For most of America’s existence she’s been protected by two enormous oceans, “The Pond” (Atlantic) and “The Pacific.” These two huge bodies of water have kept invaders and spies at bay, or at least provided the necessary time to prepare a resistance. And any aggressor has to consider our Second Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms. Case in point: When Japanese Admiral Yamamoto was asked if he had plans to invade America’s West Coast after bombing Pearl Harbor, he replied, “I have no plans to invade America. There would be a gun behind every blade of grass.”
Once drawn in World War II and after the industrial might of America kicked into high gear, the U.S. Army Air Corps and the aircraft of our allies devastated the cities and countries of Europe, North Africa, Japan, and many more. Our ally, Great Britain, also experienced daily bombings and missile attack, and France’s infrastructure was ravaged as well. Yet, except for merchant shipping sunk off the American East Coast by Nazi U-boats and a few vessels sunk off the West Coast by Japanese submarines, our homeland survived virtually unscathed.
kAm%96C6 H6C6 6I46AE:@?D— 7:G6[ E@ 36 6I24E] ~?6[ 2 v6C>2? DAJ C:?8 962565 3J uC656C:4< y@F36CE sFBF6D?6[ 2 D9@HJ D@=5:6C 2?5 $@FE9 p7C:42? 25G6?EFC6C H9@ DA:65 7@C v6C>2?J 5FC:?8 ((x[ 925 6DE23=:D965 E96 sFBF6D?6 $AJ #:?8 367@C6 p>6C:42 6?E6C65 E96 H2C] #6>:?:D46?E @7 E96 #65 $42C6 :? E96 `hd_D[ b_ >6? 2?5 E9C66 H@>6? :?7:=EC2E65 G:E2= 4:G:=:2? A@D:E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 H@C<:?8 23@2C5 >6C492?E D9:AD 2?5 2:C=:?6D] $@>6 >2DBF6C2565 2D >:=:E2CJ 4@?EC24E@CD] $F446DD7F= 7@C D6G6C2= >@?E9D[ E96 sFBF6D?6 $AJ #:?8 6G6? >2?2865 E@ A:=76C E@A D64C6E >2E6C:2= @? p>6C:42? 3@>3D:89ED]k^Am
kAmx? `hc`[ 2 ?6H C64CF:E ?2>65 (:==:2> $63@=5 3642>6 “E96 C2E” @7 E96 DAJ C:?8 2?5 3642>6 2 5@F3=6\286?E 7@C E96 uqx] (:E9 6?@F89 D@=:5 6G:56?46 82E96C65[ E96 uqx 2CC6DE65 sFBF6D?6 2?5 ba @7 9:D 4@>A2?:@?D :? E96 8C62E6DE DAJ 3FDE :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ] p 76H 52JD 27E6C E96 y2A2?6D6 2EE24< @? !62C= w2C3@C[ E96 6?E:C6 sFBF6D?6 $AJ #:?8 H2D 4@?G:4E65[ E96? D6?E6?465 E@ 2 E@E2= @7 @G6C b__ J62CD :? 7656C2= AC:D@?]k^Am
