Editorial
In Our View: Remember Pearl Harbor
Two separate waves of 350 attacking Japanese torpedo planes, dive bombers and fighters swarmed over Pearl Harbor on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, leaving in their wake a decimated U.S. Pacific fleet, an emasculated Army Air Corps and a stunned, angry and terrified populace.
The final count from what President Roosevelt would label as the “day that would live in infamy” was lopsided: four U.S. battleships sunk as well as seven other ships crippled or sunk, 180-plus aircraft destroyed and nearly 2,500 Army, Navy and Marine personnel killed, with another 1,280 wounded. The Japanese lost fewer than 40 aircraft and several midget submarines.
But the surprise nature of the attack also resulted in what Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto had feared: Awakening “a sleeping giant and filling him with a terrible resolve.” Pearl Harbor became the 20th century equivalent of the Alamo, only with far greater global consequences.
Pearl Harbor pulled isolationist, militarily unprepared America into the bloody cauldron of World War II. Germany quickly declared war on the United States. Later British Prime Minister Winston Churchill would say that he knew the Allies would not lose the war after Germany invaded Russia in June of 1941 and that he knew the Allies would be victorious after America entered the war.
Warfare today is far different than the set-piece battles fought on the steppes of Russia, in the jungles of the South Pacific and Burma, and across North Africa, Italy and Western Europe. In those days, Americans knew who their enemies were.
But today’s combatants are nameless and faceless. They are terrorists who fight unconventionally. They strap on bombs and target troops, military convoys or innocent civilians. Their objective is to achieve their political aims by spreading fear.
They can be beaten. But it will take time and perseverance. The question is one of whose will is stronger, the al-Qaida fanatic or those civilized nations who saved the world from the Nazi and Japanese empires in World War II.
- Editorial
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In our view: Qualified for the job?
Voters in Jasper and Newton counties will be making decisions on several key positions on the local level. Among them are the presiding commissioner races in each of the two counties.
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Voices: Ensuring a safe place
When we think of our community, we want to think that we live in a safe place. This is one reason why people live where they do. On Aug. 3, the city of Neosho will be asking the voters to approve a tax levy that will go to fund city services.
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Voices: Operate ‘leaner’
How gullible do these local businesses think the citizens of Neosho are?
It is quite all right for these businesses to support an increase in property taxes. While they may state that this increase will affect them, it will, in truth, have very little impact upon them. -
Voices: Integrity and work ethic
I am writing this letter in support of William “Bill” White. He has donated countless hours as past president of the Joplin Swim Team, where I was fortunate to serve on the board of directors with him for the last four years.
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Voices: Qualified candidate
Aug. 3 is almost here and we in the 129th District have a very important decision to make.
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Voices: Way of life
Jim Stone’s recent column in The Joplin Globe shares with readers the “need to stop parroting the words of pundits ... to honestly listen to each other ... and pursue a dialogue that actually makes our nation progress.”
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Voices: Missed opportunities
I see the friends of Gary Nodler are out in force now. Of course, the fact that Gary Nodler has been a state senator all this time is not due to any exceptional ability on his part. Rather, no one bothered to challenge him until his term limits ran out.
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Voices: Blunt’s election ads
Congressman Roy Blunt’s political ads promise to “clean up” government and reduce spending that has put the United States in debt. They sound like they are for a “new” candidate.
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Voices: Vote for a fresh face
With the elections drawing near, the ads ramping up, the door bells ringing, the signs are a-flying, and everyone drawing opinions, why would you vote for a fresh face?
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Editor's note: Campaign letters
The Joplin Globe wants to hear from candidates vying in the Aug. 3 election and their supporters and critics.
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