韓国軽視論←韓国人の参加、大歓迎

１９８５年の最初の日米慰霊祭に元兵士の孫娘として現地に行ったアメリカの少女が書いた文が、桐原書店の高校用英語教科書にのっていました(２年生用）。一部のみ書き出します。

Japanese and American women, wives and daughters of the veterans, started embracing and exchanging their scarves, jewelry, anything to let each other know how they felt. Men approached each other, at first shaking hands hesitantly, then embracing and crying. Some brought war souveniors to return to their one-time enemies.

A Japanese veteran placed a hat on my head. He smiled and introduced himself. His military hat was his gift to me. My grandfather approached and they talked and seemed gland that I cared enough to share this experience with them.

I don't know what they said because I was so touched by the moment. Thoughts raced through my mind. These two old men were standing on top of Mt. Suribachi hugging each other. Forty years ago, they had been enemies. Forty years ago, they had tried to kill each other. Forty years ago, the very spot where we stood had been full of bombs and guns and hatred. How could so much have changed in only forty years? How many times have enemies stood together as friends after murderous attacks on each other?

I felt as if I knew something no one else knew. It seemed to me that we should allow these men to show the rest of the world how bitter enemies can become friends.

最後の節は、一般論とはなりえないのではないかと思いますね｡満州で戦った元日本兵と元ソ連兵が友情の再会と和解をするとは思えない。