I want to repost this, in light of the Japan tragedy, about healing old wounds (WWII related)

[Godhumor]

(Editing my call-out for clarity)

I originally posted this after Veterans' Day this past year:

My wife, her mother and I were out raking in the front yard earlier today when my neighbor came walking over. He asked to speak to my mother-in-law. He then walked over to her and, with my wife and I helping with the translating, told her that his grandfather had served in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. He claimed a "Rising Sun" flag as a memento, and it has been in his family ever since.

My neighbor said he wanted to make sure the flag got home and hoped that my mother-in-law would be able to help. Needless to say, she accepted and was touched at his gesture. When she gets back to Japan, she will contact the local Japanese veterans association and start the process of either returning it to the government, a museum or to a veterans' hall.

An unexpected start to the day, but one I felt needed to be shared.

______________________________________________________________

Today, my mother-in-law is in the middle of rolling blackouts, deserted grocery stores and empty gas stations. But her family is with her and they are safe.

And, to anyone reading this not associated with the upstanding members of the DU family, if you want to relish in the tragedy, all I have to say is read that portion again and see how families from different cultures and different times can rise above and come together.

[KT2000]

1. Beautiful story

and that is the true miracle of human-beings. We are able to change and grow.
My thoughts are with your mother-in-law and everyone suffering so in Japan.

[BlueRidgeProgressive]

2. Is anyone here relishing in the tragedy?

I have not seen it.

[leftstreet]

4. No n/t

[Godhumor]

6. Nope, it was a general response to some of the insanity our members have discovered in other places

Nothing about our very fine members here.

Edited my OP to make that clear.

[Wait Wut]

8. Believe the comment was referring to "them"...

The idiots on the internet that are claiming this is retribution for Pearl Habor or their lack of "God".

[Godhumor]

10. Yeah, edited the OP to make that clear

It was not meant to be seen as a call-out of DU members.

[Warpy]

11. Not here, but there is a disgusting topic on Twitter

where all the troglodytes are going to spit hatred at their betters in Japan.

I wish TPTB at Twitter would catch a clue and start deleting a few things. That topic is at the top of the list. It's gone beyond a few stupid haters venting their gigantic spleens. It's an embarrassment to the entire human race, but Americans especially.

[Scuba]

3. I remember this post from last November. Thanks for re-posting. n/t

[Lars39]

5. My dad was an MP in Japan for over a year.

His ship pulled into the harbor as they signing ship left. They chose him to be an MP because he was a small guy. He detested the warring, but had great respect for the people he met. He would have been absolutely devastated by this tragedy. :(

[Wait Wut]

7. Thank you for sharing...

My daughter-in-law is Okinawan, my son a US Marine. When she asked her mother for "permission" to marry my son, she said no and threatened to disown her. Her uncle had been killed in the battle of Okinawa. She hated Americans, especially the military.

My son bought two tickets to the mainland and he learned how to say "I love your daughter very much and I intend to marry her. I do not mean to disrespect you or your family."

There were words passed between mother and daughter, my d-i-l cried. But, they were there for a long weekend and spent time together. An invitation was sent to the mother and received no reply. My d-i-l to be was crushed, but would go through with the wedding.

The day of the wedding arrived and mother was there...in traditional dress. She was very kind and respectful to my son and accepted him into the family. Apparently, through the translation of my d-i-l, she said something similar to, "My daughter loves you and a young woman's future is more important than an old woman's past."

Smart lady. BTW, our extended family seems to be safe for the time being. I wish yours well and hope recovery comes quickly for them all.

[AsahinaKimi]

9. Domo Arigatou gozaimasu

honto desu.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. Is blaming this generation of Japanese for Pearl Harbor similar to blaming the Jews for

killing Jesus?