Vj Day and the Ashes.

I think it is fitting that the match today ended in a draw. Not because both sides, England and Australia, aquitted themselves nearly perfectly (which they did)but because of today, the anniversary of VJ Day.

The Forgotten Army, comprising of British, Australian, New Zealand and so many other nationalities (American included) were held prisoner for so many years after the fall of Singapore in 1942. Every one remembers, knows about or at least has heard of the American victories in the pacific, Iwo Jima, Midway and so on, but those who served in Burma, China and the surrounding countries are seldom mentioned. So today I say thank you. Thank you to everyone who served, gave their time dedication courage and freedom. Mostly I thank those who gave their lives so we can live with the freedoms we have today.

Every time I sit and feel bad, mopey or grumpy I just think of those who gave their lives in the name of freedom and it instantly snaps me awake. What have I got to complain about?

Now I fully expect nothing but apathy from our teenage poets (not all of you, but you know what I mean) so instead of remarks of 'who cares it was sixty years ago' and other bullsh*t comments I dare anyone who couldn't give a toss to read up on the Burma death marches and write a poem about them.

http://ghostofbataan.com/bataan/page3.html

Thank you for posting this. It's important that we remember things like this instead of brushing it aside with the "I don't care - I happened sixty years ago" stuff. This was gruesome, bloody war and these "forgotten troops" deserve this recognition in honor of their hand in the war effort. I second his recommendation to visit this site, whether you are an "apathetic teen" or not.
Happy VJ Day

I concur with both of you. Excellent topic and thanks for posting.

"Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it ..."