Showing posts with label FDR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FDR. Show all posts

Saturday, December 7, 2013

The Day That Lives In Infamy



On December 7, 1941 414 aircraft from aircraft carriers of the Empire of Japan attack the US Naval facility at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  The actual attack was 2 waves of Japanese planes attacking and lasted a little more than 2 hours.



The United States was set a major blow that day.
  • 4 Battleships sunk
  • 3 Battleships damaged
  • 1 Battleship grounded
  • 2 other ships sunk
  • 3 cruisers damaged
  • 3 other ships damaged
  • 188 aircraft destroyed
  • 159 aircraft damaged
  • 2402 military personal killed
  • 1247 military personal wounded
The Japanese came out victorious that day.
  • 4 midget submarines sunk
  • 1 midget submarine grounded
  • 29 aircraft destroyed
  • 64 military personal killed
  • 1 military personal captured (Kazuo Sakamaki)
On that day it did not matter if you were a Democrat or Republican.  A Christian or Jew.  You were an American.  And you were pissed!  Especially after seeing the newsreels.



Click here if the video fails to load.


The next day President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asked congress to declare war upon the Empire of Japan.


A war that would take 4 years and cost the lives of 416,800 American military personal and billions of dollars.  But in the end The Greatest Generation saved the world.


We cannot and will not ever forget their sacrifice for freedom!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

1930's Redux?

Stolen from Faultline USA

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the past few weeks I have been wondering why none of what's happening today in America seems new, or even surprising. A short time ago it became clear. We've experienced it before. We've seen this movie before. It's pre-1945 Germany -- all over again.

"The U.S. had been moving toward a total police state since about 1913; but in 2012 the final nail in the coffin of democracy and justice was hammered into place with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. NDAA allows for the U.S. military to arrest, imprison, and torture American citizen without due process of any kind!

Contemporary America has adopted the identical police state, economic-military imperialist policies and operations that Nazi Germany did--though the enactment of those policies differs to some degree. The sound of Gestapo jackboots is now heard in the land of Jefferson, Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt."  SOURCE

Oh, yes. I expect to get hammered for even broaching this subject. Any time a conservative points out the obvious -- especially when it has to do with Hitlerian Germany -- we are hammered by the political left.

Problem is -- there are still a few of us around who remember those days, and the war, and the years after the war when so much more was uncovered about the leftist movement in Germany that produced Nazism and nearly destroyed the world.

In his book: "Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Change," Jonah Goldberg reminds us that the original fascists were really on the left, and that liberals from Woodrow Wilson to FDR to Hillary Clinton have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of Hitler's National Socialism and Mussolini's Fascism.

The sad truth is -- they are doing it again. This time America is their target and, unfortunately the average American citizen is so ignorant of politics, so ignorant of their own country's history and its founding documents they are allowing a leftist dictatorship to roll-up America as they stand idly by fiddling with their latest electronic gadget totally oblivious to their loss of freedom.

So why speak up now and risk bringing an excrement shower down on our heads? Because we have a duty to our fellow man to issue a warning.

Those of my generation remember these few words well. They are burned into our psyche:
"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't communist.
They they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionists.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Finally, they came for me, but there was no one left to speak up."
Those words were penned by Martin Niemoeller, a Lutheran Pastor who was sent to the Dachau Concentration Camp in 1938. He paid the price.

We could easily insert the words "Tea Party", "The Press," "Christians," "Conservatives" into the Rev Niemoeller's words above and they would fit, exactly, where we are today in modern America.

In an oped piece for the Washington Times back in 2009, Walter Williams, a professor of economics at George Mason University, said this: "The path we're embarked upon, in the name of good, is a familiar one. The unspeakable horrors of Nazism, Stalinism and Maoism did not begin in the '30s and '40s with the men usually associated with those names. Those horrors were simply the end result of a long evolution of ideas leading to consolidation of power in central government in the name of social justice." In Germany, it led to the Enabling Act of 1933: Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Nation. After all, who could be against a remedy to relieve distress? Decent but misguided Germans, who would have cringed at the thought of what Nazi Germany would become, succumbed to Hitler's charisma.

