Do you know what happened today?

Resignations sparked by sexual harassment claims, reports of collusions and rallies for a man banned from shopping malls all of these events overshadowed one of our most important dates to honor and remember: December 7. 

December 7, 1941. “A date,” President Franklin D. Roosevelt told the nation, “which will live in infamy.” The surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time under a clear sky — perfect conditions for the swarms of Japanese fighter pilots to drop their bombs.

The images from that day are apocalyptic. Battleships obliterated, planes destroyed. Smoke. Flames. The next day, as the images of the carnage that killed 2,403 American men, women and children spread throughout the world, Roosevelt declared war on Japan. Not long after that, Italy and Germany declared war on the U.S.

Knowing our place in history is critical to appreciating who we are.  We can learn from past events.   Being aware of the events that have happened on this day in history can help us place ourselves in an historical context.  I recommend that you follow my lead and explore the events that are our history.  Here is what  happened today:

  • 2008 Bernard Madoff arrested
Popularly known as Bernie Madoff, the founder and chairman of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was arrested and subsequently convicted of fraud. The Ponzi scheme he was involved in was the biggest such fraud in the history of the United States.
  • 1997 Kyoto Protocol adopted
The Protocol is a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty that calls for the restriction of greenhouse gasses by the signatories. The United States signed the treaty but did not ratify it.
  • 1946 UNICEF established
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, a U.N. affiliate organization that works for the welfare of children around the world, was founded on this day.
  • 1941S. declares war on Germany and Italy 
The U.S. responded to Italy and Germany’s declaration of war, by declaring war on the two countries.
  • 1936 King Edward VIII abdicates from the British throne
King Edward VIII abdicated from the British throne to marry American Wallis Warfield Simpson.

“If we don’t care about our past, we cannot hope for the future” Jackie Kennedy

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