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Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp
I wonder if VE Day has lost its impact in view of the recent/current conflict in Iraq? Mind you sometimes we are just so darned politically correct in this country it's laughable. It's like that episode of Fawltey Towers "don't mention the war".
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My youngest, when she was 15, went on a school exchange visit to Bavaria. The family she stayed with took her, on the Sunday, to visit Granddad who had been a pilot in the Luftwaffe during WW2. He spoke no English and my daughter's German was only at "nearly O level" standard but they managed to communicate, with a bit of help from Herr Viens (the dad with whom she was staying). The old man had no qualms about discussing the war. He felt he had done his duty for his country but he was sad at the loss of life on both sides and had nothing but respect for the British forces and he emphasised that he had fought for Germany, not the Nazi party.
I was glad my daughter was able to talk to him. It helped her to understand the human element involved as opposed to the political.
We should celebrate the victory. We should also celebrate the deliverance of the world from the insanity by which it was overtaken and reinforce that it must never, ever, be allowed to happen again.