WIX Archives

Re: When is an enemy no longer an enemy, and who decides?

Posted by gary wagner on Fri Apr 12, 2002 02:50:29 PM

In reply top When is an enemy no longer an enemy, and who decides? posted by Karen on Fri Apr 12, 2002 08:36:57 AM

: Hi all,
:
: I just finished watching a History Channel special on
: saving the U.S.S. Arizona, and it started me thinking.
:
: In light of what happened on September 11, 2001, I fi
: nd it difficult to believe that anyone in the civilized wo
: rld will ever "normalize" relations with the Taliban, Al Q
: uaida, or any of the other radical groups who threaten our
: civilized society.
:
: However, I find myself wondering if the WWII, Korean,
: and Vietnamese, generations felt the same way during thos
: e conflicts. I wonder after Pearl Harbor, and the Holocaus
: t, and so many other barbaric acts, if most people believe
: d that not only would "we" never forget, but felt forgiven
: ess, an impossible proposition.
:
: Yet many governments have "normalized", relations wit
: h many of the countries involved.
:
: I also wonder if there is anything horrible enough to
: propel otherwise civilized men to behave in the barbaric
: ways we have all witnessed in the 20th century? The Holoca
: ust, the Bataan death march, Pearl Harbor, and even, to a
: much lesser degree, the interment of Americans of Japenese
: descent, into concentration camps.
:
: I notice a tendency to celebrate all veteran's of WWI
: I, and yet I have spoken to many WWII combat veteran's who
: still harbor animosity toward former enemies. I have also
: found this among veteran's of later wars as well.
:
: So, this all goes back to my original question? When
: is an enemy no longer an enemy, and who, or what decides?
: There is of course, no specific answer to this, but I find
: it an interesting question.
:
: Anyone else's thoughts?
: Karen
I have spoken several times with a noted American 8th AF Ace about this topic, his feelings today are as strong as they were 60 years ago, he refuses to attend functions (symposiums etc.,) that also feature the "enemy", he says that these "bastards" tried to kill me and did kill many of my friends, for this there is no forgiving, until we haved walked in his shoes we are not in a position to judge, this man is a hero that I admire greatly.........

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