FROM WHERE I STAND - January 12, 2002 On December 8, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed our nation about the attack on Pearl Harbor and asked Congress to approve a Declaration of War against Japan. This action would eventually require action against Italy and Germany as well.
In his speech, President Roosevelt made his famous statement about December 7, 1941 being a "day of infamy." As he continued his speech, he went on to elaborate that this was a premeditated attack, and that the negotiations performed by the Japanese government were done only in deceit, masking their true intentions.
From then on, America was united in purpose to defeat the Axis powers and to protect the world from tyrannical oppression and dictatorship once and for all.
Americans surveying the carnage of the attack on Pearl Harbor, making note of the death and destruction, could not grasp the Japanese going to war. But Japan felt that a “divine wind” had blown, to guide and direct them in the completion of their mission.
As President Bush came to face America after the 9-11 tragedy, like FDR, he called for the resolution of our nation’s collective will, and asked Congress for the authority to bomb bin Laden's forces into submission.
President Bush's dialogue was very similar to FDR concerning this horrible event, being in essence another "day of infamy" that would test the mettle of our nation.
December 7, 1941 and September 11, 2001 were both well planned, premeditated attacks. Osama bin Laden utilized help from several sources, including Iraq, who like Japan at one time, made peaceful gestures, but they then turned their hatred on America.
America of 2001 looks at the horror and destruction of the World Trade Center towers, and like the America of 1941, finds it difficult to come to grips with a religion of "love and tolerance". This religion, not only being able to conceive, but to carry out such a heinous act - similar to the "divine wind" of Imperial Japan - is practically impossible for the average American to understand.
But after reviewing these parallels, what will the difference be in this current scenario? America went to war with Japan and did not stop until the Japanese were defeated.
Much of America today wants to destroy bin Laden and his forces, but on the other hand, has many people are exploring Islam, trying to better understand it.
Our first real difference in these two scenarios is that unlike the war with Japan that was united and full of purpose, we are now entering into an age of tolerance. This will paralyze our nation, much as did the Vietnam War, causing this issue to be extremely difficult to resolve.
America has felt the sting of betrayal during the Arab oil embargo of 1974, incurred the wrath of Islamic fundamentalism with the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, and then the blistering betrayal of Iraq with Suddam Hussein as its leader.
The voting percentage of Arab nations regarding America has never been favorable. Our “friends" asked us not to bomb during Ramadan, to be respectful of the Muslim religion.
Is it ironic, or is it just down right hypocrisy, that the Jewish holidays are never given special consideration when terrorists decide to strike?
Arafat has spent nearly a decade in session with many U.S. diplomats in Israel, as well as in America, and during these times his terrorists still attack. Yet he stays in negotiation with Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah - are these friendly gestures?
America is finally starting to see terrorism for what it is, "friendly" gestures that are nothing more than deception, while preparation for war continues unabated.
Also, America feels revulsion and anger with Arafat's Palestinian people dancing in the streets rejoicing over 9-11, but confusion due to their constant appeal for help in establishing a Palestinian state.
Would it bother Americans still angry with the Gulf War of 1990-1991 to note that truckloads of supplies leave Iran and pass through Jordan, to be received by people in the Palestinian autonomous region?
The world has spent the last decade denouncing Israel, then demanding that she concede "land for peace", mainly due to friendly and “peace talk” gestures from Arafat and his Arab cronies.
In the past, America has received money through gestures of friendship from the Arab/Muslim nations, only to be violated. This is a pattern that I believe will continue.
If you are an American and feel violated by what has happened the last few months - you have every right to be angry…
But rest assured, just like Pearl Harbor, the insanity of 9-11 was premeditated. The path toward this infamous day has been planned for years, so what's next?
Israel, like America, is the one always asked to make the concessions, yet they stand to lose the most.
If there could be any good that would come out of 9-11, may it be our leader’s final realization of the true intent of these gestures. May they also learn to equate all terrorism equally, let Americans resolve to battle this foe as we did in 1941, until we have achieved complete and total victory.
Personally, I find it terrifying to see such parallels, yet watching our nation moving in the opposite direction. If we continue that direction, America has much more to lose, as does Israel…