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What the Japanese did during this time was hardly honourable, and it's shocking (but not unsurprising) that they're not taught more about what happened. That said, they have a right to honour those who died, but I think it's about time they told the real reason for why they died.
Funny, in WW1, Australia went entirely the other way.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikehzz
Our first military action was to send a combined Navy/Army Task Force to the German province of Papua, seizing the radio base and preventing the place becoming a port of re-supply for German raiders harassing Australian shipping. We argued after the war to retain the province as war reparations, thus setting up a home for soldier settlers as plantation owners (who would later become Coast Watchers) and setting up a forward shield for the defence of the Australian mainland in WW2. (It is a point of RSL History that the RSSILA Branch in Pre-WW2 Kavieng on New Ireland had the highest membership saturation, with 85% of the town's white male population being members. This was in the days when you had to be a returned serviceman to be a member of the RSL!)
In every way, it was a major success in the "Nation-building" of a young Australian nation, Militarily, Strategically and Economically, and would remain so for 3/4 of the 20th Century. It proved the ability and professionalism of our armed forces against a major European power.
However, politically it was kept quiet, as it was the brainchild of Lithgow's-own Prime Minister Joeseph Cook, the PM who committed us to WW1. He was soon beaten in an election by Andrew Fisher, who was not keen for political reasons to crow the successes of his predecessor. The next "Big Thing" to trump up was the Gallipoli Campaign, which really had nothing going for it in a PR sense. Planned by the English, invading a country that wasn't threatening Australia in any way, and ultimately failing to achieve it's aims at a heavy cost to Australian life. It really didn't highlight our ability to do anything on our own as an independent nation, in fact it reinforced our place as a cog within an Empire. However, the abilities and character of the Aussie soldier still shone through, and that is rightly remembered.
But who remembers WW1 Rabaul and it's impact on Australia? And just like the Japanese, why isn't this history being taught to our schoolkids? :censored:
Hi this is Mario's wife Heather.
Just though I would put my 2 cents in.
No one wins wars, everyone looses, there is no right or wrong in wars, that how things where done back there. Our son has studied japanese language for the last 6 years. Has been over there on a student echange and met an old guy that was one of the survivor of the big bomb. We have had kids from Japan on a student exchange. It was great to see the Japanese kids and our kids getting along so great, Brendon still facebooks them. The adults should take a leaf out of there book and we might not have so many conflicts.
Our son loves the people and the country it has change so much. He wants to study more of the language over there next year if it all goes to plan.
Want to teach English over there. Same with my mother in-law she was a kid in Germany when the war broke out, and when the war ended it took over 2 years to get back to Germany after they where evacuated.
We can only hope the kids from now on lean from our mistakes.
No one wins at all. Thanks guys that my 2 cents
For a true story of the amazing relationship between a British POW and a Japanese guard half a century after WW2, I'd recommend that you see the movie 'The Railway Man'.
Apologies for being a little off topic, but still related.
And there in lies the problem, the Japanese kids aren't being taught what happened and can't learn from their mistakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares
Yes knowone wins in war.
Baz.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares
Thank you Heather, for that lovely story. It's always good to hear such things, and hopefully the children of today will learn from the mistakes of the past. And you are right, there are no winners in War. It always seems to be the old men who send the young ones to War, Bob
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xtreme
Yes, I've seen that movie. Can recommend it, Bob
When in Japan I went to a Onsen (bath house) where this "battle" was reproduced in absolutely exquisite hand carved bas relief timber screens that ran around the top of every room. The intricacy and attention to detail in the carving was very impressive; the subject was not.Quote:
Originally Posted by bob10
One "glorious" scene depicted Japanese soldiers with fixed bayonets, running down unarmed men and women fleeing for their lives. The terror and desperation of the Chinese peasants being murdered was captured in loving detail.
In this place their dubious history was not whitewashed and was in fact celebrated in all its gory detail. A week later I was reeling at the impact of having just walked through the Atomic Bomb Museum. I will never come close to understanding the mindset that can hold both these images without any apparent reflection on the inherent irony. It was sick.
Just like Gallipoli.............. or the Alamo..............?Quote:
Originally Posted by bob10
made me think of this,,,Quote:
Originally Posted by d@rk51d3