American history, or history in general, is not always marked by outstanding events, surprising people, or remarkable speeches. Much of the history of a great nation is one of gradual, sustainable recovery, regression and how people recover from those setbacks. But in the context of American history, there were truly unprecedented moments when everything changed. These are not just one day events though there are some that happened suddenly. But these are events that once happened, and Americans thought about themselves, the world, and their place in the world in a completely different way. And it is worth noting what those events were and how they changed Americans forever.
Naturally the Revolution and the establishment of the nation transformed a small group of colonists who considered themselves English away from home. Our attitude was completely different when America got independence. The new country we are now proud of, a new kind of nationalism with its own vision of the world and its own hopes and dreams.
World War II was such an event, that once we go through the tremendous tests, struggles and victories that people want in war, we can never go back the way we did. Thought before the war. Our victories over Japan, Germany and their allies have given us confidence that we can better influence world history. But it also gave us tremendous responsibility. When we dropped those bombs on Japan, everyone on earth began to understand the terrible power that is now in the hands of mankind, which for a season was in the hands of America and the great responsibility of the fate of mankind that accompanied that power.
Pearl Harbor deserves its own mention as part of World War II because it was a fundamental change in the way America viewed itself in relation to the world. Prior to that attack, America considered itself invincible. Like a young man who thought he could never get hurt, there had never been an attack in our homeland before. But Japan has proven that they can not only attack us but also seriously injure us. Yes, we react with rage but from that moment on, we know that we are just as vulnerable as everyone else in the world and that we need to start behaving differently in a world full of friends and enemies.
Outside the military, Dr. Martin Luther King's famous I Have a Dream speech on March 28, 1963 in Washington did not permanently change black society. Yes, that speech had a powerful impact on the way the African American community sees its future, and it gave impetus and hope to the struggling civil rights movement, which led it to success. But it has affected all Americans as we begin to see ourselves as a community of many cultures, many races, and many trends. This is the beginning of popularity in this country. However this is still an incomplete process.
In modern times, the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 have had a profound effect on American minds and hearts and indeed the world. We are still learning how this effect will eventually show as waves of shock, fear, anxiety and revenge still surround us. But with Pearl Harbor, it's sure to have an impact on our position in the world and our feelings about our vulnerability. Definitely changed forever.
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