75 Years After Pearl Harbor: Lessons From WW2 That Show the Goodness of America

December 07, 2016

Writer

Generations of American children have been taught how their government and military dropped two devastating bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. So profound was the devastation that Japan’s Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s unconditional surrender in World War II, citing the power of a new and most cruel bomb. The atomic bomb was America's response to Japan's unprecedented attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, where 2,403 people died and nearly 2,000 more were wounded.

Wednesday on The Glenn Beck Program, Glenn displayed two flyers from that era, teaching a lesson that most Americans have likely never heard: The US military warned Japanese citizens in advance of dropping the bombs, allowing them time to escape and save their families.

"Here is a map of the American forces coming in and bombing these industrial areas. This one says, Men, women, and children, leave the industrial regions because they are going to be bombed. The allies are not interested in bombing you and the people," Glenn described.

Another flyer specifically warned about a single bomb more powerful than all of the bombs dropped during World War II.

"So we're telling them, not that we have the nuclear bomb, but we have a weapon beyond description and we're going to drop it on one of these 22 industrial cities," Glenn said.

The flyer, written in Japanese, goes on to advise people to bring with them food and water since they would be in scarce supply.

"Now, why aren't we ever taught that?" Glenn asked.

The truth about America's inherent goodness doesn't suit the political agenda of the progressive left, so generations of Americans have been denied it --- but the truth brings hope.

"Today, on December 7th, let’s commit ourselves to being people of good will," Glenn said.

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

GLENN: Today is the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. And before we leave, remind me, Stu -- or, Pat, we have to find the song -- it's not Remember Pearl Harbor. Maybe it is Remember Pearl Harbor. There's a couple of songs out there. One of them is so politically incorrect, it's outrageous.

JEFFY: I think it is that Remember...

GLENN: Yeah, that's not quite so politically outrageous.

But they both came out in the 1940s and right after Pearl Harbor. And one of them was like, "We're going to sock that Jap in the eye until we basically slaughter every one of them." And that's the America that we have been painted as. And it's really easy to paint an enemy and say, "We've got to kill all of them. But that's not who we really are.

Today, as we look at Pearl Harbor, this -- I think it's this flag -- this flag -- this is from the Vault. This flag was taken, I think so -- I think it's this one. It's either this one or that one. This flag was taken from the island when we took the -- I don't remember what island it was. But the island where we had to land the nuclear bombs. And they had an airstrip on that island. And we couldn't have bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki without stopping for fuel and loading the bomb there because it was so heavy.

We actually had to take the runway and dig a giant pit in the center and drop those bombs down into a pit because we couldn't get them underneath the plane. You'd have to jack the whole plane up, to wheel it in and then -- and then, you know, put it in.

It's quite a big deal. Before we went and bombed Pearl Harbor -- the reason why we bombed Pearl Harbor, Truman said he felt as though the sun, the moon, and the stars were cast on his shoulders.

Imagine the weight of taking the presidency in World War II and having to decide whether to drop the atomic bomb.

We are taught now in school that America is evil and we are not people of good will. Et cetera, et cetera. But I want to show the evidence that that is not who we are.

I cannot, unfortunately, read these. But this one -- yes. Here. This one has -- translation. Here you see a picture -- we put, I think, 7 million of these pamphlets -- I've never seen these before. I've never read about these before. 7 million of these pamphlets. And we have several of them, all different.

JEFFY: Remember when we first heard that we did that. No one knew that we did that. On this show.

GLENN: No one knows -- yeah.

JEFFY: I was like, "What!"

GLENN: Yeah, I know.

And we have the evidence now in The Vault. And next year, I'm going to start raising money to build Independence USA, the museum. But -- because these things have to be taught.

Here's a picture of a Japanese family. And you'll see they've got all their bags. And they're looking behind them, and they're leaving. And they're leaving an industrial area.

Here is a map of the American forces coming in and bombing these industrial areas. This one says, "Men, women, and children, leave the industrial regions because they are going to be bombed. The allies are not interested in bombing you and the people."

We have another one that specifically says we have a bomb that will be more than all of the bombs dropped in World War II, combined, in one bomb.

So we're telling them -- not that we have the nuclear bomb -- but we have a weapon beyond description, and we're going to drop it on one of these 22 industrial cities.

If you are in -- Nagasaki and Hiroshima are on that list. If you are in one of those cities, you must leave now because we have no intention of killing people and your families. Please get out now.

It goes on to say, "You should bring with you food and water because it will be hard to come by."

Now, why aren't we ever taught that?

JEFFY: I don't know.

GLENN: We're not taught that because of political agendas. It is clear -- the evidence is there. You just have to look for it. You have to know that it's there because now, it's so forgotten.

PAT: We did the same thing -- I mean, we've always done this kind of stuff. We did the same thing in Afghanistan. We throw bombs, and we drop food.

GLENN: May I suggest to you that when I told this story to some guys who were like just off their tour of duty -- we're still doing this.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: We're still dropping pamphlets and saying, "We're going to bomb here."

JEFFY: Yep.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: So if you want peace, real peace, how come this peace with the Japanese, who were taught to hate us, they were taught to hate us -- when the emperor actually said, "No, I'm -- or said, "Yes, I will sign your peace treaty," do you know why we -- we still bombed them, up to the signing of the peace treaty?"

We still launched planes to bomb, but we were -- and we were bombing people, up until that ink was dry. Then we called it off. Do you know why?

Because the emperor said to us, "We're not sure that the people will stop fighting." Why?

This is one of the imperial swords. And I don't know if I can get this one out. This is one of the imperial swords from Japan, used in World War II.

This sword is just like many that were used to hold contests of prisoners. They would take two people and line up 100 people on the chopping block. And two soldiers with a sword like this -- the one who could chop the most heads off in two minutes would win.

They had contests of throw the babies up, and the one who can catch the most babies on to their sword wins.

PAT: Ooh.

GLENN: They had a project that was worse -- think of this -- than what Mengele was doing, and we don't know about it.

And so when the emperor said, "We're not sure they'll quit," it's because the emperor had said, "If you think we're bad, the Americans will do worse to their captive populations."

We dropped these things -- they didn't believe us because of the propaganda that they had gotten. They couldn't believe that we were good people. We went there and we proved to them -- without any kind of desire for retribution or to win, we wanted to reconcile.

And because we proved that we are not those people, they reconciled with us. And Japan is still one of our greatest friends and allies.

December 7th, we had to stand on what was true in 1941. But I believe it was in August of '45 that we could show the Japanese people, "This is what's true." And there will be peace on earth for men of good will.

Today, on December 7th, let's commit ourselves to being people of good will.

Featured Image: The Glenn Beck Program, December 7, 2016

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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