It's just that I'm bemused how the Chinese government could block access to various internet sites because its June 4. With their Ping Pong Diplomacy to reach out to the world, opening up and forming ties, its funny how controlled and calculated these attempts at "reform" are. Going into the tenth year of the 21st century, everyone sees how everything is controlled and anything critical of the Communist party is severely dealt with. All these occur daily beneath the lustre of vast development. More freedom of information wouldn't hurt the republic would it? Guess they' felt threatened. After all, a reform-minded Gorbachev worked to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Enter June 6, the year 1944.
It marked the day the Allied forces landed along the coast in Normandy, known popularly as D-Day. It was the largest seaborne invasion at the time and was part of a military campaign known as Operation Overlord and an important part of the Allied forces' battle in the European Theater during WWII; which culminated in the Liberation of Paris. Memorials are set up and the events remembered up until today. Nobody attempted to play down any events during WWII and countries like Germany and Japan do acknowledge their war past and seek reconciliation.
To sum it all up, history could be a good teacher only if we're willing to own up and subject ourselves to it.
A word of caution though, history is interpreted differently depending on how one sees it. Taking war for instance, history is a pride for the victors and humiliation for the defeated ones. Often, history is written, rather subjectively, by the victors. Which brings me to the point that one should view things from every angle and yet be enthralled as the events are replayed.
I am.
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