, or trying to buy a Nintendo Wii. 

Lets remember Pearl Harbor Day as the date that not only with live in infamy.  But also as a day that helped set up the lifestyle that most of us can enjoy today.

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Are news organizations EXPLOITING the Omaha mall shooting? 

Omaha, Nebraska, gets attention from the national news media when a few things happen.  One, the Omaha Oracle Warren Buffet says something.  Two, some might follow the College World Series in June.  Third, when something bad happens.

The focus Wednesday - HOW SAFE ARE AMERICA'S SHOPPING MALLS?

Thursday - The troubled killer.  Had he acted in reverse, which I have said ALL murder-suicides need to operate, this would be a non-story.

Today, several reporters are having to stay in Omaha.  You know they hate this, nothing worse for these cosmopolitan types who love New York, Washington and LA, to spend time in the Midwest.  

I still have seen NOTHING about the victims of the massacre.  Oh, besides that 8 were killed.

Exploitation?  Yeah.  If these news groups cared about anything besides themselves and their ratings, they would have made some comments about the victims besides the body count.  They would have told us about efforts to help the families of these folks out.  If they have, I have missed it.  If I am wrong, I'll actually apologize.  They won't for NOT doing the right thing.  They know better.

Just ask them.

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