[whisper_kill]

Commemoration and Remembrance do not have to take the form of a public event or be televised to be valid. I think it is somewhat tasteless that they made a "coin" for purchase to "remember" that specific event. Remembrance can be as simple as contemplating a war, a soldier or an event on your own, or as we do every November 11th, a mass public display of remembrance. They are equally as important. That coin is a commemoration of an "act" that most would consider "evil".

Exactly my point Duff and Raiden.

Renegade says:

"You see, simply "running" or "punching" by itself has no merit for commemoration; it is the context in which each is used that awards it commemoration."

And that is where I disagree. The simple fact that these soldiers even came forward to do their "duty" is enough for commemoration. You see, they weren't just "running" or "punching", they were facing death square in the face, and continue to. By default, a soldier demands your respect, admiration and remembrance. You would be hard pressed to find someone within your circle of friends who would offer their life up in such a manner. It is not the act that is ALWAYS commemorated, but the soldier and their selfless decision to serve and fight for their country and ideals. Hence why we have a memorial for the "Unknown Soldier". I think you are still missing my point that I am "commemorating" or "remembering" the soldier... not the act! How can you not think the soldier is what matters? If you commemorate the "act", you should be thinking about the government and Generals and folks that made the decision to land at Normandy. I however choose to reflect on the men that actually had to do the job that these governments designed on paper!!!

To put things in modern day terms. Think of the Canadian soldier in Afghanistan tip toeing around IED's all day. Does that soldier not deserve your respect and remembrance? He did not die for his cause. He's not in some huge hollywood fire fight. He's simply doing his job as outlined by his government, and a fucken deadly serious one at that! It is your obligation to think, remember and commemorate these "SOLDIERS" for simply being soldiers!

I applaud the tenacity and braveness of an individual who could storm a beach or the German soldier who could stand hard in the face of overwhelming odds. Both equally strong men facing down their fears, and doing what was expected of them whether right or wrong in our eyes. That is the "act". The result is war, death and ruin, which I do NOT commemorate.

You also write:
"However, commemoration is bestowed upon those who have done good". "Good" as you put it is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes the lines get blurred a little and sometimes they are black and white. But you need to look from other perspectives to properly assess what a "good" cause is. You said dropping the bomb on Hiroshima was a good thing because it stopped the war. Would you say that the Romans conquering vast amounts of territory via slaughtering, fierce combat and attrition "good" because their goal was to create a united and peaceful Empire? You are born North American (I assume), lived in North America and read and watch North American media. Therefore, you have the North American attitude towards the world, your own personal Manifest Destiny attitude. However, there are billions of other people in this world, with different ideals, goals, religions, languages, beliefs, histories and agenda's. You are in no position to determine who is "right" and who is "wrong" as a general rule. And no... before you try to squirm your way into another redirection of my words, I am not trying to condone the actions of the German government and high commanders during WW1 and 2.

I am NOT a Nazi sympathizer as you so slanderously lavish upon me in a public forum and I think an apology is in order. Furthermore, have you ever served your country via the military? I HAVE.

I just thought of something while taking a shower, and I think it is accurate.

"A man believes something, because he was told it.
A man understands something, because he has experienced it."

I think if you asked an allied veteran, "Should a german soldier have the same commemorative moment as an allied soldier?", in my opinion (as I have no way to substantiate this) he would answer with a resounding YES... because he has experienced it and understands what being a soldier means.