What's the most important lesson this generation should remember from V-J Day?

I feel what we should take from V-J Day isn't of the day itself, but it proves we can fight with a nation but become allies again afterward

The effects of nuclear armament are still affecting natives living in the Pacific atolls. Even our veterans that were sent to cap the waste have died, or are suffering with cancer.

The United States should never again create internment camps out of fear of an ethnic minority.

We need to accept no longer being and shouldn't want to continue to be the world's police force. Our population is only going to get smaller. The world is only going to get more dangerous. And bad guys will be bad guys. You can scream Putin is a bad guy all you want, people thought we were bad for invading Iraq and it turns out we were wrong, they never had WMDs. Putin is doing what he thinks he needs to do to protect the people of Russia. Of course we don't have to agree, but it's his country. And sending or "laundering money" thru Ukraine probably for the benefit of his son and or other family members and friends is criminal. Ukraine has his long history of corruption and there's no reason to think it's any different today.

One country trying to take over multiple is one thing and would almost undoubtedly call for US intervention. But 2 countries going to war, even when one is incredibly smaller than the other and doing everything possible to avoid and even thwart diplomacy to resolve the situation is downright treasonous. It's time for America to focus more on fixing our own problems instead of focusing the majority of our attention on the world's problems. America should come first for Americans!

V-J Day marks the end of the war with Japan. Our country and it's citizens are winners, we defend our country with all the strength, skills and weaponry to defend our adversaries. Remember this, if and when you should have to arise to the challange.

OUR FREEDOM and the Lives that we sacifrice to obtain it and still do

My mother cried for many years at the death of her brother, and as a result showed hatred for the Japanese. My city had a P.O.W. camp, my dad would take the prisoners to the fields to harvest to counter the food shortages. Even at wars end there was still a lot of suffering. I to this day have a "Victory" garden which yields about half of our food supply. I had mixed feelings about them until I joined the Army and saw The memorial at Hawaii. In Germany there are memorable places the Germans have left in place such as the ovens where a huge pile of shoes remain. Japan also have memorials at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a never forget mentality.

I believe “one” of the most important things that this generation should remember about V-J Day, Is that even though Japan did unconditionally surrender, and we declared ourselves (the U S) victors, this war, and any other war or conflict that we participate in, comes at a cost, and the greatest cost is the lives of MANY HUMAN BEINGS from all those countries who send their military in to fight. Is this actually a “VICTORY?”
P.E.R.
USMC/USN/DAV

Never start a life and death struggle with the USA; you cannot win, not ever!

The most important lesson V-J Day should be the grit, the determination, and self-sacrifice that a bunch of young adults demonstrated to combat the Axis Powers in fronts. The love of their country, love of God, Love of family, was enough for them to sign their lives on the dotted line to fight for and free Jewish prisoners and civilians, aid the British, and many other people they never knew. The toughness and resolve to win on all fronts is lacking in today's young adults. Learn from your grandfathers, any one from an older generation and learn how to walk in their footsteps. Those warriors were and are truly the greatest generation.

The most important lesson this generation needs to learn from V-J Day is that America, with all of her flaws, is still the greatest nation on earth!

The horrible cost of jingoism and racism.

That you cannot erase history. Learn from it to better yourself and your country.

Don't forcibly open other people's ports just to increase trade routes. It will come back and bite you in the ass. See: Vietnam. Also - nuclear weapons to kill women and kids to save soldiers? See: war crime.

That others gave their lives for us so that we may remain free

Freedom has a price

We must always remember that freedom is not cheap nor easy. We have to fight for freedom and defend it.

That so many lost their lives to protect democracy against persons or people who try to destroy our constitution. Sons. brothers, uncles, and husbands fought for our, and Europe's freedom, and some never returned. And we should never take our freedoms for granted. And stand up against persons or groups that thretened democracy today.

As Henry Kissinger said, "America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests." The Japanese are our friends and allies. We should remember and honor the sacrifice of combatants from both sides. We are one civilization now, born of horrific conflict. And joined by shared values.

Sometimes you have to break a few things in order to win. Winning is everything. There is no second place.