Does anyone agree with me?

Question

I was talking with my friends one day after a lecture and we were discussing a new war memorial that our town has thrown up, it's very nice and tasteful and in a great spot.

My friends basically ridiculed me though when I suggested that, as the number of living veterans dwindle, it is surely our responsible to remember the sacrafice made by both sides during the war? I always remember not only all the British, commonwealth and US troops who fought (both those who survived and did not), as well as those of the axis powers; they were, after all, just boys like our troops for the most part who were drafted in to combat.

Whilst I can see their viewpoint, does anyone else think that we shoud remember all of those who were involved, from both perspectives? I realise of course I might think differently if I was a veteran myself, but luckily I have never seen war.

What do you think?

No racist or hateful posts here please,

Thanks!

Answer 1

I think we should remember them because it would make us less of a biased society. But you never hear about both sides because according to some you should only remember the side you were on. But I do agree with you because I believe that every story has two sides and both sides are effected.

Answer 2

I expect that our veterans have more respect for the enemy soldiers than your friends. Sun Tzu said, "Know your enemy as you know yourself and you can win (many) battles." Respecting one's enemies is not liking them or agreeing with them, but acknowledging them. If we present them as buffoons, then what was the original threat? Without knowing the opponent, there is no glory in their defeat and no honor for those that fell to them in combat. Many of the opponents in WW2 were difficult to defeat. Ignoring them ignores what really happened and devalues our own veterans.

Respecting them, however, is not the same as celebrating them. Celebrating evil - whether from malice or ignorance - is foolish. Perhaps this is what your friends ridicule.

I play a game called "Axis and Allies" - not the latest computer version, but the latest board game. Why play this game? Does one really want to imagine a world where the Nazis win? No. But it does demonstrate that if something different were to happen - like Hitler not being fooled about D-Day or giving his commanders more freedom and autonomy or if Russia had never been invaded or entered the war - or worse yet joined the Axis - then things would have been dramatically different today. It shows that if it were not for great intelligence, will, and bravery that we would not have won. It shows that for whatever disagreements we have had with Russia in the past, there has been a time when we could work together.

If you forget your enemies, you have forgotten the war.
If you celebrate your enemies, then you have not really won.

Answer 3

To be honest I remember the circumstances rather than the individual people. I cannot see that after a reasonable passage of time people who were not involved can remember only the dead of one side ... I do, however, understand the feelings of vets who went through this (particularly those who experienced the Japanese camps) who still cannot forgive. I suppose if I knew that a memorial was for a unit who were involved in the Holocaust I would feel little sympathy for their demise but I don't think we can project peacetime morality on a war time situation in other circumstances.

Peace out

Answer 4

SUPPOSEDLY, when our country goes to war it's with the enemy. If we paid tribute to the people who we were supposed to kill then why kill them. It's not like a hunter who honors the life of the animal that has provided a meal. The people who are killed by our side must be dehumanized. We can't give them a soul or their lives merit. Ask any war veteran. It's a lot easier to defend your homeland if you don't give the enemy a face.

I actually do understand your point. You think that the lives given should be honored and the humanity respected, but if humans could truly grasp that concept we wouldn't need a war memorial.

Answer 5

I agree with what you are saying- it is important - we need to remember what both sides were fighting for and why.

Personally, I honor and salute our veterans, I am proud of them and appreciate their sacrifice and accomplishments. But I feel a deeper sorrow and empathy when it comes to Hitler's army or Stalin's army or the like - simply because when Hitler came into power, they had just come out of a war that rendered many of the boys that were recruited fatherless- these boys desperately needed a role model and sense of belonging the same when Stalin and many other evil dictators came into power- these were just young boys who were were doing their best for what they thought they believed in - they had families and feelings. Though I completely disagree with their cause and I am angered by the evil that motivated certain people in power- I have to remember the ones that were sacrificed and taken advantage of for that cause.
Unfortunately, America is heading for the same fate- there is a serious decline in patriotism, a strong uprising of godlessness and far too many fatherless- it won't take much for a power hungry dictator to come along and lure our fatherless oys into a false sense of belonging and purpose.
I have to remember the soldiers form the other side because but by the grace of God- we would be there too.

Answer 6

Wow, interesting question. You should be commended for being an insightful young man.

I'm not sure how a Nazi concentration camp Holocaust survivor would feel about a German war memorial. But those soldiers answered their countries call to war and many sacrificed their lives for their country. Right or wrong.

I am interested in reading others opinions. I hope you get a lot of responses.

Answer 7

Wow, what a question. I agree with you but doubt that veterans of war would. Perhaps the answer would be to have a war 'memorial' in schools - could be in any form. Then the 'uninvolved' could realise/remember how much was sacrificed on all sides.

Answer 8

Yes, I agree with you completely. They believed that by joining the troops that they were showing their pride for their country and their leader. Those in the Axis powers, though we now see them as being in the wrong, were doing what they viewed was right and acceptable. I'm not saying that what they did was correct and that we should have a repeat, but they risked their lives for what they believe in, for their country, and things like that should be awarded. It's extremely brave of them, regardless of what side they were on.

Answer 9

I don't think so. In the US, they will only remember the Americans and maybe the British. Each country should honor their own with a memorial, but the history books should tell both sides.

Answer 10

surely no one should forget that there were victims in the wars but sometimes I think it is overdone. The last war was finished over 60 years ago. I would say there must be an end with all this. looking forward not allways back. Let the death their rest. Not the past, the future is our