I think its simply an age thing. Certain people of his age in say 1900 would have had the same sentiments about the French nation. Wars do this sort of long lasting damage to people and alter their whole outlook on the world for the rest of their lifetimes.
Its not racism as most of western Europes indiginous population are the same race, it should be considered perhaps as nationalism which although not tarred with the same brush is just as poisonous.
Modern Germany should be perhaps held up as an example of how a nation should be run.
A well motivated , well educated population with good rewards, rights and freedoms, a very good export led economy and a well conceived democratic system that certainly seems to work.
However personally If I come into contact with any German pensioner aged about 85 or older, I wonder to myself "What were you doing about 70 yrs ago".
This is probably unfair, but just for that moment I am thinking of "that" time, for people of P Moores age "that" time was lived through and is probably in their thoughts every day.
"lest we forget" is quoted at ceremonies and memorials every year, im sure most who lived through the horrors and losses of war just wish they could forget. Afterall its now history, very soon to be outside the living memory of anyone.
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