Lest We Forget

[Ralph]

I think we can agree that a large percentage of nationalistic and anti-semitic German civilians were complicit in the rise of the Nazi party and its subsequent horrors. Similarly a large percentage of nationalistic and xenophobic Japanese civilians were socialized to worship their Emperor and obligingly followed his military advisers into aggressive warfare and atrocities. I think we can also agree that a large percentage of the people's of both nations were human beings probably more interested in living their lives and loving their families until their authoritarian governments pressed them into conflict with other nations or against other peoples within their own land. While I am horrified and frightened by the way masses of ordinary people embraced the systematic persecution and murder of other members of their society, I am heartened and encouraged by the stories of German families who risked all to hide Jews in their homes or who dared conspire in anti-Nazi resistance groups. Police states make dissent a matter of life and death. I can only hope that in a similar situation my humanity would overcome my fear and let me be courageous enough to not be another deadly cog in the nation's machine.

These are complex matters and the comments of both Tetters and poliss reflect the truth of them.

Ralph