Azizi, your always-lengthy comments make it difficult for people to return to the original topic of discussion, which was a very interesting aspect of the racism of World War II. Talk about 19th-century plantation songs in a thread about plantation songs.

But going back to the topic of racism in World War II, can't we discuss the subject without first issuing an apology and deploring all the terrible things that our great-grandfathers did sixty-four years ago? Hasn't it been said often enough by the vast majority of this community that we deplore racism and that many of us have worked for decades to right the wrongs caused by racism?

The story itself has tremendous impact, that the cards of the deck were stacked to make it appear that Paris was liberated by an all-white army. Editorializing and moralizing can actually detract from the impact of the story - just as editorializing and moralizing can detract from the impact of songs that are posted. Let the information speak for itself - there is no need to sugar-coat it.

And I'm sorry, but apologizing for what my ancestors did in 1945, seems absolutely ludicrous to me. I really didn't know my grandfather all that well and I have no idea what he said and did with regards to race; and my apology for anything he may have said or done would be an empty apology. I have never heard my father say a word that was even halfway racist; and during World War II, he was too young to make decisions other than to say, "Yes, Sir."

So, yeah, it was a long time ago. It's good to discuss these things and learn from them, but ludicrous to wallow in guilt over them.

-Joe Offer-