Two 'Days of Infamy' remembered

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Fear has remained constant though for the United States. Dr. Joseph Romano, professor of philosophy, remembers listening to the news about Pearl Harbor with his extended family. He also remembers the fear and the rumors circulating about a possible invasion of the west coast and the possibility of a German U-boat in Cape May. The fear is still in the United States. Worries continue to arise about anthrax or retaliation from terrorists, due to America's attacks on the Taliban. Romano, who has been to New York twice since Sept. 11, was even stopped after coming out of the Lincoln tunnel on the day the United States bombed Afghanistan.

But while the list of similarities has a few notes, the list of the differences is staggering. "There weren't many similarities," Girard said, "except that it was a surprise. Any other comparison is ridiculous. There's no real comparison with any other war." lies in the enemy of the attacks. "Pearl Harbor was a sovereign nation attacking a sovereign nation," Girard said. The United States knew Pearl Harbor was an attack tack was on U.S. soil on the main land. by Japan. It has taken some time to have concrete evidence with Sept. 11. Though that may be true, Girard said anyone who still doesn't believe that Al Qaeda and

There are major differences Girard has noted. There was a different intent with the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11. Japan had targeted a military site, to attempt to keep America out of their plans to control the Pacific. The intent of the terrorists in Washington D.C. and New York was to take civilian lives.

While swprise can be a factor in similarities, it can also be a difference. "Japan had a focus of swprise," Hedtke said, "not terror. They had a clear cut goal." Both incidents may have been surprises, but they were handled in two completely different mal).Ilers. There was a lack of strategy in New York. Japan had planned everything perfectly as a military strike on a military target. Japan had their military objectives at Pearl Harbor. On the other hand, the terrorists had simply hijacked planes and took them into buildings.

The major difference though , .

Osama bin Laden were behind it is "an idiot."

But while an enemy can be identified and eliminated in one case, for the other it is much more complex. Japan was behind the attack at Pearl Harbor and was a country that America could go after. "There was no mask with Japan," Hedtke said. To eliminate the enemies of Sept. 11 will be much harder work. They are terrorists. Girard compares the network of terrorism to Hydra, the many-headed serpent slain by Hercules according to Greek mythology. "It's much more complicated and too widespread," Girard said. "You can hurt Islamic Fundamental Terrorism and cut them off."

These two conflicts have been either very similar or vastly different. Unlike Pearl Harbor, Romano says the war on terrorism is no'l a war that can be fought on the battlefield. And unlike World War II, there will be no V.E. Day or V.J. Day to signify the other side ending the war. There is no definite end.

A soldier gets his hair cut on the war front in the war in Europe.

Romano went as far as to say that the impact for Sept. 11 was greater, due to being on the coast that it happened. "There was no immediacy of danger," Romano said. "To us, Hawaii was so far away." The impact was far greater for Romano as well, since this at-

Pearl Harbor was an attack with identifiable evils. • It was an attack in which retaliation was not so complex. It changed the Unites States and its position in the world. Pearl Harbor was a defining moment. While there are comparisons and contrasts between these two events in history, only time will tell if Sept. 11 was as much of a defining moment. But Girard is sure to add, "If you have any friend that thinks this will be over by July 4, they're wrong."