Of course I’d read all about it in history books. And then I taught all about it to high school juniors in my US History classes. I knew the story well; or so I thought.
But nothing prepared me for the emotional tsunami that knocked me flat when I toured Pearl Harbor. I was on the verge of tears the whole time—while watching the historical video, while walking the walk along the shore reading the plaques, while taking the launch out to the USS Arizona, while quietly reading the list of names at the Memorial.
Over a million people visit Pearl Harbor each year. They come for a myriad of reasons. The girl in the row ahead of me during the short movie obviously came because her parents dragged her there. “Please be respectful and refrain from texting,” I said softly. She glowed at me, but put her cell phone away.
I wonder if she learned anything that day. I know I did. It hadn’t sunk in until then that in 1941, one-third of Hawaii’s population was Japanese. One-third! That’s roughly 157,000 Japanese, compared to 126,000 living on the mainland. (Don’t get me started on the issue of internment camps on the mainland!)
Today marks 70 years since “the day that will live in infamy.” I wish I had visited the Memorial while I was still teaching. I might have been able to instill more passion into my lesson, the lesson I hope we all have learned.
Please take a moment of silence today to reflect on all that day has meant to us in the past 70 years. Then share your thoughts with our youth. Help them understand.