[XXi]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

On the western front in WW2, America had more military casualties than any other nation. We paid a higher price than any European nation.
Show me any European nation that lost tens of millions.

?
Whole Western Front was secondary in losses and amount of soldiers involved to the Eastern Front. Plus, you`re forgetting the scale of the conflict which makes your statement sound... well, strange to say the least. Besides, you`re forgetting civilian loses. Just one example: true, Poland lost just about 160,000 men in the military. I undersand, that over 5 million civilians, including Jews doesn`t count, right?
The Red Army had much more casualties throughout the war than the American army. USSR lost approx. 25-27 millions and it wasn`t the only country that suffered really heavy loses.

I guess that`s the point - America has not expierienced an exhausting war fought on the American soil and it`s good at least one nation was spared such expierience.
In Europe, it was all other - except few countries that managed, on various purposes, to remain neutral for both wars, every nation suffered heavy casualties and expierienced a total war.
Remember 911? It was a tragedy and a shock, to be sure. There was a lot of talking about a tremendous loss of life and a deep wound to the America. All true, but on the other hand I couldn`t stop thinking about my city, Warsaw. During the Warsaw uprising, for two months, similiar amount of people were killed every single day. During whole war, the city was destroyed to a degree similiar to Hiroshima, with most of the buildings demolished and about half of the population killed, sent to concentration camp, massacred. The results - in both society and the architecture of the city are very visible even today.

Please, spare me the text about the higher price as there were more cities that met similiar fate. There were armies that have lost just as many people as the American Army or more, if not in WW2 then in WW1.
You can say that there`s a conncetion between amount of the French losses in WW1 and their behaviour in WW2, no to wonder actually.

Now, just to sketch an idea how result of the war may affect the people`s feelings about war:

imagine that there was a war on the American soil now. No matter, with whom, no matter the result actually. Ok, let`s imagine that America wins and that the nuclear weapon has not been used and all finished relatively well.
Except the fact that both Coasts have been crushed. Except the fact that New York has been destroyed with most of its habitants. Except the fact the LA region is no more - it has been bombed, then invaded with most civilians executed or killed instantly. Except the fact that most major American cities and military bases are just ruins now. Except the fact that country`s industry and high-tech areas are deserted. Except the fact that people are starving and the country`s administration is shattered. Finally, except the fact that more than 50 mln Americans got killed and most of them were civilians and from military, 50% of conscripted men are never to return or return as handicapated.

Now think how such expierience could change the people`s minds towards war.

It`s good that there`s at least one nation not willing to give up and fight when necessary. I`m absolutely serious about this one. Just please keep in mind what could affect the other`s people view.