Richard Kemper Memorial Contest Essay

by Catherine Gerkis

Hello fellow Americans! We are gathered here on Memorial Day at the Richard Kemper Memorial to honor those men and women who served their country so that each one of us today can enjoy the freedoms that we exercise in our daily lives.

Richard Kemper was a Mamaroneck High School graduate who fought in World War II. He died in August 1944 while fighting in France. He was one of 99 Mamaroneck and Larchmont students who lost their lives during the war. In 1947, Richard Kemper’s parents purchased a plot of land next to Mamaroneck High School and built a memorial to honor their son and the other 98 Mamaroneck High School graduates.

World War II started almost 70 years ago when Germany, Italy, and Japan united in their common quest to build empires. The destruction caused by World War II was unparalleled. Almost 40 million Europeans died, two-thirds of whom were civilians. New technologies in warfare accounted for a great number of the 19.4 million military casualties. Although many years have since passed, many of the lessons learned from World War II can still be applied to the problems we now face as a nation. These lessons include not turning a blind eye to genocide, recognizing the problems of isolationism, and not letting fear and persecution result in genocide.

Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the genocide that occurred during World War II. Genocide is the calculated and methodical destruction of an ethnic, religious, racial, or national group. The perpetrators of the genocide believe their victims to be inferior to themselves or they wish to take over their victims’ land and property. The first genocide of the 20th century was the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. The well-known genocide of World War II was the one perpetrated by the Nazis. The Nazis principally targeted the Jews, as well as Roma (gypsies), Poles, Russians, homosexuals, the mentally-challenged, the disabled, and the incurably ill. This genocide is referred to as the Holocaust.

Although many do not want to believe it, genocide still exists today. It is present in Darfur, an area about the size of Texas located in western Sudan. Sudan is Africa’s largest country. Its major economic resource is oil. However, 70% of Sudan’s exported oil revenues are used not to help the Sudanese people, but rather to finance the country’s military. The six million people living in Darfur are among the poorest in Africa. The genocide that is occurring in Darfur started in 2003 when two rebel groups, sick of the drought, neglect, oppression, and conflicts in Darfur, launched an insurgency against the central government. The response to these rebel groups was brutal. The Sudanese government increased both arms and support to local tribal groups and other militias whom they asked to help defeat the rebels. Entire villages have been wiped out, food and water supplies have been destroyed, and thousands of Darfuris have been systematically murdered, raped, and tortured. Attacks on civilian populations thought to support the insurgencies have been approved by the government. Have we learned nothing from the Holocaust? Many stood by while the mass killings by the Nazis took place, and we, as a nation, cannot allow for this to happen once more.

Before the US entered World War II, our country followed an isolationist policy. Many Americans supported the belief that political ties to other countries must be avoided. Isolationists believed that our entry into World War I was a costly error. Because of this, Congress passed Neutrality Acts in 1935. It wasn’t until Japan attacked the US at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 that the US joined the war by declaring war on Japan and its allies. The idea that one nation can isolate itself from world events is even less appropriate today than it was during the time of World War II, given how small the world has become as a result of technological advances. Relating back to Darfur, it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the genocide taking place in that nation. The threat of global terrorism illustrates the non-suitability of an isolationist policy. Those who believe in an isolationist policy cannot ignore the very real threat of terrorism from militant groups from abroad that has reached our nation. The September 11 attacks on our soil were sponsored by terrorists living outside the United States.

In World War II, there was government propaganda against Japanese Americans. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, a wave of prejudice against Japanese Americans arose. Americans were frightened by the bombing of Pearl Harbor and this fear was encouraged by government propaganda. Japanese Americans were seen as potential enemies and were considered a threat to the American people. On February 19, 1942, an executive order that called for the internment of Japanese Americans was issued under President Roosevelt. In March of that year, military personnel began rounding up Japanese Americans and sending them to relocation camps. The camps were located far from the coast because it was thought that the camps’ remote location would prevent Japanese Americans from assisting any Japanese invasion. Two-thirds of the people sent to the camps were Nisei, native-born American citizens whose parents had emigrated from Japan. Many of these Nisei enlisted in the military and fought for the United States even though their families were situated in the camps.

What happened to the Japanese Americans during World War II was wrong and disgraceful. Our nation must be careful to recognize that the war on terror should not limit in any material respect the civil rights of any US citizens. Today, many people are very quick to label Muslims as dangerous, and those persons encourage prejudice against Muslims. Since the beginning of US involvement in the war in Afghanistan, many Muslims suspected of being terrorists have been brought to Guantanamo Bay, a United States military prison located on the shore of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Approximately 270 detainees still remain at Guantanamo Bay. Guantanamo Bay has become a center of worldwide attention and increasing criticism since President Bush made it the central prison for suspected al Qaeda members. Efforts to try the suspects have been unsuccessful; meanwhile, human rights groups and lawyers for the prisoners have publicized the harsh conditions of the prison. Many of the prisoners have protested themselves through riots, hunger strikes, and suicide. Many prisoners in Guantanamo Bay who have been found to be innocent have not yet been released because US officials are finding it difficult to find nations that will agree to receive them. The situation at Guantanamo Bay is a contradictory one --as a nation, the US espouses democratic values, yet at Guantanamo Bay, the US has been taking actions inconsistent with many of these democratic values.

