I invite you to visit Hickam AFB in Honolulu. About 12 years ago, I was walking back to the parking lot from a meeting in one of the buildings there, and noticed that there were some peculiar looking marks on the wall. I walked over and thought, Odd! Why has someone been jackhammering here? And then I realized that those holes were made by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. They were not covered over so that would serve as a reminder to be vigilant and prepared.
Some of the programs I worked on to observe other nations space programs were undertaken with a goal of “avoiding a Pearl Harbor in space.”
Remembering past failures is useful. Remembering the consequences of hubris is also useful.
And, like many others, you could listen to a docent at the Pearl Harbor Memorial describing that day. No jingoism. It was quite moving. And then go over to the Arizona memorial and look at the names written there. Maybe not quite as moving as the Vietnam Wall, but it turns spectacle into remembrance.
So too, remembering the consequences of any past failures brought on by hubris is useful.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.George Santayana
With my apologies to the Brits for hijacking their rhyme…
I invite you to visit Hickam AFB in Honolulu. About 12 years ago, I was walking back to the parking lot from a meeting in one of the buildings there, and noticed that there were some peculiar looking marks on the wall. I walked over and thought, Odd! Why has someone been jackhammering here? And then I realized that those holes were made by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941. They were not covered over so that would serve as a reminder to be vigilant and prepared.
Some of the programs I worked on to observe other nations space programs were undertaken with a goal of “avoiding a Pearl Harbor in space.”
Remembering past failures is useful. Remembering the consequences of hubris is also useful.
And, like many others, you could listen to a docent at the Pearl Harbor Memorial describing that day. No jingoism. It was quite moving. And then go over to the Arizona memorial and look at the names written there. Maybe not quite as moving as the Vietnam Wall, but it turns spectacle into remembrance.
So too, remembering the consequences of any past failures brought on by hubris is useful.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana
With my apologies to the Brits for hijacking their rhyme…
Remember, remember the eleventh of September
Airplanes, murder and plot.
I see no reason why twin towers
Should ever be forgot…