Today's Americans, enticed, perhaps enchanted, by charismatic speeches, are ceding so much power to Washington, and like yesteryear's Germans, are building the Trojan horse for a future tyrant." SOURCE I came across an article entitled: "26 Similarities Between America and Nazi Germany -- Three Forces Destroying the America We Know" By Brannon Howse recently. I'd like you to consider a few of those similarities Mr. Howse points out:

In 1935, under Hitler's rule, prayers ceased to be obligatory in schools. In 1962, The U.S. Supreme Court outlawed school prayer.

Hitler eliminated Christian holidays in the schools first by calling Christmas "Yuletide." Most American public schools now call Christmas vacation a "winter break."

Hitler took Easter out of schools and instead honored that time of year as the beginning of spring. It has likewise become common for schools in America to refer to time off at Easter as "spring break."

Hitler controlled the church using intimidation and threats. A half-century ago, U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Baines Johnson, promoted a bill that included an amendment to use the Internal Revenue Service to remove the non-profit status of a church that speaks against the election of any specific political candidate. (We all KNOW what the IRS has recently publicly admitted to doing.)

Hitler enticed thousands of pastors to promote paganism in their congregations. Neo-paganism is one of the fastest growing religions in America, doubling every 18 months according to a June 2008 article in The Denver Post.

Hitler was an environmentalist and vegetarian. Marriages performed by the Nazi state frequently included blessings of "Mother Earth" and "Father Sky." Today Americans increasingly accept radical environmentalism, pantheism, and the celebration of Earth Day.

Hitler was fascinated by eastern mysticism. Today an increasing number of American pastors encourage their followers to become "mystic warriors".

Hitler's holocaust killed between 8 and 11 million Jews and non-Jews. Americans have killed an estimated 50 million babies since abortion was legalized through the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973.

By 1938, all private schools were abolished by Hitler and all education placed under Nazi control. There is constant pressure from federal and many state education authorities to require that Christian schools use state-mandated, humanistic textbooks.

Hitler prevented dissenters from using radio to challenge his worldview. Many powerful liberals in America have made clear their intent to reintroduce the "Fairness Doctrine" that would require conservative and religious radio stations to offer equal time to anti-Christian, anti-conservative worldviews.

Pastors who spoke against Hitler's worldview and his murderous regime found themselves on trial and frequently imprisoned for "Abuse of Pulpit." In America, hate-crime legislation has the potential to criminalize Christians and pastors who speak out against the homosexual agenda.

Hitler outlawed the cross and replaced it with the swastika. Today many churches, Christian colleges, and universities have willingly removed the cross from their buildings. Numerous court cases sponsored by the ACLU have required the removal of the cross from public grounds. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that the Ten Commandments cannot be posted on public grounds for religious purposes.

Hitler exploited the economic collapse of Germany to take over as dictator and usher in his brand of socialism. America's financial crisis has given liberals in both political parties the opportunity to grow the size of government and implement freedom-robbing socialism at lightning speed.

Hitler was obsessed with globalism, and many of America's most powerful political leaders are willing to subjugate American sovereignty to contemporary globalism.

Many Germans responded to Hitler by retreating into neutrality. Today most Americans prefer to remain neutral on moral issues that they think don't affect them personally.

On trial after World War II, Hitler's henchmen used the defense that they had not broken any laws. True, they had not defied the laws of Germany since those had been re-written to fit the goals and objectives of Hitler. The Nazi leaders were nevertheless found guilty because the courts at the time recognized a "law above the law." Yet now the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the law of nature and nature's God by claiming that as society evolves, morals evolve, and so the law, too, must evolve.

Calling upon Darwinian evolution, Hitler convinced the German people that purging millions of people was acceptable because of the need to create a pure race; also referred to as eugenics. American students across the board have been educated in Darwinian evolution because the Supreme Court has ruled that creation cannot be taught in our schools-even if both creation and evolution are taught side by side.

