to think that WW2 ended nearly 75 years ago so why the fuck do certain politicians keep going on about it when it comes to Europe?

[chomalungma]

It ended nearly 75 years ago. It was such a tragedy for the world. Countless people died, countless people were injured, Lives devastated, countries ruined. Many brave people fought for what was right, put themselves on the line and did acts of incredible courage. We should remember what they did and honour their sacrifice and courage.

But it was 75 years ago. Our relationships with our European neighbours are different. We should have moved on from that. Yet we still have this WW2 mentality from politicians who weren't alive at all during those times. Who have to constantly say that "We saved Europe from Germany and the Nazis".

It's what is wrong with this country. Stuck in the past. Empire days. Harking back to the war era.

I love Europe. I have no issues with Germany. I have been there many times. What happened was a long time ago. I wish that others could move on as well.

Britain's involvement in slavery was even longer ago.

Do we forget that too?

Do we forget that too

It's not forgetting.
It's politicians who say "Europe should be grateful and treat us with respect because we saved them in WW2"

Oh - and politicians who belittle a nation and say that they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for us so they should shut up and be grateful.

It's important to remember the lessons learnt from those times.

Veni- I think the OP is referring to the romanticising of the ‘blitz spirit’ and the War by a certain type of politician, and not urging us to forget lessons of the past.
I’d say most people cringe upon hearing the likes of Francois appropriate the struggle of veterans like he was the first over the trenches, unless they have the same arsehole pretensions themselves.

It's important to remember the lessons learnt from those times

Of course it is. But just because we were on the winning side does not give us the right to tell other countries their views are unimportant because we saved them in WW2.

Veni- I think the OP is referring to the romanticising of the ‘blitz spirit’ and the War by a certain type of politician, and not urging us to forget lessons of the past
I’d say most people cringe upon hearing the likes of Francois appropriate the struggle of veterans like he was the first over the trenches, unless they have the same arsehole pretensions themselves

Exactly. Of course we must learn from the past and we mustn't forget the sacrifices of the past.

But to hear Marc Francois and the Daily Mail dismiss the Prime Minister of Luxembourg as leader of a tiny country who we saved in WW2 so he should be grateful and nice to us .....

It's important to remember the lessons learnt from those times

Why? what difference does it make? we still make the same mistakes, time and time again.... and on current showing we've completely ad utterly forgotten anything at all about how WW2 started.

The UK seems to have an unhealthy obsession with WW2 and its role in it.... bit like they do about football and 1966.

But my father, along with many others from many countries, did help save Europe and the world from the Nazis. It does tend to colour one's views when you hear about 14 year old Hitler Youths trying to kill him with anti-tank weapons and then having to use the bulldozer they were aiming at to dig the pits to bury the dead of the death camps that Germans were all too aware of.

But just because we were on the winning side does not give us the right to tell other countries their views are unimportant because we saved them in WW2

OP you are doing it too.....

WE didn't save Luxemburg from anything, our grandparents may have but few are alive now and we have zero right to claim their sacrifice as our own.

the other side of the coin is that one of the reasons for the founding of the EU was to keep the peace in Europe, and in W Europe, it succeeded.
There are still people alive and voting who remember the war. They will tell you it wasn't all jolly larks and digging for Britain. Many of them know the lessons of that war better than those who have only ever consumed the Dad's Army version.

But my father, along with many others from many countries, did help save Europe and the world from the Nazis. It does tend to colour one's views when you hear about 14 year old Hitler Youths trying to kill him with anti-tank weapons and then having to use the bulldozer they were aiming at to dig the pits to bury the dead of the death camps that Germans were all too aware of

Are your views of modern Germany still coloured by the events of 75 years ago?

Maybe those same politicians appropriating the experiences of those in WW2 will have to put that blitz spirit into action if the worse predictions come to pass, and with hours of footage available of them spouting off how great it was all going to be.

To some extent, of course. My view on modern Britain is also coloured by its history.

But the point is Veni YOU didn't experience any of this, much less Francois, who is a fcuking idiot, how that man has become an influential member of the Con party is beyond.

My Uncle flew in the battle of britain, he was shot down, could never fly again and then trained pilots at Cranwell, he never spoke of it, my knowledge comes from my mum, his sister.... it was his sacrifice and experience alone.

Jasjas.

So you ignore all history as it wasn't "your experience"?

It wasn't just us, the Americans played a large part as well after Pearl Harbour.

I can't stand the 'little England' mentality. I always think people (and countries) are better co-operating and working together.

My view on modern Britain is also coloured by its history

But you can separate a country's past from its people?

I don't judge Japanese or German people because of what their country did in the past. Plenty of water has passed under the bridge and it's time to move on.

But some of our politicians and our media still live in the past - a time when they weren't around.

Yet the WW2 metaphors still come out.

Didn't say that did i?

But what is happening now is weare remembering the glory part of history i.e the liberation of europe, without the context of the death and suffering that the war cast over almost all of europe.

I 'm just watching The Troubles on BBC4, we are currently dismantling the GFA ignoring all the lessons of history.

What is the point of all this "remembering" history? at present it seems like the UK is intent on causing a 3rd european war.

Better to learn from the past like not breaking international peace treaties, instead of Francois’s puerile wanking over the glories of war.
Veni please bring better arguments to the table than this or you’ll get your arse handed to you on here.

Remembering the impact of the World Wars is, in my view essential. Not to reinvigorate some mythical Blitz spirit but because there were no ‘winners’. War may sometimes be morally justifiable but rarely does anyone win.
My mother was a teenage volunteer on the beach in Kent when the little boats returned. She spent most of her life from then onwards remembering the sacrifices and devastation and working to ensure it was never forgotten.
What we currently risk losing is the continent wide tolerance and shared responsibility for peace. We risk allowing bigotry and hatred based only on being uncomfortable with difference to triumph in the name of sovereignty. Just as in the 1930s, there is corrupt power, polarised wealth, increased intolerance, validation of hatred and increased poverty and disaffection coupled with a rise in anti Semitic and anti Islamic behaviours.
The current political climate in the U.K. is exactly the reason we should never forget. Not for some romanticised, blurry image of brave Tommy’s having a laugh or giggling at gravy browning instead of stockings but because the very peace many died for is at risk.

It's politicians who say "Europe should be grateful and treat us with respect because we saved them in WW2

I agree with you

Jasjas1973 -"Didn't say that did i?"

You said, and I quote, "But the point is Veni YOU didn't experience any of this"

Am I only allowed to have an opinion on something I have directly experienced?

Remembering the impact of the World Wars is, in my view essential

I totally agree. I have seen the concentration camps, been to the Commonwealth War Graves and been to the places in Europe and elsewhere which were at the heart of the conflict. We must not forget and we must learn the lessons and remember the lessons.

But it really riles me to see the attitude expressed towards the countries of Europe nowadays from certain politicians and certain media outlets based on the events of WW2.

chomalungma

Does it rile you to see the attitude of many towards Britain's involvement in slavery because it was a long time ago?