kAmp D64@?5 6G6?E[ 2? 24EF2= D96==:?8 @7 p>6C:42? D@:=[ 92AA6?65 @? u63] ab[ `hca] y2A2?6D6 DF3>2C:?6 x\`f[ 42AE2:?65 3J r@>>2?56C z@K@ }:D9:?@[ H9@ 925 >256 A@CE :? $2?E2 q2C32C2 367@C6 E96 H2C :? 2 7C6:89E6C E@ E2<6 @? 2 42C8@ @7 @:= 2E E96 t==H@@5 ~:= u:6=5[ D=:AA65 :?E@ E96 $2?E2 q2C32C2 r92??6= F??@E:465 2?5 DE@AA65 @AA@D:E6 E96 t==H@@5 ~:= u:6=5] w6 @C56C65 9:D 564< 8F? 4C6H E@ @A6? 7:C6]k^Am
kAm%96 @:= 7:6=5 H@C<6CD @? 5FEJ 36=:6G65 E96 C6DF=E:?8 6IA=@D:@?D D:8?2=65 2? :?E6C?2= AC@3=6>[ F?E:= @?6 H@C<6C DA@EE65 E96 DF3] %96 6?6>J DF3>2C:?6 =@@<65 D@ 3:8 E@ E96 7:6=5 H@C<6C E92E 96 E9@F89E 2 y2A2?6D6 4CF:D6C @C 56DEC@J6C 925 6?E6C65 E96 492??6=] p 3@>32C5>6?E @7 a_ >:?FE6D C6DF=E65 :? =:EE=6 52>286j 2 AF>A 9@FD6 2?5 56CC:4< 56DEC@J65] %96 A:6C 2?5 2 42EH2=< C646:G65 >:?@C 52>286] p>6C:42? A=2?6D H6C6 C6A@CE65 E@ 36 “@? E96 H2J” — ?@?6 2CC:G65[ 3FE E96 ADJ49@=@8:42= 52>286 E@ E96 (6DE r@2DE H2D D6G6C6 2?5 42FD65 2 A2?:4] %96 ?6IE ?:89E[ y2A2?6D6 A=2?6D H6C6 C6A@CE65 “@G6C9625” 2?5 6G6CJ 2?E:\2:C4C27E 32EE6CJ :? {@D p?86=6D @A6?65 7:C6] %96 :?4:56?E :D <?@H? 2D E96 “q2EE=6 @7 {@D p?86=6D]” %96 DF3>2C:?6 2EE24< @? E96 t==H@@5 ~:= u:6=5 2=D@ 6?4@FC2865 E96 “?665” E@ :?E6C? y2A2?6D6\p>6C:42?D]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C 2EE24< @? p>6C:42? D@:= E@@< A=246 @? yF?6 a`[ `hca] p y2A2?6D6 DF3>2C:?6[ x\ad[ 3JA2DD65 >:?67:6=5D 3J 7@==@H:?8 2? p>6C:42? 7:D9:?8 G6DD6= E@ E96 >@FE9 @7 E96 r@=F>3:2 #:G6C :? ~C68@?] xE DFC72465 2E >:5?:89E 2?5 7:C65 :ED 564< 8F? 2E 2? @=5 pC>J 32D6 52E:?8 324< E@ E96 r:G:= (2C[ u@CE $E6G6?D] p44FC24J H2D ?@E E96 @C56C @7 E96 52Ji E96 D96==:?8 962G:=J 52>2865 E96 32D632== 7:6=5]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ :? $6AE6>36C @7 `hca[ x\ad 4@?5F4E65 E96 7:CDE\6G6C 6?6>J 26C:2= 3@>3:?8 @? p>6C:42] p *@<@DF<2 t`c* 7=@2EA=2?6 A:=@E65 3J }@3F@ uF;:E2 5C@AA65 :?46?5:2CJ 3@>3D @? 2 962G:=J 7@C6DE65 2C62 :? E96 G:4:?:EJ @7 qC@@<:?8D[ ~C68@?] %96@C6E:42==J E96 :?46?5:2CJ 3@>3D H@F=5 :8?:E6 2 7@C6DE 7:C6] "F:4< C6DA@?D6 3J 7:C6 A2EC@=D 2?5 2 =:89E H:?5 <6AE E96 52>286 >:?:>2=[ 2D H:E9 2 D64@?5 3@>3:?8 @7 E96 7@C6DE =2E6C E92E >@?E9] pD 2 8@@5H:== 86DEFC6 5FC:?8 E96 `he_D[ }@3F@ uF;:E2 >256 D6G6C2= G:D:ED E@ qC@@<:?8D] &A@? 9:D 562E9 :? `hhf[ E96 E@H? >256 uF;:E2 2? 9@?@C2CJ 4:E:K6?]k^Am
