Montgomery County sentinel., 1944-12-07
Might Be
Wrong But
BV
P. G. sTROMBERG

VI WCAC oLohCh Ao SAiCS A0N
never known. We had been at
tackled at Pearl Harbor by the
Japanese. More than three thou
sand of our men were killed in
that worst military calamity in
American his
Wen Always tory. With that
Remember one stroke Japan
Pearl HarbOr + e du ced our
naval power to
a point where she was almosS
able to chase us from the Pa
ciic. And yet it was that
catastrophe which future gener-
ations will point to as the turn
ing point in our relations with
the rest of the world. Already
the expression Of "before Pearl
Harbor" is common. With the
historic day of December 7, 1941,
isolationism as a. political issue
in the United States came to
an end. December 8, 1941 marks
the beginning Of a new era. Re-
gardless of differences on domes-
tic issues this country has been
as nearly united in prosecuting
the war effort since Pearl Har-
bor as it could be. Pearl Har-
marks the time when this nation
began to take her proper place
in world affairs. There were
many among us who recognized
the new era but those who had
helped defeat the League of Ma
tions still were able to s.i! a
large percentage of our people
on the theory that we We're far
better off in maintaining aloof-
ness in world affairs. They were
able to do this primarily ON the
fact that our people are probably
the most peace loving in the
world and wanted to live ssieh-
out war. The isolationists had
a psychological advantage. Our
people felt that we would be bet
ter served by letting other coun
tries settle matters for them
selves. The shortsighted argu-
ment of safety
Over 1900 for the present
Of Our Men meant to them
Were Killed safety for the
future. They
failed to give due consideration
to the modern world. They had
been told that there could be no
successful attempt to invade our
shores and they believed it. At
least they believed it until Pearl
Harbor.
Our people still want peace
but they recognized that to enjoy
peace the world must be peace
full. And they understand that
If the world is to be peaceful
there must be methods of enforc-
ing nations to settle disagree
ments in an orderly manner.
They were hurt, embarrassed
and maddened at the Pearl Har-
Dor attack. They we're ready to
make war when Japan asked for
it. They were ready to make
what sacrifices were necessary to
help the United Nations defeat
the Hitler challenge. Then and
now our people are bending
themselves in the war effort.
They are still
IsOlationism peace loving but
Came To they know that
An End peace is a desir-
able condition
which can only be had by fight
ing for it. They understand that
the very freedoms which we have
enjoyed came through foresight,
courage, war and sacrifice on the
part Of our forbears. And they
realize now that it is only
through waging this war success
fully can we pass on to future
generations the peace they cher
ish so dearly as well as the free
doms which go along with our
democracy.
The tragedy of Pearl Harbor
was again brought to our atten-
tion this week when it was an
nounced simultaneously by the
War and Navy Departments thai
there might be insufficient evil
denee against Admiral Kimmel
and General Short to proceed
with courts-msrtial. Results Of
the several Investigations, we
we're told, cannot be made public
because too much information
would be given the enemy. The