We Cannot And Should Not Forget

[toongeorges]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/06/06/whoops_googles_dday_doodle_honors_japan/

 

[MDZ]

Wait a second. Weren't you Germano?

I sure was

 

[Gringoboy]

Allow? In the case of Hitler, it was more like aid and abet.

At the end of the First World War, the Germans laid down their arms based upon agreed terms. Then the French insisted upon altering those terms to something far more harshly punitive. The USA was the 800-pound gorilla in the room, and could have prevented this, but did not, because the destruction of the German economy would allow US corporations to buy up German assets for pennies on the dollar. And if this reminds you of what was done to Argentina at the end of the Malvinas War, then you win a gold star.

But the destruction of the German economy also set the stage for the rise of National Socialism.

In the 1930's, many US corporations, (including the nascent Bush Family empire), were heavily invested in German industry. Ford Motor Company bought a controlling interest in Opel as late as the mid-30's. And Opel manufactured the trucks which converted the German leg infantry to motorised infantry. All of this was done, could only have been done, with the at-least-tacit agreement of the US government.

But of course they don't teach us any of this in high school, or even college. Because history books are written by the victors.

If you want to talk war crimes, let's discuss the fire bombing of Dresden, which had been declared an open city. Or the incendiary raids on Japanese cities in 1944 and 1945, which served no military purpose whatsoever, but were intended to punish and terrify the civilian population, in clear violation of the laws of war.

If the Allies had lost WW2, it would have been Allied generals and politicians on trial at Nuremberg. Because history books are written by the victors.

My point is not to defend National Socialism. My point is that we have been sold a grossly oversimplified version of history, one with white hats and black hats, where the hero gets the girl and rides off into the sunset. History is not like that. All parties involved in WW2 had bloody hands up to their armpits. There were no good guys then, and there are no good guys today. War is a racket.

I'm not sure if there are many who deny that both sides in WW2 had blood on their hands; such is the nature of war. Britain was on its knees before, during and after the Battle of Britain and it was only by some curious whim of Adolf Hitler that Britain wasn't actually invaded.
Dresden was and still is a horrific episode in the war and nowadays may well be considered a ward crime. But that was then; the Nazis had to be destroyed.
As for the Treaty of Versailles actually aiding and abetting; yes it sowed the seeds for a pathological lunatic to come to power to which many of Hitler's followers could attach themselves.
No good guys?
Get off your high horse and ask the Tommy at the front if he thinks it was a cause worth fighting for.

 

[Redpossum]

I'm not sure if there are many who deny that both sides in WW2 had blood on their hands; such is the nature of war. Britain was on its knees before, during and after the Battle of Britain and it was only by some curious whim of Adolf Hitler that Britain wasn't actually invaded.
Dresden was and still is a horrific episode in the war and nowadays may well be considered a ward crime. But that was then; the Nazis had to be destroyed.
As for the Treaty of Versailles actually aiding and abetting; yes it sowed the seeds for a pathological lunatic to come to power to which many of Hitler's followers could attach themselves.
No good guys?
Get off your high horse and ask the Tommy at the front if he thinks it was a cause worth fighting for.

If we're going to base the label of "good guys" on what the individual soldier thought, then they were all good guys. The soldiers of all sides believed their cause was "worth fighting for". Again, I refer you to Black Edelweiss. It's available from Amazon.

"Get off your high horse" Just what exactly is that supposed to mean, Gringoboy? I'm curious.

 

[ghost]

Pink possums don't ride horses. Well maybe side saddle.

 

[HeyHeyJose]

Our beloved US won the Spanish War, Mexican War, WWI, WWII, the Cold War, all the Iraqi wars, the invasion of Panama, that other one in Granada, and is still fighting and winning many more wars.

Our ancestors fought and died so that we don't have to live under a government that lies, spies on its own population, passes laws authorizing the killing and indefinite detention of its very own citizens, maintains a world wide web of torture chambers and jail camps; a government that prioritizes education and health over war, and where the political class is corrupt free.

Happy celebrations... I guess?

 

[ghost]

Our beloved US won the Spanish War, Mexican War, WWI, WWII, the Cold War, all the Iraqi wars, the invasion of Panama, that other one in Granada, and is still fighting and winning many more wars.

Our ancestors fought and died so that we don't have to live under a government that lies, spies on its own population, passes laws authorizing the killing and indefinite detention of its very own citizens, maintains a world wide web of torture chambers and jail camps; a government that prioritizes education and health over war, and where the political class is corrupt free.

Happy celebrations... I guess?

This is pretty much the truth and every day 6000 Latin Americans risk their lives to cross our borders. Go figure?

 

[MDZ]

This is pretty much the truth and every day 6000 Latin Americans risk their lives to cross our borders. Go figure?

And why do they have to risk their lives? Because some people in Washington whose ancestors came mostly with nothing to America make it difficult to enter the US legally for them.

 

[Gringoboy]

In memory of Czech and Slovak airmen:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27897490

 

[ajoknoblauch]

There is one story that, for me, perfectly sums up the significance of that day.

[background=rgb(246, 247, 248)]When President Eisenhower died, he was buried as a soldier, not a president - in battle dress uniform, in an $80 casket. The only medals he wore were: the Army Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit - the three awards given for his service at Normandy.[/background]

Compare and contrast with all the Argentine "presidents" who wore uniforms in office.