I recently saw an account of the brief life of the German battleship Bismarck. I found three things very moving in the account.The attempt by a British seaman to save the life of an armless German sailer by risking his own.The abrupt departure of the British Battleship,leaving hundreds of German sailors to die in the ocean.And the solemn singing of Ich Haff Ein Kamerade by the rescued German Sailors at a Sea Burial for one of the survivors who died onboard ship.The elderly German Veterans who spoke about this event that occurred almost 60 years ago,had tears in their eyes,as did the British Veterans.

It seems to me that in war,despite the rightness or wrongness,there are moments that defy politics,and in which the Human Spirit,in joy or tragedy,is triumphant.It seems to me that to blame these men or show them dishonor for having sung this song at this moment reflects dishonor on us,and not them.