75: More Attention

This Friday (May 8th) is the 75th Anniversary of VE Day - VJ Day is in August. It's sad that not much attention is being given to it or the "Greatest Generation" that fought it. I remember living in Germany in 1995 for the 50th Anniversary when lots of attention was given to it by the US.

My school had an assembly to remember the 50th Anniversary and we students were interested when the American World War 2 Veterans and the Holocaust Survivors came and told us about their experiences. 

We were less so when the Germans came on and started crying about how they were victims too. Even as teenagers who knew they were full of it and just trying to make themselves feel better for what they did during the war and what Germany did afterwards - allowing Nazis to live out in the open for decades and even receiving German Government Pensions for murdering innocent people - - something Germany continues to do today. We even booed one German woman off the stage (when she cried about how hard she had it as a 20 something year old after the war - she didn't mention what she did during the war only about how hard it was to find shoes and food after 1945.)

To be clear: I don't hold ALL Germans responsible for World War 2 and the Holocaust - just those that were 18 or older in 1945 (and anyone afterwards who helped/helps hide or support/supports them.) 

World War 2 may have ended 75 years ago, but it is what made the United States one of two Super Powers in the world (until 1991 when we became the world's only Super Power - which continues to this day.) Even with the issues and problems we have faced throughout the years we continue to be the best country in the world.

So take a moment to remember the men and women (your Fathers, your Mothers, your Grandfathers, your Grandmothers, your Great-Grandfathers and your Great-Grandmothers) that gave up so much during the war to make our lives better.