FA+
Shop
Remember the "Forgotten War"
15 years ago
The opinions expressed on this page are my own and do not reflect those of Fur Affinity or of any other.
"Si quid per iocum dixi, nolito in serium convertere."
("If I have said anything in jest, do not turn it into a serious thing.") -Plautus
"Si quid per iocum dixi, nolito in serium convertere."
("If I have said anything in jest, do not turn it into a serious thing.") -Plautus
While the mainstream media is preoccupied with the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death (as sadly typical of them), this weekend is also the anniversary of another, more importaint event, and one, if we're not careful, could come back to remind us of it in a more terrible way. I am, of course, talking about the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, the so-called "forgotten" war that never actually ended, and one which is still being played out today.
For 57 years, the two Koreas have had a peace that teeters on the edge of a concertina wire.
For 57 years, South Korea has been a thriving democracy (more or less at times), and an ecomomic powerhouse, while the falsely called "Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) is a badly impoverished country ruled by a monolithic dicatorship that is anything but "Democratic."
The North Korean government has kidnapped citizens of South Korea, Japan, and many others (including Americans).
They constaintly disregard any (and every) act of international law, human right, and UN sanction, and threaten war if they're even lightly scolded.
Though somewhat unsuccesful, they have tested ballistic missile and nuclear weapons technology, and exchange that technology to other rouge nations, including Iran.
Last March, they sank a South Korean naval vessel killing 46 sailors, in clear violation of the Armistace agreement of 1953 that "ended" the war.
An Armistice is not an end to a war, it merely puts it on "pause." There has been no formal negotiations to end the war, so technically, the Koreas are still at war.
And just like the veterans of WW2, the Korean vets are also becoming few in number.
If we do not remember this war, it will come back to remind us of it.
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
The Korean War veteran & casualty in my family. Both are brothers.
Col. Iwao Yokooji, 442 RCT/ 2 Inf. Div.
Pvt. Tetsumi Yokooji, 7 Cav. Rgt./ 1 Cav. Div. KIA-9/28/51
For 57 years, the two Koreas have had a peace that teeters on the edge of a concertina wire.
For 57 years, South Korea has been a thriving democracy (more or less at times), and an ecomomic powerhouse, while the falsely called "Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) is a badly impoverished country ruled by a monolithic dicatorship that is anything but "Democratic."
The North Korean government has kidnapped citizens of South Korea, Japan, and many others (including Americans).
They constaintly disregard any (and every) act of international law, human right, and UN sanction, and threaten war if they're even lightly scolded.
Though somewhat unsuccesful, they have tested ballistic missile and nuclear weapons technology, and exchange that technology to other rouge nations, including Iran.
Last March, they sank a South Korean naval vessel killing 46 sailors, in clear violation of the Armistace agreement of 1953 that "ended" the war.
An Armistice is not an end to a war, it merely puts it on "pause." There has been no formal negotiations to end the war, so technically, the Koreas are still at war.
And just like the veterans of WW2, the Korean vets are also becoming few in number.
If we do not remember this war, it will come back to remind us of it.
"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
The Korean War veteran & casualty in my family. Both are brothers.
Col. Iwao Yokooji, 442 RCT/ 2 Inf. Div.
Pvt. Tetsumi Yokooji, 7 Cav. Rgt./ 1 Cav. Div. KIA-9/28/51
2ID SECOND TO NONE! HOOAH
thanks for reminding me; war is a terrible thing, but to forget it is worse
"The horrors of war is never worth the coin that is offered. I hope that my daughters and sons learn this before a deal is ever made."
A line written by my Grandfather (Whom sadly passed away a year after my birth). He was a flight LT. that trained pilots that went out to serve in the Commonwealth (All of whom he trained came back alive) during the Korean War.
Every time I run into a retired veteran, I take the time to tell him/her thank you. I show my respect, and I also help them as needed, especially where I work, we get quite a few as customers and they get my undivided attention.
because it's simple really without them we would not be free. We would not be in a secure nation. And we sure as hell owe them!
So if you meet a vet, be polite, be respectful and tell them thank you because otherwise you'd be living a whole different life and not a good life either.