kAmp 7@FCE9 2EE24<[ 5F3365 2? “:?G2D:@?[” @44FCC65 5FC:?8 yF?6 @7 `hca] }2K: &\3@2ED 5C@AA65 EH@ 7@FC\>2? 4C6HD @? E96 4@2DE @7 !@?E6 '65C2 q6249[ u=2][ 2?5 p>282?D6EE[ }]*] %96 D23@E6FCD 42CC:65 6IA=@D:G6D[ 2?5 6249 E62> 925 23@FE Sgc[___ :? 42D9] %96 A=2? H2D E@ D23@E286 A@H6C A=2?ED[ EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 724:=:E:6D 2?5 :?5FDEC:2= E2C86ED] p?@E96C “C2E” DFC72465 H96? @?6 @7 E96 D23@E6FCD[ v6@C86 y@9? s2D49[ EFC?65 9:>D6=7 :? E@ E96 uqx 2?5 DBF62=65 @? 9:D 3F55:6D] p== E96 DA:6D H6C6 2CC6DE65 H:E9:? EH@ H66<D] $:I H6C6 6I64FE65] s2D49 2?5 @?6 @E96C DAJ D6CG65 D:I J62CD :? ;2:= 2?5 E96? H6C6 56A@CE65]k^Am
kAm%96 7:7E9 2?5 >@DE 3:K2CC6 2EE24< @? E96 p>6C:42? >2:?=2?5 :? ((xx H2D 244@>A=:D965 3J 2AAC@I:>2E6=J bd_ 32==@@? 3@>3D 42==65 uF8@D] {2F?4965 7C@> @G6C d[___ >:=6D 2H2J :? y2A2?[ E96 2C>65 32==@@?D 7@==@H65 E96 ;6E DE62> 7C@> 2? 2=E:EF56 @7 b_[___ 766E 2?5 H6C6 E:>65 E@ 5C@A E96:C d_\A@F?5 A2J=@25D 27E6C 2 E9C66\52J ;@FC?6J] xE H2D 9@A65 3J E96 y2A2?6D6 E92E E96 32==@@?D H@F=5 5C@A E96:C :?46?5:2CJ 2?5 2?E:\A6CD@??6= 3@>3D @? 962G:=J H@@565 2C62D @C @? 2? p>6C:42? 4:EJ] sFC:?8 `hcc 2?5 :?E@ `hcd[ p>6C:42? >:=:E2CJ A=2?6D D9@E 5@H? D6G6C2= @7 E96 32==@@?D 3FE >2?J 8@E E9C@F89] %96J H6C6 D:89E65 :? >@C6 E92? `d DE2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 |:49:82? 2?5 x@H2]k^Am
kAmx? ~C68@?[ 2 AC68?2?E H@>2? 2?5 7:G6 49:=5C6? H6C6 <:==65 3J 2 5@H?65 32==@@?] %96 D:I 562E9D[ A=FD E96 F?3@C? :?72?E[ H6C6 4@?D:56C65 E96 @?=J 4@>32E 562E9D E@ EC2?DA:C6 @? p>6C:42? D@:= 5FC:?8 ((xx]k^Am
kAm*6E[ E96D6 7:G6 :?4:56?ED 4@F=5?’E 4@>A2C6 E@ E96 24EF2= 26C:2= 3@>3:?8 @7 2? p>6C:42? 4:EJ 3J 2 962GJ 3@>36C 5FC:?8 ((xx] %96 E@H? H2D |:=6D r:EJ[ |@?E][ =@42E65 :? E96 962CE=2?5 @7 ?@CE96C? p>6C:42 23@FE 92=7H2J 36EH66? $62EE=6 2?5 |:??62A@=:D] p4EF2==J[ 6?6>J 2:C4C27E H6C6 ?@E E96 4F=AC:ED] %96 3@>3:?8 H2D 42CC:65 @FE 3J E96 3C2G6 4C6H @7 2? p>6C:42? q\`f u=J:?8 u@CEC6DD]k^Am
