-=> Quoting Sondra Ball to Jim Casto <=-
 SB> I have suspected for a long time that our massive rebuilding after
 SB> World War II served a dual purpose.  1) It assauged part of our guilt
 SB> over dropping the atom bombs.
 Hmmm... I'm not sure there was ever a feeling of "guilt" (by the majority
 or even those in power)
 SB> 2)  We needed to do it to avoid another
 SB> economic depression like the one we encountered in the thirties.
 
 I have to study up on the post-WW II boom as to how much of the overseas
 rebuilding contributed to local U.S. economies. We xertainly wanted to
 avoid the problems caused by the end of WW I where we simply made
 unsurmountable peace demands.
 
 SB> Perhaps because the US was built on land stolen from the Indians; and
 SB> to truly acknowledge that is to be forced to face a part of our
 SB> immorality as a nation.  We must acknowledge that we, too, like
 SB> Germany, intended to commit genocide; and that we are also capable of
 SB> intense evil.  As long as the Indians were, and are, the enemy, the
 SB> "Indian wars", and the Indian deaths, are justifiable.
 
 It seems to me that same philosophy applies to most any race, color or creed
 that is the "other".
 SB> of their lives; and not also be susceptible to feel shame and dismay
 SB> over our ancestors if they have done wrong.
 
 Part of the problem is trying to decide if we should feel "shame", "dismay",
 "guilt", "blame", etc. I remember hearing a talk by a well-known and
 respected Klamath elder who placed just as much blame on her own elders
 for "selling out" during the 1950s termination of the Klamath and their
 extensive land holdings. I suppose similar things could be said about the
 Trail of Tears or the Holocaust. It's not an easy task judging our elders
 and ancestors even with 20-20 hindsight.
 Jim
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