Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[chenhaosen]

Today is a commemorative day for the world.
60 years ago, on June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 American, British, Canadian, French and other Allied troops arriving in 5,000 ships and 11,000 planes to storm Normandy's beaches.
And it is a turnpoint for the whole Europe, and the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation began.
And a dozen of leaders and respectable veteran gathered in Europe to celebrate the "D--Day".
One of the most impressive thing for me is that German leader Schroeder participating in ceremonies despite the opposition from the opposite party. And he gave a speech that:"The victory of the Allies was not a victory over Germany, but a victory for Germany. "
So what I want to say is that I respect for you -- Schroeder for your respecting for the history.
At the same time, I want to know the views from the friends from the European. Especially the friends from the Germany.
And I also want to exchange the opinion of the friends from other countries such as Asian counries -- Japan, Korea, China, because Japan also had invaded other Asian countries, and what has Janpanese leaders done for such thing, has he(or she ) participate such ceremonies?

[Anxious Heart]

Hm.... Schr�der is under pressure at the moment. His party, the first German Social Democratic Party is going to take away parts of the social laws (...which can't be financed by the state anymore, so it is inevitable.. but a lot of people don't see that, so they are angry about him and his party...). So he is the "bad boy" of the nation at the moment. But his speech about D-Day even impressed many of his "enemies".

I think one have to be careful with such ceremonies. On the one hand this day was very important for Europe and what would have happened, if noone had stopped Hitler..... I guess nobody really wants to imagine... . So I think it is right to meet and commemorate that day. But on the other hand I can't understand, why that day is celebrated. So many people died on that day, so it seems like scorn to me, if there is a celebration.
_________________
"An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind." Mahatma Gandhi

[pugachevV]

It is celebrated by the allies because they were the victors, but its larger purpose is to honour the men who died. It is in this light that the Germans are now invited to the ceremonies. They lost many of their young men too and countless civilians in the bombing of their cities.
Europe is more or less peaceful now, so perhaps that war achieved something. The cost, though, was extremely high.

[Anxious Heart]

[pugachevV]

You could say, Anxious Heart, that you are enjoying today what those men gave their lives for.
If you wish to be dismissive about it, they died for your right to do that, too.

[Anxious Heart]

[pugachevV]

We are not discussing my moral code but rather, the reason the allies celebrate the D day landings. The Soviet Union lost more people than all the rest of the allies put together (15 - 30 million) but does not take part.
The D day events are more of a solemn remembrance service for the dead in the Normandy invasion rather than a celebration of a victory.
In any case, a bully, whether it is a schoolyard bully or a nation state, must be confronted if he/it is to be stopped. In the late 30's Germany was such a bully and the choices available were to allow it to continue with its aggressive policies or to stop it.
Now, the former enemies are allies and it all seems to have been a futile waste of lives, although we cannot know what would be happening in the world today if Germany had not been confronted.

[Bob S.]

[Anxious Heart]