For decades, the California International Airshow has been an excellent venue for thrilling, heart-stopping entertainment and a source of appreciated revenue for local charities. The decision to include Tora Tora Tora this year, however, displays a rare lack of sound judgment.
Thousands of innocent Americans lost their lives during the cowardice sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, including three young men from Monterey. Despite the organizers' claim that the purpose of Tora Tora Tora is "to create a dynamic history lesson about the event that propelled us into World War II and entertain," it is simply a poor excuse to display pyrotechnics.
Would anyone think a re-creation of passenger jets hitting a mocked-up World Trade Center entertaining? Since the Airshow has a long and valued history in Salinas, I think it unfair that a misstep in judgment should result in the loss of revenue to the charities that count on this income.
So I am urging people to attend the Airshow but to leave the stands during Tora Tora Tora. I believe this action would honor the memory of those who lost their lives in WWII and send a clear message to the Airshow that there are limits to what decent Americans consider entertainment.
Roger Rybkowski
Seaside
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