Posted on 08/12/2006 4:01:36 PM PDT by Graybeard58
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Church bells rang. Whistles at fire stations and mill factories sounded. People poured into the streets, waving flags and honking car horns.
It was Aug. 14, 1945 -- the day Americans learned that the Japanese had surrendered, ending the costliest conflict in human history.
"It was pandemonium with happiness," remembered John Lucas, a World War II veteran and executive secretary of the Pawtucket Veterans Council.
Rhode Island will mark the end of World War II on Monday. It is the last state to continue celebrating Victory Day, established by President Harry Truman in a 1946 proclamation.
The holiday is commonly referred to as Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day, because of its association with the Japanese surrender. Critics say it's discriminatory, and would like to eliminate the holiday or at least remove any reference to the victory over Japan.
They point out that Rhode Islanders do not celebrate the U.S. victory over Germany, which was defeated three months earlier. Some also say the holiday is anachronistic, since Japan became a U.S. ally after the war.
"This is a stigma against the Japanese whom we do business with and are allies," said George Lima, a former state representative who worked on a failed attempt to eliminate the holiday in the 1980s.
But veterans groups remain committed to the holiday.
"This is the way the veterans feel about it in Rhode Island," said George Panichas, a former state representative who was a gunner on a B-17 bomber during World War II. "They fought against the Japanese, and they just don't forget it."
There have been several unsuccessful attempts to change the holiday's name after the failed attempt to eliminate it. Each time, lawmakers met overwhelming opposition, said Sen. Rhoda Perry, D-Providence. She introduced bills in 1992, 1994 and 1995 to change the holiday to Rhode Island Veterans Day. A second 1995 bill would have changed the name to Peace and Remembrance Day.
Perry said her bills died because veteran groups turned up in force at the Statehouse to rally against them. She received mail from veterans that she described as "vitriolic."
People need the holiday to remember the sacrifices veterans made during the war, said James Brennan. He survived the 1942 Bataan Death March in which Japanese soldiers tortured and killed thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war.
But Brennan said he does not harbor ill feelings toward the Japanese and the holiday does not incite racism or hatred.
Mikki Lima, a Japanese-American who runs the Rhode Island Japan Society in Providence, said she is working to educate younger Americans about Japanese culture. Lima said she'd prefer if the holiday were eliminated, but if that can't happen, she hopes it can be celebrated under a new name because of Victory Day's implicit reference to the victory over Japan.
"Someday," said Lima, "this foolish holiday's name will be changed."
Had there been no "victory over Japan" There would be no need for a holiday, we would all be bowing before the emperor.
This is so wrong. There should be no winners or losers in this day and age. It's not good for the self esteem of other countries since only one can win. It would be much better if we called this CVJ (co-victory with Japan)
The pinheads in Japan "commemorate" the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki every year. They need to stop their sissified whining. They can have their "holidays" and we'll have ours.
Me thinks:
CHELSEA PHUA = AP = "Critics" = "Some"
They have to fill newsprint with something no matter how stupid.
I am speechless!
There will come a day in this country when the tolerance and good graces of the rational will come to an end and the insane will be rounded up and institutionalized. For our safety, not theirs.
But, I'm sure the Japanese would not celebrate V-A Day... Or, would they?
?;^T
Looking forward to V-L Day. Victory over Liberals!
And for V-MF day (for victory over muslim fanatics, and all other MF's.
One billion Muslims and if 10% want the United States destroyed and infidels killed, 100 million Muslims hate us and want all Americans dead.
Think about it.
The religion of peace. My ass.
Mikki Lima: "Someday this foolish holiday's name will be changed."
By whom, Mikkimoto? You and the whole d@&m Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy? Fat chance.
Remember the Bataan Death March victims and be d@&med, Mikkishuma.
):^(
How about Nanking or Bataan death march day you damm ignorant PC B***
I considered "Victory over Democrats" - But who wants to celebrate V-D Day?!
I pray that you are being sarcastic, otherwise that it one of the dumbest statements I have ever read. Co-victory with Japan? Do you realize the thousands of Americans that were killed at the hands of the Japanese? You dishonor their sacrifice with statements like that! It's not that I'm about bashing the Japanese in this day and age, but I'll be damned if I will allow history to be re-written or diminished because we don't want to hurt someone's self-esteem. Hog wash!
Brian
I thought the Clinton Admin already changed the name...?
And if they don't like that, we might have to give it to them again; if we can find enough stomach for it.
It IS VJ-Day, and that cannot be changed
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