A special day

Today is a special day for many reasons.

Today, the 6^th of June, is Sweden’s national day. This day is a celebration of national pride in Sweden; a celebration of freedom, justice and equality.

Today, the 6^th of June, exactly 70 years ago the D-day of the Second World War was coming to an end. This day too is a celebration of national pride in many of the countries which were part of the operation Overlord; a celebration of freedom, justice and equality.

In Germany, the 6^th of June is also a special day. When we were having breakfast this morning, one of my new good friends said: “Exactly 70 years ago we lost of first bridge head.” This day in Germany is perhaps not celebrated, but remembered and honored. The German people agree today, 70 years later, that it was a good thing what happened. An end, and a new beginning was needed.

For this I truly admire the German soldiers, officers, and armed forces. To be able to accept what happened, learn from it and move on, but still honor the men that fought for what they thought was right – is a very hard combination which the German people and armed forces do well. A nation being so humble and honest about their recent history, is very hard to find.

Today, the 6^th of June 2014, the recently mentioned friend and I were watching the remembrance ceremony in France, where all the world’s great leaders were summoned. We could see how Merkel, Obama and Putin all shook hands with the veterans still alive to tell the tale. I came to think of the European parliament election, where we can see a movement of extremist parties with quite radical ideas emerging in many different countries; Sweden is only one of many. I ask myself how this is possible, with the memories of the world war being so close. Have we already forgotten? What will happen to Europe when there are no veterans left to tell the stories?

Not all things end like you thought they would in the start. Like the Second World War for Germany, like a European Union that stands for freedom, justice and equality or like this blog entry that ended up being a debate article.

In the end it is all about standing up for what is right, daring to question what is happening and accepting things that went wrong.

I have learnt a lot here in Germany, and I want to thank all my German friends, Mikael and Dr Nassua for all the interesting conversations and discussions about politics, history, culture and military identity. Past, present and future. Your thoughts and insights have developed me as a person and my understanding of what is happening around me. For that I cannot thank you enough. 

I realized I have been sitting on the side line, passively watching the European parliament election in Sweden from another perspective. Now the European parliament election, the Swedish national day and the D-day celebration is over. Now awaits the after-math and the questions. What do people actually celebrate on the Swedish national day? What happened to the Europe so many people fought and died for?

If I would stand up for what I think is right, and dare to question what is happening, I would say;

Please Europe, Sweden and all the other countries walking down the same path;

Don’t let history repeat itself.

I korthet:
6/6 Dagens =) : Presentutdelning. Delad glädje är dubbel glädje :P
6/6 Dagens =( : Så himla tråkigt att säga hej då till alla!
6/6 Dagens mening: Alte Schwede!