The front page of The Review and Forest Parker on December 2, 1942 featured a cartoon referring to the first anniversary of the attack of Pearl Harbor.
Seventy five years ago today, this surprise military attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, set into motion the United States’ entry into World War II.
Cartoons created during the 1940’s reveal the tensions and fears ignited by the conflicts between nations and cultures. National politics were impacting the lives of Forest Parkers as many men were enlisted or selected to serve the U.S. Military. Propaganda was used across the nation to manage the attitudes and civilian morale. Often they focused on dehumanizing the enemy and fed into biased perceptions that encouraged animosity. At the same time, Americans were urged to save material for the war effort, to plant victory gardens and buy war bonds to be a part of the support for the men fighting.
There are neither permanent friends nor permanent enemies in international relations. There are only permanent interests. Both Japan and America have a permanent interest in democracy and capitalism today in East Asia.
