A Better World Shall Emerge
A Better World Shall Emerge
The Army and the end of World War II
Today is Labor Day in America. It is also the 79th anniversary of Victory over Japan (V-J) Day. On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Powers at a ceremony on the USS Missouri in the Bay of Tokyo. U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur oversaw the surrender and made two formal statements, a brief speech during the ceremony and a radio address to the American people afterward. This week for Army 250, I pulled out two pieces from his remarks.
First, in his speech at the surrender ceremony, MacArthur included the following:
“It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past - a world founded on faith and understanding - a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish - for freedom, tolerance, and justice.”
Looking back 79 years later, it strikes me that across almost every observable measure, a better world has emerged. The world is far more free, tolerant, and just than was the case in 1945. Yet, at the same time, the hope remains aspirational. We are never done working towards this vision. There is no law that the world inexorably improves over time. But as we face new challenges, MacArthur’s remarks are a reminder of all that we have overcome in the past and a prompt to look forward with faith that we can achieve great things.
Surrender Ceremony. Source: National Archives.
Second, in his radio address, MacArthur closed by paying homage to the American service men and women and asking the American people to welcome them home:
“ And so, my fellow countrymen, today I report to you that your sons and daughters have served you well and faithfully…They are homeward bound—take care of them.”
These words stood out to me because they made me think of my grandfather. He served in World War II. His generation, the Greatest Generation, has rightfully been lifted up for the incredible bravery they showed during some of the most trying times in history. In the public imagination, this generation looms like giants. And yet at the close of the war, what they most wanted was something we can all relate to: they wanted to come home.
These closing remarks, and the emphasis on home, offer a complementary perspective to MacArthur’s speech about envisioning a better world. As important as it is to consider whether the world is growing more free, tolerant, and just, we also have to ask ourselves whether we are making a world where more and more people feel a sense of home. This goal, much like the first, is never easy or totally complete, but certainly one worth reflecting on as we celebrate Labor Day.
Additional Resources:
Learn more about the USS Missouri here.
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