Pearl Harbor Day

When I think of Pearl Harbor, it’s a complex process. I think of my late Uncle Bill, who was there 80 years ago, and of how my cousin is here because he survived. I think of his younger brother, my Dad, who probably joined up partly because of this event, and that us kids are lucky to be here, because he also survived the war. I think of that attack as a terrible example of the horrors of war. I think of the complexities of global politics and economics, and all the other factors that drive countries to make war on others. I think of how there’s a part of me that wants to pray for the souls of those who died that day, even though I don’t really pray any more, so instead I think appreciative and respectful thoughts for them. I think of what we did to our own patriotic Japanese American citizens. I think it would be pretty awesome, if humankind could learn to resolve our differences without war.