Thoughts on VE Day

[rgraham666]

It was sixty years ago that the European part of WWII came to an end.

The cost of it was tremendous.

One tenth of Soviet Russia died.

Millions of Germans in places like Stalingrad and Kursk. Too many were crushed under collapsed buildings or burned alive as we rained explosives and incendiaries on them.

The occupied countries, Poland especially, suffered hideously.

And we lost a lot as well.

And never forget the loathsome planned horror of The Holocaust.

So what have we learned?

Not a goddamn thing!

At least the people back then were willing to sacrifice for something. These days, for too many people, the thought of giving up anything for the greater good is quite beyond their capacity.

"My life?" they ask. "Not bloody likely. I'm too valuable to risk.

"Time? Not a chance. I have too little to waste on others.

"Money? Piss off commie. It's all mine and I'm keeping every red cent!"

So, to those people on this day I say Fuck you! Because of your selfishness you are betraying the people who gave up everything so you could have a nice, comfortable life.

If I had the power I would send you to hell and bring back the people who sweated, bled and died.

Woof! Better now.

Carry on.

 

[minsue]

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Shema
by Primo Levi


You who live secure
In your warm houses
Who return at evening to find
Hot food and friendly faces:

Consider whether this is a man,
Who labours in the mud
Who knows no peace
Who fights for a crust of bread
Who dies at a yes or a no.
Consider whether this is a woman,
Without hair or name
With no more strength to remember
Eyes empty and womb cold
As a frog in winter.

Consider that this has been:
I commend these words to you.
Engrave them on your hearts
When you are in your house, when you walk on your way,
When you go to bed, when you rise.
Repeat them to your children.
Or may your house crumble,
Disease render you powerless,
Your offspring avert their faces from you.

 

[SnoopDog]

Well, I kinda agree with you BUT I wouldn't say that we've learned no goddamn thing. That's a bit far fetched to say.

Snoopy

 

[Xelebes]

Well, I kinda agree with you BUT I wouldn't say that we've learned no goddamn thing. That's a bit far fetched to say.

Snoopy

The decision to dismiss one's actions as being equal to those actions that have happened in the past is not being ignorant of the actions on both sides of the equation, rather the hastily drawn conclusions made with faulty logic.

 

[SeaCat]

Rob,

I have to agree with much you have said. There are however those who have not forgotten, and will not let the memories fade. There are those who are still willing to sacrifice for others, and there are those who are willing to learn from what has happened before. To those I take off my hat and bow my head. To those who are too busy with their own lives to help, remember, or sacrifice, I heartily echo your sentiment.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Yeah SeaCat.

But it's the people who don't care who run things now.

"You! Go over there and get your balls shot off, there's a good peon.

"Boy! Peel me another grape."