Free Republic

Countries around Asia are honouring their dead and calling for peace, as they mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific. In Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said his nation felt "deep remorse" for the aggression shown towards its neighbours during the war. Commemorative services are also taking place in other Asian nations. But across the region, many still feel that Japan has yet to fully face up to, and atone for, its wartime actions. The war in the Pacific, which finally ended on 15 August 1945, killed millions of people from the jungles...

My fellow Australians, every generation paints the past as a simpler, more certain, more innocent time. But let we who are heirs to the sacrifice of a great generation set aside that conceit today. There was nothing simple about the lives of those who won a global war and turned the tide of history. Victory over the evils of Nazism, Fascism and militarism could not be certain through dark months of doubt. And innocence offered little to those who died so we could live in peace and freedom. The Second World War was not just our gravest hour, when Australia...

Prime Minister John Howard, at the VP Day commemorative ceremony at the Australian War Memorial yesterday EVERY generation paints the past as a simpler, more certain, more innocent time. But let we who are heirs to the sacrifice of a great generation set aside that conceit today. There was nothing simple about the lives of those who won a global war and turned the tide of history. Victory over the evils of Nazism, fascism and militarism could not be certain through dark months of doubt. And innocence offered little to those who died so we could live in peace and...

THOUSANDS of people have gathered around Australia to remember the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific and the end of World War II. Prime Minister John Howard and other VIPs including Japan's ambassador laid wreaths at the cenotaph at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to commemorate those who fought and died. Young Australian of the year Khoa Do urged a spirit of generosity and selflessness to fulfil the dream of those who fought 60 years ago. Mr Do called on all young Australians to remember all those who gave their lives in the quest for peace, to remember...