I can see that points of view differ....
Yes an interesting thread and I see a level of respect for each members choice, which is good, no flames or any other garbage. Good to see an open discussion.
And just as well, a certain level of respect .... Nonetheless... In this case, it might be worth remembering... or for some folks... LEARNING... some history...
In WW2, the quaint idea of cowboys with white and black hats... is a bit naïve... or perhaps revealing little knowledge of the geopolitical situations wherefrom conflict arose...
There were no REALLY GOOD AND BAD GUYS... All the way from the industrial revolution to the advent of Social Darwinism... through Pangermanism, etc. ad nauseam... should tell a discerning
mind that something was rotten in the state of Denmark... to quote Hamlet... The expansion west in the US was no better than the Japanese attempt to attain an Asian Sphere of Prosperity in terms of
trampling through the God given right of all people to live in peace... The justice rendered at the Palace of Justice in Fuerth (birthplace of Henry Kissinger) aka Nuremberg... was a victors' justice...
none of the big wigs responsible for the Mi Lai massacre in Viet Nam were hanged... not even Lt Calley!!! So, the idea that the Japanese and the Nazis were the only bad guys... is really quite quaintly naïve...
One is finally coming to accept the fact that our country was and is no saint... So... seeing the WW2 belligerent airman in such black and white terms... is not really worth of respect... if we think like
that... we live in a bubble... and should get ourselves enlightened... Those folks were just victims or paladins... or actually merely pawns in a bigger game of chess... What should be recognized is that
in the midst of all that chaos.. they had the resolve to fight for their countries... just like I did for mine in Viet Nam... I never for a second... as a young inexperienced but very wise Captain... thought I
was defending Democracy... I was just paying my way for the privilege of living in the US and enjoying its good life... and so were those young and old airman in WW2...
No good guys and bad guys... that is only a figment of John Wayne movies...
G.