9.13.2020 – on nine eleven

On nine eleven world history, infamy one word for the day

The recent anniversary of 9/11 brought so many and to this day almost unbelievable and unreal memories. Many references were made to the fact that no attack since Pearl Harbor had been made against the United States. Fewer and fewer people will remember Pearl Harbor. But the news media will always commemorate with films clips of burning ships and the clips of President Franklin D. Roosevelt asking Congress for a Declaration of War. The most famous part of the speech and maybe the most recognizable words from the speech is the first line that states, “Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in world history.” But that is not what FDR said is it? The News Reels of the era clearly show that FDR said, “Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.” The existing typescript of the first draft shows that the phrase used the words, World History. It also shows that the words are heavily crossed out. Penciled in above is the single word, “infamy.” The archivists say that the edits are made in FDR’s handwriting.

I admit the word may have been suggested to FDR. I cannot claim that FDR thought of the word. I can say that compared to the WORLD HISTORY, the use of the word INFAMY makes all the difference. Abraham Lincoln could have started out saying 87 years ago instead of four score and seven. But Mr. Lincoln chose Four score and seven. Trumpets instead of car horns. The online Merriam-Webster dictionary defines INFAMY as: evil reputation brought about by something grossly criminal, shocking, or brutal or an extreme and publicly known criminal or evil act. An extreme publicly known evil act. Shocking and brutal. Infamy. 9/11.