Thought for the day 14 May 2005

Author: David E Belton (UK)

This week has been special as it marked the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. There have been some who have declared that the celebrations in this country have been far too low key possibly because they have overlooked the fact that it will not be until July that a complete end to World War II can be truly celebrated.

For years, many veterans like those of the Burma Campaign have expressed concern that less recognition has been given to the war against Japan; a war that in total cost the lives of twenty million Allied Forces and civilians.

We regard 1939 as the beginning of the Second World War and the attack on Pearl Harbour and the American Fleet in 1941 as the start of the War in the Far East. However, Japan had embarked upon its scourge of Korea, Manchuria and China several years previously. It was in the December of 1937 after capturing Shanghai that the Imperial army marched on Nanjing, the then capital of China and set about one of the worst crimes against a civilian population that the world has ever known.

If the number 300,000 sounds familiar it is because the total that died in the Nanjing massacre equalled that of those who died in the Indian Ocean tsunami just over four months ago.

Following the unconditional surrender of Japan in July 1945 many of those who led the vile onslaught on much of East Asia and the Pacific Islands were brought to trial and duly executed or were otherwise punished for their crimes. However, for political expediency much of the hierarchy responsible for these war crimes was never brought to book.

In April, after nearly sixty-eight years, Japan has finally offered an official apology to the people of China for the atrocities, while continuing to allow the true facts to be hidden from its own population.

Today, young people may wonder why those of the older generation continue harp back to the days of the Second World War. Although these events have passed into history, it is history that teaches us many lessons. There are still many repressive and cruel regimes in the world today and we need to recognise the circumstances that can lead to the creation of yet more.

While remembering and celebrating past victories, we should never overlook the fact that our democratic freedom is a fragile inheritance; an inheritance that we must jealously guard not only for ourselves but for the benefit of those who will follow us.