--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On December 7, 1941, an event took place…" description: "\"On December 7, 1941, an event took place that had nothing to do with me or my family and yet which had devastating consequences for all of us - Japan b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/david-suzuki-1744_america_on-december-7-1941-an-event-took-place-t_551102.png" --- # On December 7, 1941, an event took place that had nothing… ![“On December 7, 1941, an event took place that had nothing to do with me or my family and yet which had devastating consequences for all of us - Japan bombed Pearl Harbour in a surprise attack. With that event began one of the shoddiest chapters in the tortuous history of democracy in North America.” quote by David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/david-suzuki-1744_america_on-december-7-1941-an-event-took-place-t_551102.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/david-suzuki-1744_america_on-december-7-1941-an-event-took-place-t_551102.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/david-suzuki-1744_america_on-december-7-1941-an-event-took-place-t_551102.png) > “On December 7, 1941, an event took place that had nothing to do with me or my family and yet which had devastating consequences for all of us - Japan bombed Pearl Harbour in a surprise attack. With that event began one of the shoddiest chapters in the tortuous history of democracy in North America.” [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor marked a turning point, exposing vulnerabilities in democratic societies and leading to profound consequences. **In simple terms:** Pearl Harbor attack showed democratic fragility. Key Takeaway Recognize and address systemic weaknesses. Themes history democracy war vulnerability Mood reflective somber Type historical analytical When to use this quote - military planning - public policy - education on history - civic engagement Key Concepts geopolitics national security collective trauma Questions to Reflect On - How can societies strengthen resilience after crises? - What lessons from Pearl Harbor apply today? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize democracy's failures based on a single event. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [December](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/december/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Japanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japanese/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [North america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-america/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprise attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise-attacks/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Pearl Harbor is a two-hour movie squeezed into three hours, about how on December 7, 1941, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/pearl-harbor-is-a-two-hour-movie-squeezed-into-three-hours-about-how/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I found Mr. Carter's actions toward the Republic of China so incredible that they defy description by socially acceptable expletives. If December 7, 1941…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-found-mr-carter-s-actions-toward-the-republic-of-china-so/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [December 7, 1941. A date which will live in infamy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/december-7-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“It was like being born in Germany after World War II, being from Japan after Pearl Harbour, or America after Hiroshima. History was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/it-was-like-being-born-in-germany-after-world-war-ii-being-from-japan/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [Unfortunately I put the opening date on the 5th of December 1941 and on the 7th of December the Japanese bombarded Pearl Harbour. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-askin/unfortunately-i-put-the-opening-date-on-the-5th-of-december-1941-and/) [Leon Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-askin/) > [I saw the film Pearl Harbour and it made me wish that the Japanese had bombed Hollywood instead!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/i-saw-the-film-pearl-harbour-and-it-made-me-wish-that-the-japanese/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/hostilities-exist-there-is-no-blinking-at-the-fact-that-our-people/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“She wore a loose bathrobe that covered up a body that would have won first prize in a beauty contest for cement blocks…She had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/she-wore-a-loose-bathrobe-that-covered-up-a-body-that-would-have-won/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-blutarsky/what-over-did-you-say-over-nothing-is-over-until-we-decide-it-is-was/) John Blutarsky > [When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the United States struck back. She didn't go and bomb - she bombed any part of Japan. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/when-the-japanese-bombed-pearl-harbor-the-united-states-struck-back/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Over? Did you say over? Nothing is over until WE decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/over-did-you-say-over-nothing-is-over-until-we-decide-it-is-was-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-belushi/nothing-is-over-until-we-decide-it-is-was-it-over-when-the-germans/) [John Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-belushi/) > [“Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bluto-in-animal-house/was-it-over-when-the-germans-bombed-pearl-harbor/) Bluto in Animal House ## More by David Suzuki > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Over and over, we hear politicians say they can't spend our tax dollars on environmental protection when the economy is so fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/over-and-over-we-hear-politicians-say-they-can-t-spend-our-tax/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Each of us now has 2.27 kg (5 lbs) of plastic embedded in our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/each-of-us-now-has-2-27-kg-5-lbs-of-plastic-embedded-in-our-bodies/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Nature surrounds us, from parks and backyards to streets and alleyways. 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Those were the characteristics that gave us an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-human-brain-had-a-vast-memory-storage-it-made-us-curious-and-very/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-pollute-the-air-water-and-soil-that-keep-us-alive-and-well-and/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The one thing I feel is very hopeful, however, is the overwhelming participation of women in the movement for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-one-thing-i-feel-is-very-hopeful-however-is-the-overwhelming/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“As we distance ourselves further from the natural world, we are increasingly surrounded by and dependent on our own inventions. We become enslaved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/as-we-distance-ourselves-further-from-the-natural-world-we-are/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/every-breath-is-a-sacrament-an-affirmation-of-our-connection-with-all/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [With an estimated population of nine billion people by 2050, we cannot continue to consume resources at the same rate and maintain our quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/with-an-estimated-population-of-nine-billion-people-by-2050-we-cannot/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Environmentalism has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-has-failed/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) [Explore all 212 David Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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