I'm sure her father was a great man, too. As were the hundreds men and women who built his boat, and the millions more who built boats, planes and tanks and rifles and other armaments at a speed and precision no other country could match.
It's been years since I did the research, but I once read a series of public opinion polls leading up to Dec. 4, 1941. A year prior, public opposition in this country to any participation in the war was something like 90 percent. Six months later, it was about 60 percent. On Dec. 5, 1941, it was almost zero percent. While it's a myth that FDR knew about Japan's attack in advance, it certainly was a big blunder by the Axis powers. It did awaken the giant. It allowed FDR to put America on a war footing, which is exactly what he had wanted for years. He felt, however right or wrong, that Europe could not forever withstand Nazi aggression. We were a well populated country with an abundance of untapped resources and factories that could easily be converted to a war-time production. Maybe out involvement in the war was inevitable, as demonstrated by the growing popularity of getting involved in the war, but the more our entry could have been delayed, the more likely Germany could have taken control of Europe. It must also be pointed out that it wasn't as if America stood by silently while its friends in Britain and France got slaughtered. FDR ran a number of convoy's to Britain to resupply that country. While we didn't send troops to the UK, we were certainly a strong ally. Hitler probably would have overrun the UK in early 1941 (by which time we were sending American pilots to fly sorties in RAF planes) if not for U.S. support. American citizens are largely peace loving. We've always had a yin and yang struggle over whether to be isolationist or not. This has led to some confused foreign policy at times. That's the danger in a representative government. Policies change from Congress to Congress, administration to administration. Other points made in this thread I'll take up in other posts ... to be continued ... H. -----Original Message----- From: Benjamin Falloon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 3:34 PM To: CF-Community Subject: Re: The Anti Terrorism Act.. I have absolutely no issue with your father. I'm sure he is a great man. honourable. My problem is political. america doesn't defend countries because of freedom. They defend countries (or 'liberate' them because of politics). Remeber that America didn't commit to the war in Europe until they were directly attacked. They would have made a significant different to the war had had actually 'practised' what they preached. If japan didn't attack American, chances are Europe would be a Nazi state right now. Please don't take it personally. I have nothing against you or your family. Also, please don't misinterpret me. I was refering to a general 'impression'. Not a specific persons experience. If your father did such a thing, then he would be completely within his rights to say that to me. My issue is with MTV Xgens telling me to watch what I say because if war breaks out THEY wont help me.... Can you see my point... there is a very big difference between people with experience (such as your father) and people who use the america 'power' position to bolster they moral standing. that is the american way of doing politics. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maureen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 8:25 AM Subject: Re: The Anti Terrorism Act.. > At 08:13 AM 10/3/01 +1000, you wrote: > > >the ideals of freedom. Americans ACTUALLY said to me. "next time Australia > >is threatened, don't be asking for our help..." Can you believe the > >arrogance! > > > >benjamin > > In 1945 my father sat on a combat ship off the shore off Australia risking > his life to prevent Japanese subs from attacking the harbors. Next time, > I'll suggest he not be an arrogant American, and just stay home. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
