Victory in Europe Day celebrates the formal acceptance by the World War II Allies of Nazi Germany's official, unconditional surrender of its armed forces on May 8, 1945. V-E Day is now celebrated across many European nations as public holidays and national observances.
And three days ago on May 5, the 80th anniversary was celebrated of the Liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation. The Germans were defeated by the united effort of Canadian, British, Polish, American, Belgian, Dutch and Czechoslovak forces. That's where my father was 80 years ago with his regiment, the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, newly made part of the Canadian Corps following the Italian campaign.
And now, here we are in the Western World 80 years later and WTF is going on? It sickens me to see the rise once again of right-wing extremism, authoritarian ideology, and virulent hate in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Anyone who today adheres to those destructive movements or who works to advance their interests spits in the face of every dead or wounded Allied soldier, veteran, civilian casualty, and victimized survivor of World War II atrocities and hate.
Without exception. There is no excuse to justify it.
And that's all I have to say about that.
41 comments:
And what more can be said? Heartbreaking. Can’t believe it’s been 80 years! “Where have all the flowers gone?”
Well said! Eighty years is just long enough for first-hand witnesses of WWII, the holocaust, polio, virulent childhood diseases and tuberculosis to have their experience fade from human memory. Then gut education systems and you have new generations of ill-informed, barely literate people who cannot think critically and believe that life is a zero sum game.
...my father was in WWII, I'm glad that he isn't here today to see this mess!!!
And very well said I might add. What more should be said? And these people who support that side should know by now it never lasts and it's always defeated. It's not the norm and it's just plain ignorant. You think by now the people of Earth would learn from their history lessons.
All the lives lost in WWII, all the sacrifices made and there are some just hurling towards Fascism with abandon.
Shameful.
XOXO
I think there's not much more to say about that, dear Debra. My father unfortunately had to fight on the "other" side, but he was never a Nazi. He taught me that war is always nonsense because it primarily brings suffering; he taught me that the world functions best when we all pull together; and he taught me that democracy is the best form of government of all possible.
But Tundra Bunny is right, so much time has passed that much has been forgotten by subsequent generations...
All the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2025/05/gunthers-kakaozeremonie-und-ein-paar.html
We always hope a war settles things for good. Then a generation later, it's back again. I think a temporary victory is probably the best we can manage. So yes, it did have a purpose. It staved off the fascists for a generation. Now we fight again.
Not quite. I'm one of those witnesses and I'm still around, like a lot of others, and making noise.
Every word you wrote is true, Debra. The United States even went through several extra wars to assure basic freedoms, but today the U.S. is one of the chief offenders in attacking liberty and worsening current world problems.
--Jim
History repeats especially when you have people in power who didn't learn from it and apathetics voters.
Must we keep learning the same lessons, over and over again? As John Lennon and Yoko Ono pleaded very simply, "Give Peace A Chance"!
It's true. Last week Reform, the hideous right-wingers, won control of councils and a by-election. And this week will celebrate the defeat of fascism
As a veteran, I could not have said it better.
I, too, honored VE day this week. And my feelings could not be better expressed than how you did in your last paragraph.
Here is to the memory of your father all those years ago :)
Great post.
Liam.
🫡 I thank your father for his service! I would also like to thank my father for his service...he was a Marine on the first ship into Tokyo harbor after Japan surrendered. He told me the place was completely deserted except for a lone Japanese officer who saluted his ship. (All the other Tokyo citizens had evacuated to avoid the huge white men who were going to rape and murder them...propaganda works, huh?!)
But, apparently I can't thank my Dad because Trump says we won WWII on May 8th. That nod to Russia's end-of-war celebrations renders some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific Theater and millions of bomb and radiation deaths meaningless...the war was over!! 🤬 The ignorance and of that ugly, orange Sphincter destroys any sense of real patriotism. He wants a parade on his birthday because "bombs; we have the biggest and best bombs and tanks and submarines!" Not. A. Word. about men and women who fought and died!! 🤬🤬🤬
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. It makes me sick to my stomach to watch what is going on, and Danielle Smith is just as bad. WTFF! (what the fucking fuck).
Spits in the face is right. Sorrow and rage are our sustenance now.
May the peacetime memories of your father bring you comfort, Debra...
yes ma'am. exactly. thank you for saying it out loud
My father fought in "The Battle of the Bulge" during WWII and ended up his time marching across Belgium. He was one of 12 siblings; all those who could serve (8), volunteered to serve. All those who went came home.
This is not the America they fought for. This is just... disgusting.
Yes, they dance and piss on the graves of our war dead and the valor of our veterans. Traitors led by a bone spurred, draft dodging fuck ! Worse, there are veterans in our country that support this vile filth, who willfully join in on the pissing on our country. The countries with leaders of a fascistic bent love it as America is denigrated and destroyed from within by these traitorous fucks.
I too have relatives who fought in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Ww1, Ww2 and Korea. I can only take comfort in that they are not around to see America betrayed by our own government and many of our citizens. A government and Americans that dance and piss on the graves, memories, valor, sacrifices and deaths of our war dead and veterans.
-Rj
Stumbled across your blog & already know you're my kinda person - so glad to find you
@ Rebecca Jo -- Welcome, and thanks for leaving me a comment!
I'm so glad my dad is not around to experience this filth that we are going through right now.
Nail on the head.
Haha, thanks for your lovely comment. If Vienna and Günther are too far away for you, perhaps you could invite Mama Kakao to your home. I've translated the link to how to do such a ceremony yourself into English - I hope it works, if not, let me know:
https://www-lotuscrafts-com.translate.goog/blogs/blog/kakaozeremonie-ursprung-wirkung-und-anleitung?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Well said, too many people have forgotten the past.
@ Rostrose -- Thanks, Traude, the article was great!
As time goes on, history does seem to repeat itself or at least go in cycles. Humans are complicated and messy.
It’s disturbing to see the rise of right-wing extremism and hate 80 years after the sacrifices made to defeat such ideologies, with those who support them dishonoring the memory of all who fought, suffered, and died in World War II.
That was well-written Debra. Good ending too. I like saying, that's all that's fit to print and similar sayings. Also, thank you for your comment about Bug. We miss her bunches. And Wiggy too. We won't though get a new pound puppy or two until we move. Thanks again for the visit. This is my first day back to reading blogs. I'm slowly getting there.
So true. Disgusting what is going on now. We live in scary times.
Codex: Not sure what happened to my previous comment, but Biden on BBC was surprising. Worth a look.
@ Codex -- This is the first comment from you that was awaiting moderation. Unless you are also the Anonymous commenter about 10 comments ago. But I know you always identify yourself as Codex.
Well said, Debra.
Codex: Trying to troubleshoot again. Thank you for writing this.
Than you for remembering and passing it on. That's what made America great!
We live in dangerous times. Things were simpler, values were clear and moral standards were strong in the times of WW2, I hope we can re-find those standards.
I am an old man, 80 years ago was my father's war as a young man (drafted near the end of the war and never left the country.) People forget, or never knew someone who lived through it. History will repeat itself, when it is not remembered and understood. And many today want to rewrite history, or burn the books.
While there is life, there is Hope. While there are fireflies like you, the sun cannot be far behind.
this was very well said. one of the things i don't understand is a lot of the people supporting this chaos were alive to witness the atrocities of what happened then. ugh... ~*~
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