Much time has passed since the end of World War II. However, there are still many problems that we face as a nation today. The lessons we have learned from World War II can be applied to the situations in today's world in order to help end global conflict. Thank you for your time today and let us remember the 99 Mamaroneck High School students who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Kemper Memorial Essay

Mistakes and Triumphs

by Nina Chiappetta

We live in a world today where countries throw threats of war like two children playing catch. In the back of our minds the question of whether or not another world war will occur lingers. If one were to take place, the repercussions would be devastating. It is fortunate that mistakes and triumphs from out past teach us lessons; in this case, both the United States and the world can learn from the past, more specifically, World War II. There are many important lessons we can learn about decision making, the value of each and every life on this earth, and our freedom.

There are many decisions to make regarding a war that need to be carefully thought through. Several decisions made regarding World War II proved to be errors in judgment and the outcomes were unfavorable. One rather important decision the United States made was our prolonged isolationist stance. While thousands of innocent men and women were slaughtered in Nazi death camps and all over Europe, the United States stood by and watched. As soldier after soldier fell defending the countries and the rights of others, we at first turned the other cheek, and then supplied weapons but no military. In hindsight we can see that the United States should have entered World War II years earlier than we did. Lives that need not have been were lost. We as a country need to realize that we are a global village. We can not ignore what is happening to our neighbors; isolationism does not solve problems, it just hides from them.

Today there are horrible situations where innocent lives are being lost and nothing is being done to rectify the situation. For instance, in Darfur, a genocide, not unlike the Holocaust, is in progress. Children are disappearing from their homes, families live in fear. The U.N. is not taking efficient steps to stop this. This situation, however, is not about isolationism, but indecision. Action has to be taken swiftly and quickly so as many innocent lives can be saved as possible. It is not fair to those people that we can go outside of our houses and feel safe and they can not. Everyone should be able to feel safe.

The late entrance to the war was not the only error in judgment during World War II. A major misjudgment was the dropping of the atomic bomb. It did indeed end the war with Japan, but at what cost? Two cities were destroyed, the land was contaminated. Thousands of people died and were hurt and the damage done trickled down to the next generation. The atomic bomb may have brought peace to the world then, but look at where it has brought us now; teetering on the edge of nuclear destruction during the cold war, fighting to stop other countries from developing their own for the wrong reasons. Why can't these people so bent on destruction see the bomb is not the answer to problems? It will not solve anything, but will create more damage. Why did we, and why do we continue to create such horrific devices? What good do they bring? Another atomic bomb or nuclear armament should never detonate.

Not all lessons learned from World War II are based on our follies. We have learned that every life is worth something; more specifically, the lives on the home front. Just because you were not out fighting did not mean you were not helping. Victory gardens sprung up all around the United States, children collected rubber and metal at school. More importantly, women dove right into the work force. They took their husbands jobs in stores and offices. Women worked in factories to make airplanes and tanks for the soldiers off fighting in Europe and the Pacific, all the while raising their families and keep the house. The country came to be thankful for women and their hard work. Today we see women all over the country climbing the corporate ladder, owning businesses, raising families, and yet, we do not stop to appreciate them for their hard work. Women need to be thanked for their constant efforts toward society. But women are not the only people that need to be thanked.

While the women supported the home front the men were out fighting for our country, for our freedom. The soldiers from World War II were valiant and courageous. They flocked overseas to help fight for the cause, for what they thought was right. They brought justice to the world and made it peaceful once again. They made our lives safe and kept our freedom. If people, like the soldiers of World War II, are willing to go out and die for our freedom then we should not take it for granted. The people in this country should be taking advantage of the fact that they have freedom of speech and freedom of the press; they should voice their opinions and make themselves heard. Only 64% of citizens in the United States voted in the last election. Why did the soldiers go fight for our right to choose our leader if 46% of citizens do not seem to even care? We need to take advantage of all opportunities secured for us by our veterans. We need to recognize all those who fell for our freedom.

Finally, we need to appreciate our veterans the way we did in the earlier 20th century. When you came home from war you were treated like a hero, everyone thought you were the bravest of the brave. Your community welcomed you with open arms and you were treated with respect, a job with your name on it was waiting for you, and so was the last promise of health care and stability. Instead of focusing all of our attention on fighting against war in Iraq, we need to focus on the needs of our heroes, our soldiers. We need to once again welcome them back with jobs and proper medical care and gratefulness from the citizenry. Going out and fighting, with the shadow of death hanging over your shoulder every hour of every day is not something that is easy. The soldiers deserve recognition for what they did, what they do every day. They are out there fighting for our freedom, selflessly giving up life and limb to protect and serve us. We owe them appreciation and respect, not just today, but for as long as they live.