Website Evaluation

The National Georgraphic's website on the attack on Pearl Harbor, accessed on September 14th, 2004, is a visually stimulating electronic exhibit for the general public that avoids any major controversies, historical debates, or in-depth analysis. The site includes interesting graphics and irritatingly ominous music, but I had difficulty navigating the site on my browser. The website did not fit onto my computer screen, and the navigation controls took me some time to figure out. The site features a chronology of the attack itself, without going in depth into the background of the causes of the crisis in the Pacific involving the United States and Japan and the reasons for the Japanese surprise attack. The National Georgraphic also avoided any analysis of the dispute over U.S. defense preparedness. No mention was made of the controversy surrounding the courts martial of Admiral Kimmel and General Short for their alleged failure to prepare for a possible attack. Some historians and supporters of the commanders say they were made into scapegoats, while others accuse them of dereliction of duty. Only brief mention was made of the massive U.S. intelligence failure in not uncovering the Japanese attack or properly warning Pearl Harbor -- even though the United States had broken the secret Japanese code.

An important feature of the site is the personal reminiscences of the U.S. service members who survived the attack. Interestingly, several commented on the crisis in the Pacific and the general fear of a Japanese attack, but not on Pearl Harbor. The site should have provided context to explain why some expected war, but not an attack on the U.S. fleet in Hawaii. Perhaps the answer is suggested in the remarks of one sailor who said he and other service members did not have a high opinion of the Japanese. John W. Dower in his book "War Without Mercy"described some of the ethnic and racial assumptions of both sides in the Pacific war. The text of the site also made an inaccurate reference to the United States "indirectly" helping the British in the Atlantic against Germany when in fact Franklin D. Roosevelt was doing everything possible short of an outright declaration of war to directly help Britain.

The reminiscences did include information on Dorie Miller, the African-American cook who manned a machine gun and shot down several Japanese planes. Another sailor explained the Navy's refusal to allow blacks to serve in positions other than cooks. This was probably the only controversial subject broached by the website. The end of the war, with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 was not mentioned in the brief paragraph on the Japanese surrender. In fact, the National Geographic did not provide any information on the consequences of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. There was no essay on the resulting war, the devastation wrought on the region, and the losses on all sides of the conflict. The Japanese point of view was not provided, other than some personal reminiscences in text (not audio like the Americans). Perhaps the site could have also pointed out the close ties between the United States and Japan after the war, and the actions of both countries to move beyond wartime animosities. That would have been a fitting conclusion of reconciliation.

The Pearl Harbor electronic exhibit did include links for those who want to subscribe to the National Geographic magazine and to visit the gift shop. The exhibit was obviously tied to the recent Hollywood movie "Pearl Harbor" and included information on Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s portrayal of Dorrie Miller and the move director's defense of the historical inaccuracies in the film. Perhaps some of the criticisms of the film should have been added for balance instead of the one-sided presentation on the site. Overall, the website was geared to a popular audience, with its interesting graphics and movie tie-in. One can only hope that it stimulated viewers' interest in Pearl Harbor and led them to more in-depth treatments of the attack and its aftermath.