It often shows itself as distrust, hostility, or discrimination toward people seen as foreign.
In 1940, Japan was so xenophobic that it believed it rightly deserved to rule all of the Asian Pacific. When America created an oil blockade of Japan, the Japanese rulers felt justified to attack the American naval fleet on December 7th, 1941, at Pearl Harbor. 2,400 Americans were killed. President Roosevelt declared it to be a day that will live in infamy. But are we forgetting the lessons learned at Pearl Harbor? First, a xenophobic worldview led to unjustified and irrational behavior. And second, America's response to the attack created a unified nation that rejected totalitarian rule in favor of true democracy.
On this December 7th, let us remember with reverence those who died and rededicate ourselves to tolerance of different ideas in a unified country.
This is Dr. Scott Morris for Church Health.
