"a day of infamy"

Today is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Not very newsworthy today, but a day that should not be forgotten.

When i was growing up, and studied history in school, I remember reading the words of President Roosevelt in his speech given on December 8th, 1941:

"yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy"

Not being a literary wizard, I always thought "infamy" just meant something like "always famous" or "never forget". Being a little more educated now, I truly have a greater appreciation and understanding about what FDR was saying, and how he chose his words.

He was referring to this day as one created by the evil that took place that morning. The idea that while Japan was courting the politicians for peace in the Pacific Ocean while they were secretly planning an invasion of this country.

Pearl Harbor wasn't just an attack. It wasn't a sucker punch to pick a fight with the U.S., it was the first step in an invasion of U.S. soil. The Japanese were convinced they could take over the United States.

It was the first time in almost 200 years that a foreign country had attacked our shores. Americans flocked to the military and enlisted to defend our shores. 17 year old young men were signing up. There were multiple instances where those who were not accepted commited suicide. Without question, joining the military to defend our shores was the right thing to do. The entire nation responded. Factories were re-tooled to make airplanes, ships, and weapons. Everyone sacrificed for the common cause of keeping this free country free.

FDR's speech in many ways is hauntingly familiar today:
"Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

The United States will always have enemies as long as it remains a free nation. There is no freedom greater than what exists in our country. Our democracy is an unwritten threat to every dictatorship, either politcal or religious, that oppresses billions of people throughout the world.

I'll never forget the words i heard when I was in Khartuom, Sudan. Standing among literally hundreds of muslims outside a mosque, there was one who did not return the arabic greeting "as-salamu alaykum". It was apparent he was not happy about me being a westerner. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the people around me, they started saying "american-democracy, democracy". Of all the things that we think makes our country great, in the farthest parts of the world, our greatness is defined by the thing that we take for granted.

Why R.O.CK. is wrong

R.O.C.K. stands for "Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana".

I have to question whose culture they're trying to reclaim. You can find more than you want to know about R.O.C.K. right here: http://www.reclaimourculture.org/content.asp

Webster defines Culture as "the attitudes and behavior characteristics of a group of people".

I guess R.O.C.K. thinks we're all a bunch of God-deprived perverts.

If R.O.C.K. is convinced that the problem with our culture is strip joints and adult bookstores, then they are truly clueless about the problems in our culture.

Before everyone starts freaking out, I'm not saying any of this in defense of the adult industry. I'm just taking a logical approach to this using factual information, not emotionalism.
I do believe R.O.C.K. is more concerned about appearance than they are action. They've pounced on a hot topic to get media attention and to rally the churches for a common cause. It's so much easier to go after the adult entertainment business than it is to tackle real social issues that plague out society.

First, let's talk about something no one ever wants to talk about: our youth. There is definitely a change in the culture of our society, and it's with our youth. People talk about a "moral decline" in society. I always find this ironic when this comes from a religious perspective, because it's exactly what Jesus foretold. I'm not concerned about a "moral decline" as if it's going to impact the church. The "moral decline", or rather the "change in culture" that concerns me is a generation of young people who have no hope of a future.

Sure, every young generation has rebelled. So what makes this generation so different? I think the stakes are much higher today than they were in previous generations. It's a culture where being a "gangsta" is cool. Getting high, having sex, and living a life with no responsibility is the norm. Sounds like the '60's, but at age 13?? The drugs are stronger. The consequences are higher. One in four teens will contract a STD, and 50% of all new aids cases are young people (13-24).

