[Skoshi Tiger]

Do all philosophers have an 'S' in them?

In my opinion one of the biggest tragedies of the war is that even till this day there are people whose lives and the lives of their families are still ruined by events and actions that they experienced over 70 years ago.

Time heals all wounds. Unfortunately in some case this takes longer than others. For some hatred of the 'enemy' still consumes their lives and effects the decisions that they make in their lives. Will any discussion we have here be able to change that? No.

IL2 is a computer game, nothing more or less. I tend to fly red more often because I have a great deal of respect for the men who came together from around the world to fight for freedom and preservation of their way of life, which I can enjoy the benefits of now.

Does this stop me from flying Blue to even out numbers, Hell No! I get more kills in Blue aircaft because 10 years of Luft-Whiner pressure has porked the balance of the game in Blues favour! (SK starts building a sand bag wall and waits for the incoming assault - I'm joking of course!)

Should I hate the French because the Vichy Government sent the Foreign legion to North Africa, or the modern Japanese because their military regimes involvement in New Guinea and the South West Pacific? Deep in my heart I just can't bring my heart to it. If veterans like my dad can forgive (but not forget) their enemies, then who am I to feel any different.

Some may find it hard to understand but I can respect the skill, daring and sometime chivalry of pilots from all sides of the conflict at the same time as detesting and despising the system and atrocities that were allowed to occur. The governments and regimes that allowed those atrocities to occur were destroyed a long time ago.

Anyway that’s my 2 bob's worth

Cheers!