kAm~C:8:?2==J 42==65 u@CE z6@89 27E6C r2AE] |J=6D z6@89[ H9@ H2D <:==65 :? E96 q2EE=6 @7 {:EE=6 q:89@C?[ 2=D@ C64@8?:K65 2D rFDE6C’D {2DE $E2?5[ 2?5 H9@D6 9@CD6[ r@>2?496[ H2D E96 D@=6 DFCG:G@C @7 rFDE6C’D 4@>>2?5[ E96 E@H? 6G6?EF2==J 42>6 E@ 36 <?@H? 2D |:=6D r:EJ[ 27E6C v6?6C2= }6=D@? p] |:=6D[ u@CE z6@89’D 7:CDE 4@>>2?56C] $A2CD6=J A@AF=2E65 E96?[ 3J ((xx E96 E@H? H2D DE:== 4@?D:56C65 D>2== H:E9 2 A@AF=2E:@? @7 2C@F?5 f[b__ D@F=D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 5625 @7 2 |@?E2?2 H:?E6C @? |2C49 a`[ `hcc[ E96 C6D:56?ED @7 |:=6D r:EJ 2H@<6 E@ 2 =:G:?8 ?:89E>2C6] %96:C E@H? H2D :? E96 A2E9 @7 E96 C:D:?8 7C@K6? H2E6CD @7 E96 *6==@HDE@?6 #:G6C] $=FD9[ 7C66K:?8 H2E6CD[ 2?5 =2C86 49F?<D @7 :46 7@C465 E96 E@H?DA6@A=6 E@ 7=66 E96:C 9@>6D] |2J@C {]$] z6J6 C62=:K65 E96 E@H? H2D 46CE2:?=J 5@@>65 :7 :>>65:2E6 24E:@? H2D ?@E E2<6?] w6 42==65 :? 6IA=@D:G6D 6IA6CED 7C@> 2 ?62C3J >F?:4:A2=:EJ]k^Am
kAm%@ 9@A67F==J 3C62< FA E96 7C@K6? C:G6C 2?5 D2G6 |:=6D r:EJ[ EH@ =@42= A:=@ED 7=6H @G6C E96 C:G6C :? 2 D>2== 2:C4C27E 2?5 5C@AA65 d_\A@F?5 9@>6>256 3@>3D @? E96 7C@K6? *6==@HDE@?6] %@ E96:C 4928C:?[ E96 :46 ;2> 5:5?’E 3F586] |2J@C z6J6[ 56DA6C2E6 2?5 @FE @7 @AE:@?D[ 42==65 E96 v@G6C?@C’D ~77:46 2?5 C6BF6DE65 E96 :?4@?46:G23=6i “$6?5 :? E96 3@>36CD]”k^Am
kAm#2A:5 r:EJ[ $]s][ H2D E96 ?62C6DE pC>J p:C u@C46 32D6] p q\`f 4C6H BF:4<=J G@=F?E66C65 7@C E96 DEC2?86DE >:DD:@? @? C64@C5i E@ 3@>3 2? p>6C:42? 4:EJ] uFD:?8 2?5 =@25:?8 ad_\A@F?5 3@>3D 3682? :>>65:2E6=J] %96 =@2565 3@>36C 2?5 96C 6:89E 4C6H >6>36CD E@@< @77 :?E@ 2 3:EE6C 3=:KK2C5 2?5 52?86C@FD=J =@H 46:=:?8]k^Am
kAm$FAA@D65=J[ E96 3@>3D H@F=5 36 @77\=@2565 :? |:=6D r:EJ 2?5 EC2?D76CC65 E@ 2 H2:E:?8 5:G6 3@>36C] (:E9 2 E@A 46:=:?8 @7 =6DD E92? 2 `[___ 766E 2?5 2 92CD9 3=:KK2C5 3=2?<6E:?8 E96 2C62[ E96 A=2? H2D 492?865] %96 4C6H @7 E96 q\`f H2D @C56C65 E@ >2<6 E96 3@>3 CF?]k^Am
kAm%96 3@>3 C6=62D6 H2D A=2??65 2E `_[___ 766E] %96 q\`f 4C6H 4@F=5?’E D66 E96 8C@F?5[ >F49 =6DD E96 7C@K6? *6==@HDE@?6] pE fib_ A]>][ 2D E96 C6D:56?ED @7 |:=6D r:EJ H2E4965 :? 2>2K6>6?E[ 2 =@?6 q\`f 3C@<6 E9C@F89 E96 962GJ @G6C42DE[ D?@H[ 4@=5[ 2?5 9:89 H:?5D E@ >2<6 2 5F>>J 3@>3:?8 CF? @G6C E96 C:G6C] }@E DFC6 @7 E96:C E2C86E 2?5 7@C D276EJ C62D@?D[ E96 u=J:?8 u@CEC6DD >256 2 D64@?5 5F>>J 3@>3 CF?] %96 E@H?DA6@A=6 H6C6 AC:GJ E@ 2 >@DE F?FDF2= 2:CD9@H]k^Am
