Leslie

I can't imagine the Brits would compare Peal Harbor to the Blitz. The Blitz was an ongoing campaign lasting for months and months, changed a landscape, changed a country and killed thousands of more people than Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was something that happened in just a few hours in a very specific and isolated area. Two totally different scenarios the only common strand is that they happened during the same war.

I was thinking more along the lines that Brits might still be pissed off that it took Pearl Harbor to actually get the US into the war effort but apparently (from the results of this thread anyway) nobody gives a turd any more.

Rushman

So did I and Churchill kept schtum until the last minute tio bring them into the war.

Leslie

I heard Roosevelt and Churchill were in on it together.

Rushman

Only about 20 times more in the Blitz, thats all.

elfman

lots of stuff here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_H...owledge_debate

ugacrew

There's always a conspiracy it seems after a large history changing event has occurred. Such with the MLK and Kennedy assassinations. As well as 9/11. Some would say that this conspiracy theory was developed to relive the guilt that the Japanese may have had over the strike at Pearl Harbor. Others would say, like Lord Lionheart stated, that this was a way for FDR to get into a war. A move that was contradictory with his isolationist stance. Delaying response would have given him reason to reply in a way that was in keeping with a speech he gave earlier about not involving the US in a war without bearing the first strike. As I type this, this seems eerily parallel to whats happening today. The only thing that's no parallel is the comparison between FDR and Bush. Apples and oranges.

Kaffy Mintcake

This is not a contest of who can produce more dead.

Rushman

Then why dont you tell that to the poster who raised the blitz question instead of the person that was kind enough to answer it.

Kaffy Mintcake

Pearl Harbor Day isn't a day to be pissed off about the US entering the war late IMO, it's a day of remembrance. Every other day can be about people being pissed at the US.

Someone's always pissed at us for something afterall.

Kaffy Mintcake

Alright Snowbunny - what he said. Not a contest.

Rushman

No, I think the reason Brits dont feel as strongly about Pearl harbour is because ...we're Brits. It didnt happen to us so although abhorrant to us, we were not directly or emotionally affected as much as USC's so therefore it is not held in as much reverence to us.

Kaffy Mintcake

That's a fair and well-reasoned response.

Leslie

It's a little more complex than that and from a British point of view I actually think they had good reason to be pissed.

Kaffy Mintcake

I'm not saying that the Europeans don't have a right to be angry that the US didn't come to their aid earlier. I'm not saying that all.

But bitching about that on a day when thousands lost their life in a surprise attack would seem disrespectful to me ... a bit like spitting on their graves on the aniversary of a tragedy. The men that died that day didn't make the decision to not come to the aid of the Brits, French, etc.

And though late, the Americans DID come to the aid of the allies. Sometimes it seems like this important fact is overlooked. Many lost their lives. It was the government's decision not to intervene earlier ... not that of the guys who were fighting. I realize I'm stating the obvious ... but sometimes the obvious seems to be forgotten.

Enough of that - no need to resurrect the 'my Dad is better than your Dad' WWII thread. I understand what you're saying and hopefully you get where I'm coming from too.

Rushman

I havent actually read through this thread but who was the Brit that disrespected US deaths at Pearl by playing mentioning the US never entered the conflict prior or mentioned the Blitz death toll?


EDIT: Now i have just had a quick gander through the thread and cant see any British member of expats soiling the memories of the US servicemen that died at Pearl so perhaps you'd show me were any brit was "bitching" about losing more lives in the blitz than Pearl in this thread.