Buying a Japanese or German car is morally wrong because, in addition to the reasons listed on The Issues page, hundreds of thousands of Americans died in wars against Japan and Germany.   Died.   As in daddy's not coming home anymore.   It's difficult to imagine that kind of sacrifice in today's world of extreme self-interest and million dollar lawsuits over coffee burns at McDonalds. It's almost impossible to describe the loss many of us have faced.

Many people say "but that was sixty years ago!".   And I understand that.   But I believe that the blood of my family and my countrymen is precious, is beyond precious --it is utterly irreplaceable --and I will not forget them or their sacrifice.

Why is it that almost every day there is a story in the newspaper about the holocaust or tracking down a former Nazi prison guard in Argentina? These actions stem from events that occurred 60 years ago but no one would even consider criticizing these actions. Why is prosecuting the soldiers who persecuted the citizens of a foreign country during WWII considered just while I am considered foolish for defending my own country's interests?

I feel that if the government forces our sons, brothers, and fathers to go to war against a foreign country, after the war, it should respect their sacrifice and their memory.   The govenment should not decide, after the war, that the country we just defeated, at the cost of millions of lives, is now OK after all and be allowed to trade with us.   It's not fair to those who gave their lives fighting or their families!   It appears that the government considers its citizens to be mere puppets and their lives worthless!

I believe that many of the bureaucrats in Washington do consider the common people, the people who die in this country's wars and keep it running, to be beneath notice. However, despite my low position in life, and unlike our governers in Washington, I have integrity.

I prefer to think for myself.   It's obvious to me that we do a disservice to our fathers' memory by dealing with their enemy.   They suffered lonely, agonizing conditions for years and many died under horrible conditions in prison camps.   Their loved ones left behind have endured decades of separation and loss.

Just how long should we remember our fathers' sacrifice?   How long is it proper to honor our fathers' memory?   That's a hard question to answer.   But, thinking about it logically, it would seem reasonable to choose a length of time that coincides with the effects of the war.   For example, thousands of families grew up without brothers, husbands, fathers, or grandfathers.   Thousands of elderly widows live a lonely existence today without their husbands who sacrificed their lives during the war.   Their lives were and are profoundly affected by the absence of their loved ones.   So, in my opinion, until the last person affected by the loss of a loved one passes on, we owe it to them to not support their lost family member's enemy by buying their cars.