Party Vibe

in most communities where there are a fair amount of elderly people you often see old soldiers, sailors and airmen wheeled out on the anniversaries of significant battles in World War II, as well as comrades’ meetings for those involved in special missions/projects.

when Europe was ablaze and Britain under attack they fought hard as they all could and now in their final years want to remember those days, particularly to reminisce about the bravery of fighters and the ingenuity of the military-industrial complex.

Now what did surprise me though, is nowadays the Germans are very often invited to these gatherings! This shocked me TBH; for one thing I would have thought many Germans many not to want to attend (they did lose after all!)

Furthermore, I would have expected after a few drinks that old hatreds would be re-ignited; the air would echo with the crack of walking stick across zimmer frame and arthritic knee, teacups and saucers would be smashed into wrinkled faces, knobbly noses would break under the impact of dimpled beer mugs, and false teeth would go flying across the village hall floors..

But none of these things happen. The former enemies admire photos and preserved aircraft/equipment, they reminisce about skirmishes, and discuss each others tactics without the fear of being called traitors. Many actually become good friends!

But behind all this friendship; you get the feeling that even when it comes to stuff like the bombing of civillian areas and/or the concentration camps; both sides feel they did what they had to do and would do it all one more time if it their had their youth again.

But it does make you wonder about some of the storys they (on both sides) tell their sons and grandsons.

Consider the amount of racism and Europhobia about even today; and the rise in neo-fascism in some European countries. Perhaps we are all still fighting the war across the generations, but with a few more enemes added today?