This question sponsored by your local public education system.

Ahhh, yes. Because understanding/comprehending history equates to being "patriotic."

Apples to Oranges. Pompeii was destroyed around the first century. Your point? I haven't been on the forums long enough to see if the recent typhoons, or major earthquakes were discussed. As to being a "patriotic" American, I guess I'm guilty as charged. I'd love to know what country you hail from. Chances are good that American blood was spilled there (or foreign aid rendered) at some point. If the Mandela thread existed, then there is no reason that this thread should not also exist. Shall we go on?

Why aren't we mourning for those lost in Hiroshima or Nagasaki? Or the brutal firebombing campaigns on Japanese civilian and industrial districts prior to the nuclear bombs?

Yah, is there another instance in history where so many lives were snuffed out in so little time? Yet it would seem that very few American care enough about that to go around flinging that date about. And why is that? Because it doesn't support they're patriotic mind set.[/quote

Or because your great tactical mind forgot to tell you that they were bombed to secure an early end to the war, and to save Allied lives, considering that the Japanese Empire said they would never surrender. I'm sure that your grandparents, if they came from an allied nation, didn't dispute the decision. So much derp in this thread, but it's awesome to see all of the America haterz come out in full force. If you hate us so much, you should have tried harder in battle :)

Ahhhh, so here is an idea. You can mourn whoever you like, and I will do the same. In regards to talking: Pot meet kettle.

You obviously aren't American. We not ony remember these days as an event where many people died, but also as a time when malicious individuals threatened our country. Pearl Harbor was an act of war on America that not only threatened the lives of many Americans, but also threatened the American vision, ideals, and freedoms. 9/11 was an act of terrorism with the same intent. Patriotism is an amazing thing in that it can allow a country to come together in times of hardship to overcome anyone who threatens your way of life. I feel genuinely sorry for you that you do not live in a country with such strong moral support and perseverance.

I actually don't consider myself to be an american. I consider myself a citizen of the Earth/Milkyway/universe. But, if you were to take a look at my birth certificated, you would indeed find that I was born in the USA. And my driver's license would show that I live in AZ. Regardless of popular opinion not all Americans are complete morrons.

Respect given on my part, there is a reason why they were called the greatest generation

In regards to the rest of your answers

You also have to remember gaming communities are mostly filled with Left Wingers, Liberals, Idealists, Globalists, Keynesians, Anti Americanism etc, where war heroes/victims don't garter the same respect as aging socialist rebels, which went by without a hitch.

Also considering that both Japan and the US were emerging countries which were behind current powers, their ability to break out of their shells and step out to demonstrate their power was truly poetic. More so than right or wrong it was about redrawing power lines which only change during war, war not being legal or illegal, right or wrong, just power extensions.

Both countries were afraid of conducting an invasion against the opposing mainlands because both understood that the other side consisted of culturally strong fighters (Japanese warrior culture vs American militias), both countries made large technological leaps in such a short time which have yet to be match to this day, and as a result of such both countries are some of the best countries to live in.

I have more respect for Japanese and American nationalists who's love of country allowed them to pull themselves together through thick and thin than "world citizens" who have not anything to show for themselves.

Individuals may or may not be malicious, we see this ourselves in and out of war, but large groups of people aren't "evil" and we are indeed talking about the large groups consisting of your average person who values the lives of their family, neighbors, people and fights/dies under that notion. In addition to Germany neither were the people of the Soviet Union, the British Empire, or the Confederacy "evil" people. In fact the people actually fighting for Germany were easily under the impression that they were throwing off the unfair punishments given to them under WW1

Similarly any country we have gone to war with, I have never thought of their population as "evil", also not being "evil" doesn't mean you don't go to war with said country. The Japanese were not "evil" but that didn't mean you wouldn't go to war with them for the attack they saw justified due to the economic sanctions placed on them.

Also confusing leaders with ideas we agree or disagree with, with the notion of people who are willing to sacrifice themselves to protect the people around them is a red herring because that is not the concept we are talking about. We are talking about the segment of people who would if in other situations and under duress would still step up and defend themselves and the people they love against the perceived provocation.

Fortunately we are able to read between the lines

1) A thread about the lost lives of your average soldier in a specific event

2) My first post about your average person fighting / supporting their people, which was directed at no one specific

3) Your inquiry of my thoughts on WW2 German Leaders and if my same sentiments applied

The thread covered your average soldier, and as such my post reflected this, you brought up WW2 German Leaders, thus you turned the direction around. If your response to me was not pertaining to my post or the nature of the thread, why was my post quoted?

If you are interested in debating why wars occur, whether that is the failure in diplomacy or for resources / power that is a different topic and if you want you can start one and we can enjoy ourselves as we discuss the intricacies of war.

Edit:

-azi word is blanked and thus changed to WW2 German Leaders

I actually don't consider myself to be an american. I consider myself a citizen of the Earth/Milkyway/universe. But, if you were to take a look at my birth certificated, you would indeed find that I was born in the USA. And my driver's license would show that I live in AZ. Regardless of popular opinion not all Americans are complete morrons.

I have more respect for Japanese and American nationalists who's love of country allowed them to pull themselves together through thick and thin than "world citizens" who have not anything to show for themselves.

I do not, there were people who painted troops very negatively for various reasons, followed by a blame game of faults made by both the Japanese (island conquest) and Americans (nukes and internment camps).

Thus my first post was in two parts

1) Soldiers are not bad people, they are fighting against perceived wrongs and thus is a trait above many including those that those who rage against your average solider.

2) Both Japan and the US have good people in them and both should be proud of their accomplishments

You were not apart of the equation, just dispelling the "soldiers are bad" and "the blame game" which was going on.

Edit:

Thus I responded to your first reply as such because my post was covering these topics

Everything I say I do mean, so it will stay, I replied in general due to to what I saw as insults thrown towards Americans, Japanese and soldiers in general. So I wont' change it especially considering it has been quoted.

But I will apologize if I hurt your feeling because that was not my goal, if people are talking about politics and values I will reply in kind because I assume this is an informal debate.

Wait.. What happened on the 9th of November?