People want to blame Mtv, hip hop music, and even video games as the source of the problem. Let's take some responsibility and admit it's our generation that is responsible. Sure, hip hop music and mtv have made it glamorous, but only because we have failed to show that there is any alternative. It's the product of broken marriages, blended families, double income families that have no time and/or no peace in their life that would cultivate a healthy culture. By healthy i'm not referring to something that has to be aligned with any religious organization. I'm talking about the most basic of human emotions. A culture that says I care, I love you, I think you are wonderful, I believe in you, I know you can do it. There are youth today that literally do not understand the word "kind". They don't value friendships because they really don't know what one looks like. Their loyalties are only to themselves. I'm not bashing youth, nor am I talking about all of them. I'm talking about the forgotten ones. I'm talking about the ones that as a society have been written off as losers, low lifes, and future convicts. If you think I'm overreacting, try talking to the 13 year old girl who's convinced that the only thing in her future is jail time. Have a conversation with the 16 year old who was repeatedly sexually assaulted by her natural father, who now smokes crack with her mom. These aren't scenes from some tv show from Los Angeles, these are real conversations with our neighbors. It's the kids down the street.

Second, let's talk about porn and how it impacts our society. I have no doubt that porn has a negative impact on our society. I know people who are just as addicted to porn as an alcoholic is to alcohol. The real question is where does the real threat come from? Is it really the DVD store on main that hardly does any business, or is it that high speed internet connection that brings everything to the privacy of you own home?? The gambling boat did more damage to the adult business than anyone will ever give it credit for. More adult clubs have gone out of business since the arrival of Caesars than any ordinance passed. If a guy has a few hundred dollars of disposable income, he's headed to the boat to get lucky instead of the strip joint. His odds are much better at the boat! With the internet, you now have women addicted to porn. Marriages are broken by "online lovers".

What does R.O.C.K. have to do with this? Simple. If R.O.C.K. really wanted to change the culture, they would abandon their high profile media attention getting cause and start actively and creatively producing programs for youth. The porn drum is too easy for them to pound. They can sit back and point their fingers at others and never accomplish a thing except to feel good about themselves. As for as their religious agenda, it's even more misdirected. I'll never understand why religious groups attack the adult business, when it's obvious in both the old and the new testament of the Bible, God even had a purpose for prostitutes. (that's the best way I can put it. People at my church get mad when I say that "even God used prostitutes", it just sounds bad). I really believe, and statistics support, that these people do it because the true lust, the true sin, is so deeply embedded into their own hearts. Let's face it. Unless you've been under a ROCK (pun intended), you can get all the porn and adult stuff delivered right to your screen. The internet porn industry is the fastest growing business on the web. 25% of all web content is porn. Do these people really think it's Theater X that's causing the problem?

If it's a moral issue based on religious values, then take it to the pulpit. Preach it! Stop being such hypocrites and embarrassments to Jesus Christ. It's the church that has a higher divorce percentage than the world. 37% of Pastors are addicted to porn (we don't even need to mention the Catholic Priests and their problems do we?). In all my years of attending church and listening to sermons from other churches, I have yet to hear one sermon that condemns pornography, but yet I'm always reading about how important it is to shut these businesses down!!

If you want to put these places out of business, then help develop a culture where a young woman values herself. Where she respects herself enough not to ever work in a place. I'm not blaming women, but I will blame the men. Not the men who patronize these places, but the ones who make their girlfriends work there because their too lazy to get a job, or the men that have children and then disappear, leaving the young girl with two kids and no education to suddenly provide for a family.

R.O.C.K.'s latest billboard is correct. It is someones daughter. It's someones daughter who might have been abandoned by a father, or who's father was an addict, or who emotionally deserted her. It's someones daughter who fell in love with someones son who promised to love her forever, but dumped her after she had a couple kids because he didn't want to be tied down. It's someones daughter who has never been told she is loved or has value, and now feels that "every dollar counts" as a sign of approval. It's also a son who has surfed porn on dad's computer since he was nine, and has no respect for women at all. He sees them as objects for his amusement, and if they get pregnant that's their problem, not his.

To change the culture, or to "reclaim" the culture, you have to take ownership of the culture. You have to teach, instruct, care, and put energy into the youth that feel nothing. Removing the adult clubs might be something you can high-five your buddy about at the country club, but it hasn't done a thing for the people who felt so worthless that they were willing to work there.