kAm~? :ED E9:C5 A2DD[ @?6 3@>3 76== 7C@> E96 3@>3 32J @7 E96 q\`f[ >@C6 @C =6DD E@ E6DE E96 C6DF=ED] %96 3@>3 56E@?2E65 C:89E @? E2C86E] (:E9 G6CJ =:EE=6 >@G6>6?E @7 E96 :46 ;2>[ E96 q\`f 42>6 :? 7@C EH@ >@C6 3@>3 CF?D 2?5 6G6?EF2==J C6=62D65 :ED 6?E:C6 3@>3 =@25] %96 C6D:56?ED @7 |:=6D r:EJ DE@@5 >@E:@?=6DD[ ?@E 2 H@C5 H2D DA@<6?] t?G:D286 36:?8 @?6 @7 E96 C6D:56?ED 2D ad_\A@F?5 3@>3D 5C@AA65 3J 2? p>6C:42? 3@>36C H9:DE=65 5@H? E@ 9@A67F==J D2G6 J@FC E@H?[ J@FC AC@A6CEJ[ J@FC 72>:=J’D 6?E:C6 7FEFC6] (:E9:? D64@?5D[ 2 8:2?E 4@=F>? @7 >F5[ 49F?<D @7 :46[ 2?5 H2G6D @7 8=24:2= H2E6C 6IA=@565 D<JH2C5 7C@> E96 7C@K6? *6==@HDE@?6 #:G6C]k^Am
kAm%96 :46 ;2> 3C@<6 2A2CE 2>:5 E96 4966CD @7 |:=6D r:EJ C6D:56?ED] %96 *6==@HDE@?6 D=@H=J C646565j E96 E@H? H2D D2G65] %@ D9@H E96:C 2AAC64:2E:@?[ E96 E@H?DA6@A=6 A2:5 7@C =@42= >@E6= C@@>D 2?5 EC62E65 E96 q\`f 4C6H E@ 2 DE62< 5:??6C] (96? E96 A6@A=6 2H@<6 E96 ?6IE >@C?:?8[ E96 H2E6C =6G6=D @7 E96 *6==@HDE@?6 925 5C@AA65 >@C6 E92? `_ 766E]k^Am
kAm%96 q\`f 56A2CE65 E92E >@C?:?8[ 3FE ?@E H:E9@FE >2<:?8 2 7:?2= A2DD @G6C E96 E@H?] uC@> 2 96:89E @7 d_ 766E[ E96 q\`f C@2C65 @G6C E96 C@@7E@AD 2?5 E96 A:=@ED C@4<65 E96:C H:?8D 2D E96J 7=6H 324< E@ E96:C 32D6 :? #2A:5 r:EJ]k^Am
kAm“%96 !@?5” 2?5 “%96 !24:7:4” ?@ =@?86C 9@=5 @77 @FC 25G6CD2C:6D] p? 6?6>J DF3>2C:?6 42? ?@H =2F?49 2 ?F4=62C >:DD:=6 H:E9 2 7=:89E E:>6 @7 =6DD E92? `_ >:?FE6D E@ 2? p>6C:42? 4:EJ] %9FD 72C[ =:<6 >:?5D 28C66 @? |ps[ D9@CE 7@C “|FEF2==J pDDFC65 s6DECF4E:@?]” p ?F4=62C 2EE24< @? FD 2DDFC6D >FEF2= 56DECF4E:@? @7 @FC 6?6>J[ H9@6G6C E92E >2J 36] {:<6 E96 7C@K6? *6==@HDE@?6[ @FC 962G:=J A@AF=2E65 4:E:6D 2?5 >:=:E2CJ 724:=:E:6D H@F=5 36 >6=E65 :?E@ 2? :?E6?D6 A=F>6 @7 =:89E 2?5 D>@<6] *629[ E92E :D BF:E6 |ps]k^Am
Recommended for you
Next City reports that a New Yorker armed with a TikTok account is trying to open more public bathrooms for everyone. Click for more.Cities don't have enough public bathrooms: Meet the influencer trying to change that
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Please log in, or sign up for a new, free account to read or post comments.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.