While watching German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder making a devout
repent in front of the wall clock to the memory of the commanders of the
Warsaw Uprising, one cannot help to associate this gesture with the poles
apart approach and attitude of the Japanese government vis-à-vis the same
historical catastrophe.
For many years, the repentant approach of the German government to
that war has been consistent: Have the guts to face up to the history and
to bear the responsibility for the historical crimes, thus winning the
understanding, appreciation and respect of Europe and even countries of
the entire world. We still remember that the first thing that the first
chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Konrad Adenauer did was to
make a heartfelt apology to its long-time enemy France, which was
handsomely paid off by laying a foundation for the reconciliation between
Germany and France and by paving the way leading to peace in Europe.
Following that example, by kneeling down in front of the nameless soldiers
tombs in 1970, Willy Brandt, former chancellor of the Federal Republic of
Germany has not only won extensive appraise from Poland and the
international community but also the Nobel peace prize. On the issue of
dealing with the history of war, the German people are not only faithful
to their words but also firm in their actions. In the wake of WWII,
Germany formulated related laws to get ride of the soil of breeding
possible Nazi elements. Furthermore, Germany has likewise paid a huge
amount of war compensations unconditionally. What makes people even more
relieved is that the German people not only lay stress on historical
education, but also take history as a warning to the offspring.
The aggressive war waged by Japan inflicted extremely grave disasters
and sufferings on the world, the Asian countries and the Chinese people in
particular, which is an undisputable historical fact in the eyes of the
world people. However, till now, some Japanese still refuse to face up to
that part of the history and, worse still, even try to tamper with
history. On this issue, Germany has set a good example for Japan.
History cannot be separated from the present and what is even more
important is that it has a bearing on the future. Only by being courageous
enough in self-examination and facing up to the history, can a country and
a nation truly win a future and the respect of the international
community.
By Tian Bian
(August 9, PLA
Daily)