Can machines of war honor victims of genocide?

[Smoke2much]

This is a much more complex phillosophical point than I first understood it to be.  It is 03.45AM here and I'm a little tired so please bear with me.

I think it is to do with the act of rememberance.  We remind ourseles of past wars in an effort to both honour the dead and prevent further, future war.

I will use the BoB flypast again as I am familiar with it.  You have a Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Lancaster, the three most famous British fighting 'planes.  I believe the purpose of using these three aircraft is in essence publicity seeking.  They are famous aircraft and in themselves attract attention, this attention can then be targeted to educate about the BoB and WW2 in general.  In addition those who fought and sacrificed for our freedem can remember those far off days when they were young and each time they awoke could be the last time.  The BoB flypast also evokes the "spirit" of the British Isles in the summer of 1940 when we stood alone against an occupied Europe.  In a way it says "Throw what you like at us and we'll still be standing".

I feel that it is possible that the Israeli airforce is saying something similar with a flypast of modern jets at auschwitz.  Until Hitler the only people who had come close to wiping out the European Jews were Isabella and Ferdinand in Spain during the 14th Century.  Compared to Hitler that pair were boy scouts.  If the Israelies are saying "You can kill most of us but 60 years late look where we are" I think thy have a right to.

Just the ramblings of a tired person, I hope it makes some sense.

Will

[Professor Brensec]

I understand the 'early morning ramblings' mate...........lol

I can only agree with your suggestion that the Israelis (Jews) have a right. I have always considered that they have had their bums kicked from one side of the planet to the other, virtually since time began.
I've always had a great respect and felt a kind of affinity with the Jewish faith. Although their is only a very small Jewish community in Australia (compared with the US and Europe) and we don't normally interact with them. They do keep very much to themselves (which saddens me). Our histories, ideas and even celebrations and commemorations are the same or similar, simply with different names.
Having said that, this isn't really a religious or 'faith' based discussion or question, so no need to go further.

I see Pippin's point that the 'machines of war' didn't save those, in particular, who are commemorated. No, and they do, for the most part, represent war, fighting and killing etc.

But as I said in my earlier post, it's so natural for me, at least in this country, and I believe in many others, to see these items used as at least, a basis for memorials of many kinds.

I suppose it's one of those questions that has it's answer somewhere in both opinions.
As I and others have said, I think the main thing is the intention and thought behind the act that really counts.  ;)

Personally, I get the impression from the article that this has more to do with the Polish/Jewish 'tensions or emotions' than it does with the actual Flyover. Which, as I said, is very difficult for me to understand, given what both 'groups' have endured 'together' in the past.