Will they remember?

[janswizard]

As I sit here early this morning watching the D-Day ceremonies along the beaches of Normandy, I can't help wondering. Sixty years have gone by since thousands of soldiers died while liberating the French and Europe from the Nazi regime.

There are still survivors - both American soldiers who were lucky enough to return and French citizens who lived through the occupation. But most of them are getting up there in age. President Bush made mention at the end of his speech that we would do it again if need be. But twenty or twenty five years from now, when any survivors from those days have been lifted up to heaven, will future generations of French remember the sacrifice made by the Americans?

[Aquawind]

They have already forgot..this was politics..wine sales are still down and George wants support for the next UN resolution...

[BEER980]

It is up to us to pass it on to future generations. Tell the children that America is the reason that the French don't speak German.

[vbhoutex]

It is up to us to pass it on to future generations. Tell the children that America is the reason that the French don't speak German.

AMEN to that!!!

[azskyman]

One weakness in the human condition is that each generation that comes along believes they have the "power of the moment" and that all the horrific things that happened in the past are things that won't happen again "cuz this is the 21st century!"

I grew up being told that what Hitler did would never happen again because the world was smarter and wiser and more vigilant, and because this was the "20th century" of new ideas and better people.

Lo and behold wholesale genicide has taken places numerous times in my lfetime, not just in Iraq under Sadaam but in other countries of Africa and who knows where else.

We don't do a very good job at understanding the lessons of history and recognizing that there will continue to be a call for our young men and women to make sacrifices on our behalf in this century and beyond.

Combine that with a world that is more diverse than ever, where we talk about the blessings of being cosmopolitan, but have threads of hatred and anger, and where new population majorities will rise and dictate future decisions.

We will remember and read about the past, but we will continue to have a hard time understanding the need for ongoing sacrifices in our lifetimes.