Germans accepted socialism to avoid pain. Today's Americans are rejecting capitalism in exchange for government-sponsored "free" healthcare, education, and countless other government handouts.

America is rushing toward government-sponsored, national healthcare. (Obamacare is already the law of the land in America.) We already have a form of this in Medicare and Medicaid. Hitler, too, expanded and centralized Germany's healthcare system. As Melchior Palyi explained, "The ill-famed Dr. Ley, boss of the Nazi labor front, did not fail to see that the social insurance system could be used for Nazi politics as a means of popular demagoguery, as a bastion of bureaucratic power, [and] as an instrument of regimentation."

There is much more in this article and we recommend you read it -- whether you agree with it or not. You will find it here: SOURCE

I don't know about you, but I experienced an involuntary shudder as I read the similarities above. It's akin to reliving a terrifying nightmare.

What's even more distressing is watching my fellow Americans happily and energetically promoting and then voluntarily lining up for the FREE hot government showers.

It has been said that the only foes that threaten America are the enemies at home, and these are ignorance, superstition, and incompetence. I would add one more -- apathy.

Many conservatives are losing hope today that America can survive. Unless there is an act of God, I feel certain America will install another president in the mold of the current occupant of the Oval Office in 2016. I believe that will truly mark the end of days for America.

America rode to the rescue of the world in the 1940's. But there is no one, no country, remotely interested in riding to America's rescue today. So, if America is to be rescued, she must rescue herself.

And therein lies the deepest hurt of all.

There is virtually no homogeneity in America these days. There is precious little similarity, or comparability in kind or nature amongst Americans anymore. Diversity and multiculturalism took care of that. We have so little in common with our neighbors and fellow countrymen that we really could not care less what happens to them and -- by extension -- to our country. Thus our vulnerability.

It is not enough to ask as the ancient Psalmist did: "If the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" -- Psalm 11:3. It seems so inadequate to answer by sounding ONLY the alarm.

But America is not alarmed -- not yet! Until she is -- and until she is ready to pay the fiddler, her race to self immolation will continue.

Friday, December 7, 2012

71 Years Ago Today



The attack on Pearl Harbor (called Hawaii Operation or Operation AI by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters (Operation Z in planning) and the Battle of Pearl Harbor) was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.



The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. Of these eight damaged, two were raised, and with four repaired, six battleships returned to service later in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded. Important base installations such as the power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.



The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day (December 8), the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for non-interventionism, which had been strong,[14] disappeared. Clandestine support of Britain (for example the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.



There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. However, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy".

Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Pearl Harbor Address



If you cannot see the video go here.

It has been said that if the Japanese did not attack Pearl Harbor there never would have been a Hiroshima.  I am not sure that is true. What is true is that the attack on Pearl Harbor awoken the American people from their slumber and gave them the resolve to destroy the Japanese.  The War as it became known as, brought the nation together in a common bond.  While many things were denied to the civilian population, they discovered ways to either do without or extend the life of the items that could be done to.  Victory gardens, home canning, etc... was popular as was Meatless Tuesdays and doing without cigarettes, sugar, tea and coffee.  The men went off to war, but American women walked into the factories and built the guns, tanks, ships, airplanes, and jeeps that won the war.

We must never forget the sacrifice of the Greatest Generation.  Not just today, but every day.

To learn more about Pearl Harbor go here.


USS Arizona Memorial

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

December 7, 1941



On this date 69 years ago the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by the forces of the Empire of Japan. Thus thrusting the United States into World War 2.

Words cannot relate the horror or the fear the men under attack felt that day, or the anger of this nation.

Pictures speak louder than any words.




The next day, December 8th, 1941 gave this speech to a joint session of Congress

Day of Infamy speech


Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secretary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese government also launched as attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
Germany declared war on the United States, and the conflict that were regional in Europe and the Pacific became global.

It took the United States 4 years, billions of dollars and 383,600 US troops killed to defeat both Germany and Japan.

USS Arizona Memorial


We will never forget their sacrifice!!!