[GretchenM]

I don't know if this would work for you, but perhaps it might make it easier to remember that visit if you could look at their picture taking as a positive thing -- if we had not come out the victor in WW2, the Japanese wouldn't be there as tourists. And then focus on how relations have changed since then; change hardly seems a strong enough word. It is as though the US and Japan turned the world upsdie down after WW2, in regard to the power and influence that have come out of the postwar rebuilding of Japan, our alliance with that nation, and her people's willingness to become an ally of the nation that beat them.

[snugs]

I think it is easier for people of my generation to accept Japanese and Germans than it is/was for our parents and grand parents.

[pollyannaish]

FWIW, you know we won by the fact that the Japanese have been such American culture fans over the years.

Elvis, Levis and Harley Davidsons!

[captnorb]

The president has given us the words:

President Bush: "Japan and the United States have built a strong alliance and a close friendship. Decades ago, our two fathers looked across the Pacific and saw adversaries, uncertainty and war. Today their sons look across that same ocean and see friends and opportunity and peace. ... ...You've had a remarkable tenure as the Prime Minister of your country. You have led with courage, you have made hard decisions. You've helped us change our relationship so that Japan and the United States will be able to work even closer together in the 21st century."

I lost three uncles in that war and I'm not trying to minimize what happened 65 years ago. To me the Japanese flag brings back memories of war time as well. However, I'll will take the Japanese as allies anytime over the French.

Thank you President Bush for showing this world what a forgiving nation and strong leadership can do for international relationships built on trust.