Courage, selflessness, and other lessons the ghosts of Pearl Harbor could teach Generation Z
Christopher Tremoglie
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It’s a date that will forever live in infamy — Dec. 7, 1941. It can be argued it was one of the most important days in the nation’s history. An even bolder proposition is that it was one of the most consequential dates in the history of the world. It commemorates the day in which the Japanese launched a sneak attack on the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
It was the catalyst for the country’s entrance into World War II that would forever shape the history of the world. Some of the country’s greatest men died that day, displaying selflessness and other virtues that are sorely missing from Generation Z.
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Dec. 7, 2023, marks the 82nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Japan’s attack began at 7:55 a.m. and lasted 75 minutes. It obliterated most of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Up until 9/11, it was the deadliest attack in the country’s history, as 2,400 perished during the assault. Dec. 7 was a day that defined a generation, but as time slowly passed, the date grew less meaningful each year.
Eventually, the relevance of Dec. 7 will be forgotten, and it will become just another calendar date.
But it is essential not to let that happen. We must never forget the legacy of those who fought and died and the spirit of a generation who fought to preserve freedom from some of history’s deadliest monsters. Moreover, the appropriately dubbed “Greatest Generation” who fought at Pearl Harbor and World War II could teach a thing or two to today’s youths about real trauma, pain, suffering, and tragedies. The bravery of the men and women in their early 20s who fought and died in 1941 starkly contrasts with the privileged youngsters of today.
In 2023, we live in an era when today’s youths lose their marbles over comedians telling jokes. Could you imagine their reactions if they saw bombs dropping from a plane in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service?
Men at Pearl Harbor had to worry about being blown to smithereens by a Japanese bomb, but today, we console anyone offended by a Dave Chappelle joke. What would those who died defending the country think of our society today? It’s a sad reflection of how far society has fallen from Pearl Harbor.
Today’s generation proudly celebrates their perceived intellectual and moral superiority over the generations of yesteryear. They have been brainwashed to think their feelings matter more than anything. However, this infantilization has made them weak. They flaunt their supposed “emotional intelligence” but lose their composure over the slightest inconvenience. They couldn’t handle walking a single step in the shoes of the people in 1941.
And it’s noticeable in observing today’s generation. But would they have displayed the courage and heroism needed to save others? Would they have demonstrated the selflessness needed to even defend the country from Japan? They act like they know pain and suffering but those who were alive during Pearl Harbor lived it.
We should also embody their spirit and values as we commemorate and honor those who fought to protect the country in 1941. These titans confronted real evil under some grueling conditions because it was their duty. And those who survived would fight to save the world from some of history’s deadliest monsters. It’s been 82 years since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, but the ghosts of Pearl Harbor could teach today’s generation many things – the least being real courage, fortitude, and bravery.