As We Celebrate the Invasion of Normandy 70 Years Ago, Let us Not forget that World War II Could Have Been Prevented

There never was a war in all history easier to prevent by timely action than the one which has just desolated such great areas of the globe. (Winston Churchill, “The Sinews of Peace” Speech, Fulton, Missouri, USA. March 5, 1946.)

In the month of June 2014 we are celebrating the heroic deeds and events of 70 years ago on the beaches of Normandy, when 160,000 Allied forces took part in Operation Overlord to do battle with Nazi Germany.

The brave men and women that helped save the world from Nazism deserve our respect and our gratitude. We can never say enough about their bravery and generosity.

At the same time, we must resolve never again to allow the world to undergo such horrors. As quoted above, Sir Winston Churchill believed that “there never was a war in all history easier to prevent by timely action” than World War II. What if that war had been prevented? What if humankind had performed this “timely action” mentioned by Churchill and had stopped the madness of World War II? That would have been much greater reason to celebrate and to be grateful for.

Our World War II fallen and veterans are heroes never to be forgotten–but at the same time they are victims of lack of “timely action” on the part of humankind. This lack of timely action must never again happen.

Paulo-Juarez Pereira
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
June 29, 2014 (as the World Cup continues)