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Originally Posted by Snowman999
We were attacked, brutally, without warning, during diplomatic negotiations.
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I hate the assersion. Such bollocks in its own right. The US is the big fan of pre-emptive war these days anyway. War is a brutal nasty affair, and to say the US is some big victim in a brutal uncalled for attack is like saying that Europe was taken by surprise when Hitler invaded Poland. Anti-war sentiment led to stupidity and isolationism. The US wanted economic hegemony but not the military consequences of being affluent and powerful in the hemisphere.
The Japanese went for the Jugular by attempting to cripple the US surface fleet. Thats called good strategy. Surprise attack. You can denounce Pearl Harbour all you like but at least it was a military target. Don't be righteous when your nation was the one that nuked hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians who were being oppressed by a dictator.
A little perspective maybe.
As for the poem, its a lamentation of death but also a thoughtful reminder that there is a beyond and that those that sacrifice themselves will go on to heaven and that death is not the end because we remember those that died.
Very similar to John Donne's 'Death be not proud'.
I found it very rousing and melancholie. No "rah rah war is great", or "boo boo war sucks period". Its impartial in its appraisal of death and thememory of those that die.
Showing he sub sink is appropriate also I think. Most games make you a hero that can't die. This isn't about being a hero. This is about being a sailor. Plus I love English poets of that era. Such beautiful writing by itself.