I'm pissed at Google.

Today is Dec. 7. It's Pearl Harbor Day.

And, though it was supposed to be a "day that will live in infamy", apparently, it was not significant enough to live in the corporate minds of the Google elite.

While they make a point of celebrating every obscure artist or weird event they possibly can on their homepage, Google has chosen today to do absolutely nothing.

They have said far more with their silence then they ever manage to say with their words.

Shame on you, Google. The freedom of speech you so carelessly flaunt and manipulate was purchased at a price. The blood of your fellow Americans.

So, here's spitting in your eye, Google. Consider it my Constitutional free speech right.

And here's the deepest gratitude to those servicemen and women both living and dead who have made this country great, and free. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And a special remembrance of those heroic warriors who changed the destiny of the world 69 years ago today.

December 7th, 2010. A Day that Angelina Jolie debuts her Jewelry Line...

History is being re-written. The truth can be so inconvenient, and even disturbing at times. Let's just watch our favorite TV show and do a little shopping, okay?

most days, I like 510s or AE86s, today I like Pony cars and V8s. I have not forgotten. And thanks to those who served or do serve, we cannot thank you enough!

I'm not sure that i'd be wanting anyone celebrating today....

yeah. i'm not sure 'happy pearl harbor day' is the right kind of sentiment.

(someone actually typed this out on another car forum...)

Tifosi2k2 wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: I'm not sure that i'd be wanting anyone celebrating today....

Remembering. Not celebrating.

What exactly should google do? I'm pretty sure they celebrate armed forces day, veterans day, labor day, etc etc etc etc.

I'm not sure that integrating a picture of a japanese bomber into their homepage would be well-received.

I'm not saying that we SHOULDN'T be thanking the troops today, or any day for that matter. Just that i don't understand exactly what google should have done today. If you notice, they change their picture in celebration. Not usually for the darkest days in american history.

Tifosi2k2 wrote: On a side note: it is APPALLING how many kids today have no idea what happened on December 7.

i saw a study that showed 26% of those polled couldnt say who the US won its independence from

On a side note: it is APPALLING how many kids today have no idea what happened on December 7.

This.

On a media doing the right thing note, History is running all Pearl Harbor programming today. And TCM is running Pearl Harbor/WWII related movies. It's small, but it's better than nothing.

If what happened at Pearl Harbor occured on the mainland, I think remembering today's significance would be very different

On a side note: it is APPALLING how many kids today have no idea what happened on December 7.

This.

On a media doing the right thing note, History is running all Pearl Harbor programming today. And TCM is running Pearl Harbor/WWII related movies. It's small, but it's better than nothing.

If what happened at Pearl Harbor occured on the mainland, I think remembering today's significance would be very different.

EDIT: Stuttering computer, sorry about this

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

A picture of the USS Arizona Memorial would be tasteful and get the job done.

Brett_Murphy wrote: In reply to 93celicaGT2: A picture of the USS Arizona Memorial would be tasteful and get the job done.

No arguments here. I'm just saying that SVrex put it very well in his first post.

Google didn't do anything to "celebrate" today. And celebrate is what they do every time they change their page. No cause to celebrate today, so no change.

I'm totally in agreement that they certainly could have done something for today. Just that it doesn't really "fit" with what they do. (that may sound unamerican, not the intent)

93celicaGT2 wrote:

Tifosi2k2 wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: I'm not sure that i'd be wanting anyone celebrating today....

Remembering. Not celebrating.

What exactly should google do? I'm pretty sure they celebrate armed forces day, veterans day, labor day, etc etc etc etc. I'm not sure that integrating a picture of a japanese bomber into their homepage would be well-received. I'm not saying that we SHOULDN'T be thanking the troops today, or any day for that matter. Just that i don't understand exactly what google should have done today. If you notice, they change their picture in celebration. Not usually for the darkest days in american history.

Google could/should have posted a rendering of The Arizona.

93celicaGT2:

I see your point. I understand that the Google doodles are typically celebratory in nature.

However, they DO choose what they celebrate. They have included the Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-Sen, Turkish National Day, The Day of the Dead (which celebrates, um dead people), the UAE, and a cutsey little doodle celebrating Rosa Parks not moving on the bus (I respect Rosa Parks, as I do the military. I just don't think taking a stand against racism is necessarily more celebratory in nature than taking a stand against an invading hoard).

Some of their competitors didn't seem to have any problem honoring and remembering the day appropriately:

Bing's homepage

Ask's homepage

Google has made a name for themselves, and the doodles are part of their signature. Every pixel of their homepage is thoroughly planned and well thought out, and the decision to say nothing was very intentional.

They could have done something simple. Darkened letters. A flag. A line of recognition.

