Some people say that the WWII is over, others use it the speeches and ideological rhetoric. Both are wrong. It's is over, but it's impact is not. It still causes many deep unconscious difficulties in communication between nations (read states) and withing the nations. I remember how much I was surprised when people in Germany told me that they still feel guilty for the WWII and Hitler. Well, they should be aware what happened but people of my generation have nothing to do with it, they should be free from this gilt as it is not helping, it is an extra obstacle on the way of the intercultural dialogue.
I've just read in the news that a Nazi criminal was extradited from Canada to Italy, 60 years later... And I feed sad, sad that in the first place he could escape and sad because it is not changing anything now. Now he is an old man, who lived his life and to imprison him is probably the right thing to do, but it's just weird.
I saw a monument to the Soviet soldier in Vienna today. Every time I see it I think of those people who though they would liberate Europe, but instead they imprisoned themselves in the Soviet era for the rest of their lives. It's sad, it was not for nothing, but it was for so little appreciation. Nowadays, politicians in the EU and esp. in the countries who were on the other side tend to blame the Soviet for occupation of Europe, but they don't take into consideration those solders, each of them, who being a little part of the Soviet system still were human beings. My God, when I think of the 20th century, I am less enthusiastic about politicians. People have to remember that the world and human life are fragile and have to be appreciated...
