NYT: Playing Politics With D-Day

This June, for the first time, a German chancellor will attend ceremonies in Normandy marking the anniversary of D-Day. Gerhard Schröder has declared himself "very pleased" at the invitation he received from President Jacques Chirac of France to join other leaders for the 60th anniversary of the Allied landings. On the face of it, this appears to be a welcome signal that Europe has put its last great war behind it, and that the Germans are now viewed as an integral part of the European family. Ten years ago, Helmut Kohl, then chancellor of Germany, was frustrated in his efforts to secure just such an invitation.

Still, there's something not quite right with this picture. It's not that the Germans need to be ceaselessly reminded of their Nazi past. Few nations in history have so sincerely and deeply looked into the evils of their past and worked as hard to come to terms with them. Germany is, and deserves to be, a full and equal partner in everything Europe does, without being made to feel that it bears a permanent taint. The trouble is that Mr. Chirac's invitation smacks more of politics than reconciliation. France and Germany have found common cause on a number of issues of late, ranging from the invasion of Iraq to the future of the European Union, and Mr. Chirac was apparently anxious to parade this alliance.

The ceremonies in Normandy are meant to honor the Americans, British and Canadians who stormed the beaches on June 6, 1944, dying by the thousands to liberate France and the rest of Europe from a German yoke. No one who has visited the Allied cemeteries in Normandy, row after row of graves, can fail to be moved by this sacrifice. This is therefore not the place for France and Germany to play a political duet, any more than the anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11 is an event for the Republican Party to co-opt for its political convention.

Apart from the obvious fact that playing politics with such anniversaries is an insult to their heroes and victims, doing so is counterproductive. There are plenty of venues where Mr. Chirac could demonstrate, and has demonstrated, his rapport with Mr. Schröder. At the D-Day commemorations, the German chancellor will only prompt the sort of commentaries and reactions so memorably spoofed in the "Fawlty Towers" television show: "Just don't mention the war!" However admirable Germany's soul searching, World War II still hangs heavily over all European activities. It was painfully obvious in the outcry when Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, referred to a German heckler as a concentration-camp guard, and when Poland reacted angrily to Germany's objections to the size of Poland's vote in the E.U.

Such tensions are rare these days. But it does no good to force the issue through unnecessary political charades. Disinviting Mr. Schröder is unthinkable, and the dwindling organizations of World War II veterans have been wise not to make an issue of his coming. It is time to move on. What is important now is to make sure that the commemorations keep their focus on the nobility and tragedy of what happened 60 years ago, and not on the maneuverings of tone-deaf politicians.

"What is important now is to make sure that the commemorations keep their focus on the nobility and tragedy of what happened 60 years ago, and not on the maneuverings of tone-deaf politicians."

Exactly, you coniving bastard.

The Germans were the guilty party then. They really have no part to play now except to honor better nations. In the same manner, RAT bastard politicians and their lickspittle allies in the press have little to do regarding 911 except acknowledge their betters.

The Republican party is doing what needs to be done in the wake of 911. The RAT party brought us the 911 debacle. Our nation needs protection and the constitution explicitly provides for it in the enumerated powers. The constitution does NOT provide for the consdieration of gay soldiers, baby killings, reverse discrimination policies, womens studies programs at land grant colleges or the whole host of travesties that the NYT would consider the hallmarks of advanced civilizations.

This article does raise an interesting scenario. It will certainly make for an interesting, to say the least, ceremony, with France sitting side by side with Germany, while honoring les Anglo-Saxons who gave their lives to liberate France from Germany.

France sort of reminds me of a woman who, after he's been dragged off to jail, at great cost of life and limb to the police, takes her wife-beating husband back...AGAIN. Germany has kicked French ass in two wars, and thousands of our boys, not to mention a whole generation of young British men (in WWI) gave their lives to liberate France.

Not that I think the Germans are going to attack anybody again, but when (not if) the French find themselves in a bind again, they're on their own next time, as far as I'm concerned.

Remember when Clinton played politics with D-Day--he fallen flag at the cemetery that he tearfully uprighted and the theatrical arrangement of pebbles on the beach.

Was the NY Times outraged at that?

but when (not if) the French find themselves in a bind again, they're on their own next time, as far as I'm concerned.

BUMP to that !

My sentiments exactly.

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