They said what they wanted to say.

Here is a little irony and personal dilema.
Tonight we are supposed to get together with some friends from my wife's work. The plans are in a few hours to meet at a local place.
Sure enough, the Habachi style Japanese Steak House -- -- On Pearl Harbor Day????????

SVreX wrote: They said what they wanted to say.

Agreed. They have had 55 doodles since October of this year - some region or country specific 'celebrating' all sorts of things. I wish I was at least a little bit surprised by this. Sure, 'celebrate' may not be the right word, but they certainly could've 'commemorated' the day.....a day that will live in infamy indeed.

The same question was asked last year - a quick search discovered this: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Webmasters/thread?tid=7b46a26d443fce81&hl=en No 'real' response though...

eastpark wrote: The same question was asked last year - a quick search discovered this: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Webmasters/thread?tid=7b46a26d443fce81&hl=en No 'real' response though...

And this one seems to be about right.

Maybe Google should just stop doing the doodles althogether. I'm sure they started out intending it to be fun, but now many people seem to think that they are obligated to do one to honor every important day. It probably isn't much fun for them anymore.

Looking at the bigger picture (no pun intended), it's just that. A doodle. The time spent complaining could have been spent thanking our troops, celebrating the fact that America overcame such a horrible event, etc etc etc.

"Google" is internationally recognized. It's not just an American thing. They have to play the "politically correct" game.

jrw1621 wrote: Here is a little irony and personal dilema. Tonight we are supposed to get together with some friends from my wife's work. The plans are in a few hours to meet at a local place. Sure enough, the Habachi style Japanese Steak House -- -- On Pearl Harbor Day????????

I heard a rumor that we are allies now. That was so six or seven wars ago. Enjoy the Sushi.

Speaking of Irony... I am shooting WW-II Japanese soldier zombies on a Sony PS3 on Pearl Harbor Day.

I feel that they could have done something. I know they like to put stuff out for random artists birthdays or the Beatles arrival to the US, etc., but for the millions of American People that use Google everyday (including kids under 18) that should be reminded in the simplest ways of one of the worst things that happened in American History.

Sure I'm glad Oct. 9th was John Lennon's birthday (and Google had a doodle for that), but Dec. 8th (tomorrow) is the anniversary of his death. If they have a Doodle for his death and not one for the 2,400 people who died at Pearl Harbor, that would be a little ridiculous. The Rosa Parks doodle was important too, but I think Pearl Harbor is a topper.

I'm sorry, It may be the giant history buff inside me, but this country is slowly rewriting its history to the point where our children and our childrens' children, will not remember important dates in our history that got them to where they are now.

I'm not pissed at Google, but I am disappointed that they couldn't have done something.

93celicaGT2 wrote:

Maybe Google should just stop doing the doodles althogether. I'm sure they started out intending it to be fun, but now many people seem to think that they are obligated to do one to honor every important day. It probably isn't much fun for them anymore.

Looking at the bigger picture (no pun intended), it's just that. A doodle. The time spent complaining could have been spent thanking our troops, celebrating the fact that America overcame such a horrible event, etc etc etc. "Google" is internationally recognized. It's not just an American thing. They have to play the "politically correct" game.

Google is internationally recognized, but they have different Google servers for different countries. All the Doodles you see are for the US only.

The problem is, that Google started this. People are now expectant of Google to recognize everything. I kind of blame it on Google. If the US version of Google can't recognize important American Holidays, then they probably should drop them all together. (Because honestly, I don't care when Andy Warhol's birthday is)

I think writing Google an email would be a good idea. I am curious about the response.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: The problem is, that Google started this. People are now expectant of Google to recognize everything. I kind of blame it on Google.

I kind of blame it on people.

If they don't want to do it, they don't have to, nor do they have to tell you why. Google doesn't owe you anything.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: The problem is, that Google started this. People are now expectant of Google to recognize everything. I kind of blame it on Google. If the US version of Google can't recognize important American Holidays, then they probably should drop them all together. (Because honestly, I don't care when Andy Warhol's birthday is)

why do you expect them to do anything? Do you pay them? Do they pay you? Theres no responsibility implied in youre relationship with Google. They could direct you to youtube videos of Insane Clown Posse shows everytime you search, no matter what you search for,and theres nothing you can do about it because they dont HAVE to do anything...not a GD thing. get over it. Yes, it wouldve been nice to see them do something, but getting mad at them for not doing something is ridiculous. The RESPONSIBLE thing (from a "Im a US Corporate citizen" standpoint) wouldve been to show support. Perhaps they are in some other way - perhaps donations to some organization or the like. Who knows if they are doing that or not? Who cares?!?! they owe you nothing. If you dont like how they operate, use another free search engine.