Ladies &
Gentlemen,
The recent discussions which
have occurred on this list which have tried to say, in essence, which was worse,
Pearl Harbor or the World Trade Center attack, are a little specious and
ridiculous. The question of whether one or the other is worse or is the
paramount example of a dastardly assault on America is a waste of time and
effort.
Trust me, to the men and women
(and their family and friends) who suffered at the Pentagon, the WTC and on
Flight 93, the degree of suffering was the same as it was for the men of the
USS Arizona and the rest of the Pacific Fleet on that Sunday
morning.
It is high time that we in the
history community get busy documenting events (interviews which help the firemen
and policemen and other workers vent, gathering articles, tracking events our
governments (local, state and federal) take to handle this new challenge, etc.)
so our children and later generations can learn. Just remember how much
you wish someone had done a better job recording the events at Fort William
Henry, Bushy Run, the signing of the Suffolk's Resolves, the reactions of
soldiers during mobilization for the Civil War,
etc.
Let us get to
our work as a way of honoring all of our brothers and
sisters who have died in defense of our liberties in this and past and (God
forbid) future wars.
John E. Buchanan
Adj Prof, History
ST Leo's University
MAJ, US Army
(Ret.)