More social silliness...

[birdguy 3,943]

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/05/va-order-remove-iconic-world-war-ii-kiss-photo-facilities-reversed-secretary-mcdonough.html

 

Noel

[stans 703]

I will just say that when I see history being changed or erased, it makes my blood boil.  History is our guide, it can keep people from repeating the mistakes of the past. History can be ugly and painful, but the ugly and painful parts of history standout as being among the greatest lessons of what not to do.

Edited March 6 by stans

[Antipodeslonghaul 79]

Such an iconic photo. I'm sure they don't know now at this point whether the guy might have said "How 'bout a kiss darling?" right before, and she might have said "Sure thing!"

There may be efforts to ban the use of landmines, but that doesn't necessarily mean efforts to protect people from stepping through just any type of "minefield" in this modern world.

[dave2013 1,130]

"Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past" - George Orwell, 1984.

Dave

[W2DR 1,860]

As Paul Harvey so often said "And now, here's the rest of the story".....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Zimmer_Friedman

[Antipodeslonghaul 79]

11 hours ago, W2DR said:

As Paul Harvey so often said "And now, here's the rest of the story".....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Zimmer_Friedman

I remember hearing Paul Harvey on AFN when I moved to Europe as a teen. It was the only sort of non lame radio station I could listen to back then. At least it slightly resembled KMEL or KFRC or whatever I used to listen to back home.

Now that I know the rest of the story, Greta did have mixed feelings and did experience discomfort. Still if it were up to me, I wouldn't order the removal of the photo from all VA facilities. It's still an iconic photo capturing a tremendous moment in history.

Really hope this isn't perceived as overly religious or political. A long time ago I was lucky to get a place in a summer intern program in New York. One weekend I was walking down the street in Lower Manhattan, and there was a demonstration going on in a plaza, blaring megaphones, people holding up signs, the works. Having no idea what was going on and naturally curious, I wandered in and saw it was a gay rights demonstration. I was a young straight guy, and some guy approached me and asked me where I'm from. I said San Francisco and he said oh wow and tried to grab me. I got really angry, don't stereotype me because of where I'm from.  He said then why are you here? I said it's none of your business, I'll go wherever I please, I fully support your demonstration but don't you dare touch me! I had gay friends and roommates and no one had ever acted in such a manner towards me, we always treated each other with respect. But of course I realized many girls face inappropriate advances from guys, and it's not right. But still I wouldn't remove the photo. Knowledge and understanding is better than censorship.

[W2DR 1,860]

3 hours ago, Antipodeslonghaul said:

I wouldn't order the removal of the photo from all VA facilities. It's still an iconic photo capturing a tremendous moment in history.

I couldn't agree more. I'm glad to that stupid decision was overturned.

[birdguy 3,943]

I think the significance of the occasion has been lost over the years.  I was 12 years old on VJ Day and recall what a momentous occasion it was.  More than a victory it was so many loved ones coming back home.  The sailor in that photo wasn't going to be sent into harms way anymore and was going to shed that uniform and go home to his family and perhaps his wife or girl friend.

Time has a way of diluting memories and those of us who still have them are replaced by those who don't.  Words and pictures are all we have left of WW2.  Very few who lived through it and still feel the memories of it are left.

Not just the fighting men who were over there, but those left behind on the 'home front'.  It was called the 'home front' with gasoline and meat and sugar rationing.  The paper and scrap metal drives.  Once a month my Boy Scout Troop went from door to door collecting tin cans for the war effort.  We were made to feel a part of the war unlike today when few us know what wars were fighting and who is out there fighting them.

Walking down the street and seeing the little flags with blue or perhaps gold stars on them signifying one or members of that household were out there in harms way or, if the star was gold, had been killed in action.

I suppose the memories die away as those of us who remember die away until all we left have are pictures and printed words.  Like the picture of the flag raising on Iwo Jima the picture of the sailor kissing a young woman in Times Square on VJ day.  Please leave those to our children and grand children and great grand children to remember the huge sacrifices those who fought made and the lesser sacrifices those of us left behind on the 'home front' made.

Noel

 

Edited March 7 by birdguy

[BillW 210]

It seems that history rewriters that want to apply their values to decades old events often don't present the whole story. History is what it is. It may not suit modern values, but that's how it was in the past. Leave it to be a learning opportunity.