In the flashback scene of GFII Sonny is all worked up about the Pearl Harbor attack, saying "Imagine the nerves of those god damned Japs...." but when Michael says he is joining the Marines
he goes into the whole bit about "your country ain't your blood."

If he really felt that way why would be be so concerned about the attack?

Good question, DT.

I don't think it concerned him as an American, it just concerned him as someone who happens to live here, where his wife and children live.

I don't think it was patriotic, if that's what you're inferring.

I think that's just an attitude amongst some Americans. We can get outraged someone had the audacity to attack America. But when it comes time to serve, many don't think it's a good idea.

On one hand he is an American. On the other hand, he is his father's son.

Maybe he was pissed because he anticipated that the war would interfere with the family rackets. If he were at all farsighted, he would have foreseen that the war would create tremendous new opportunities for racketeering.

I think that's a stretch. Sonny used the term Japs and Jap-lover indicating a degree of racial or ethnic prejudice or, at best, some dissonance over his country being attacked.

I dont think sonny was too boterd about that. He did say business would have to suffer when he was waging his war on the five families. I agree with Pizzaboy that Sonny just said it because he lived in the country, Nothing to do with the love for his country.

Sonny is a second generation Italian, so he feels some patriotism toward the only country he's ever lived in but at the same time, he is his father's son.

I think that exchange in the flashback sums it up wonderfully. Kudos to FFC and Puzo for adding another level to Sonny.

Funny thing is, if Brando didn't balk at the last minute, we never would've gotten that out of Sonny. It all worked out for the best.

Exactly right. He was his father's son when he says "They're saps because they risk their lives for strangers."

And Michael even tells him "Now that's Pop talking."

And what does Sonny respond to him? "You're god damn right that's Pop talking."

Which makes me think of the deleted scene at the Hospital in Part 1, before they go in to see Genco. Vito looks at Michael's medals and asks him what they are. And when Michael explains to him what they mean, Vito says (paraphrasing here) "You perform these miracles for strangers?"

Sonny's sentiments about the war and such were a result of growing up around his father.

Im surprised no one's mentioned this, at least out of humor.

"God Damned Japs, droppin bombs on Pop's birthday."

Fredo: "They didn't know it was Pop's birthday..."


Maybe Sonny was mad becuase they bombed us on Vito's birthday! Fredo got it right for once!

Illustrates Sonny's aggressiveness and Fredo's naivete.

In a deleted scene following that one, Fredo's in bed when the phone rings. It's Tojo, wanting to know if MacArthur's gonna fight it out alone at Corregidor, or if he's gonna bring the Navy and Air Corps. "You guys lied to me," Fredo says. After that, Vito confronts him in his study: "I swear to God, Pop, I didn't know it was gonna be a bombing..."

I might suggest a very small degree of prejudice. There were other terms that were more racially motivated. Jap, at that time was sort of slang for a Japanese person. For those old enough to remember Oriental back then was perfectly acceptable to use, but now to be PC, the term "Asian" is preferred. So from now you call your rugs, not the ones on your head, Asian rugs instead of Oriental rugs.

Fredo's line always cracks me up Almost as funny as when he said "I am going to learn the casino business".

Whats even funnier is that Fredo would have sold out the country for a couple of Geisha girls

Yes, but only because he was stepped over.

But thats part of the Geisha girls treatment.

I think Sonny thought Pearl Harbor was a dame prior to the Dec 7 bombing.

Hagen DID know it was coming, and he said so.

Tom said that we should have expected it.

But, I wondered why Vito sought a deferment for Michael from the draft. Inductions had only started about a year before, and they were quite limited. If I remember correctly, as a college student he would have had a deferment without Vito's intervention.

Olivant, are you really old enough to remember WWII draft procedures?
I'm not, but I've done research on conscription before. Congress passed a draft law in 1940 that had men selected by lottery for a one-year term. It was extended in '41 and called for an 18-month tour of duty. College students could be deferred, as they were in the Vietnam era, but that was strictly temporary--the man could (and would be) drafted as soon as he graduated. After Pearl Harbor, men as old as 45, including fathers, were drafted.
The dialog in that scene about Vito having pulled strings to get Michael exempted from the draft was done for dramatic effect, to show Vito's influence and Michael's independence. But, logically, Vito would have seen that war was likely, and would have taken steps to keep his boys out. Even if he had no plans to bring Michael into the olive oil business, he wouldn't want him risking his life for strangers.

No, I'm not that old, but I do recall reading material about it. Of course, there is much in the Trilogy that is done for dramatic effect such as the flashback scene itself. But another question: what about deferments for Sonny and Fredo?

Great question, Olivant!

I've never given it any thought. Do we just assume that they accepted their deferments as a "gift" from their father, and did not feel the same need to rebel as their younger brother did?

Now, Sonny was already married, with children, at that point, so it's understandable that he wouldn't want to go, but Fredo would have only been about 26, and single, after the Pearl Harbor attacks. I guess he didn't want to miss out on the cocktail waitresses.

I think both Sonny and Fredo would have gladly accepted draft deferments that their father arranged for them: Sonny because he was his father's underboss at the time (and was the father of children); Fredo out of loyalty to his father's wishes.
Given Vito's money and political clout, deferments would have been easy to arrange. The novel says that even Paulie had a deferment, gift of Vito: a letter from a friendly physician attesting that he'd had "shock treatments."

Their younger brother felt the need to rebel because he would not allow others to control his life and make decisions for him. He wanted to be in control of his own life. Sounds like the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I like to announce to all here, that I was stationed in Pearl Harbor from 1964-1966 and I am proud to report there wasn't one single attack on my watch! Oh yes I got to meet Don Ho, who just recently passed away.......




http://www.pandora.com/?tc=x-008788-0035-1149&?searchFilter=artist&search=Don+Ho

Way to go, johnny!

Those tiny bubbles in the wine scared those slanty eyed Japs from
attacking again.

"Don Ho, I am honored and grateful, that you have invited me to your tiki, on the day of your wahini's wedding....and may your first kahuna, be a big kahuna..."