Outrage in Okinawa Over Edited History Books

Staff / Truthdig Nov 18, 2007 Japan's education ministry has generated protest in Okinawa by erasing one of the country's worst moments from history textbooks. Okinawans who lost loved ones when the Japanese army ordered them to commit suicide during World War II are bitterly battling the historical omission. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Charlie Chaplin on the Villainy of War

Staff / Truthdig Sep 4, 2007 Now seems as good a time as any to revisit the genius of Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator." In this climactic scene, Chaplin rails against the menace of war and hopes for a world where people actually care about each other. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mass Grave Discovered in Ukraine

Staff / Truthdig Jun 5, 2007 During construction of a gas pipeline in southern Ukraine, workers found a mass grave containing the remains of thousands of Jews near an old concentration camp. A similar site was found last year, containing 3,500 victims. Representatives from the Jewish community say there are between 250 and 700 such graves in Ukraine, which explains why many have eluded discovery for so long. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Burns’ Documentary Perpetuates the ‘Invisible Minority’

Staff / Truthdig May 7, 2007 PBS documentarian Ken Burns has created a new series about World War II veterans but, according to the author, Burns left out some important contributors in his latest narrative: Latino and American Indian troops who fought for the U.S. (and are doing so now in Iraq and Afghanistan) and deserve due recognition. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Justice for the ‘Comfort Women’

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Mar 15, 2007 During World War II, the Japanese army enslaved and raped 100,000 to 200,000 young women. By denying this atrocity, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and others have brought shame back to Japan. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Gore Vidal: Living Through History

Staff / Truthdig Nov 21, 2006 Iconic author and historian Gore Vidal speaks with Robert Scheer about his new memoir, "Point to Point Navigation," and the events that shaped his life and his country, from war with Hitler to the "waking nightmare" of Iraq <!-- Vidal on Bush: "There are a few crazies who want to cheer the flag and this yappy little terrier as though he were a real president Well, he's not a real president He's a thing, a chimera who was put together by the Supreme Court, first time around, and reelected by Diebold "-->. Dig deeper ( 12 Min. Read )

Families Demand Compensation for WWII Deportations

Staff / Truthdig Aug 29, 2006 More than 200 families have threatened the French state railway with legal action if it refuses to compensate them for its role in transporting relatives to death camps during WWII. The railway companies argue they were forced to carry out the deportations, though a court in June sided with victims' families. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

His Iconic Image Lives On

Staff / Truthdig Aug 22, 2006 Now that the Iraq war has lasted longer than the U.S. role in World War II, it seems an appropriate time to pause and reflect on the death of a man who provided one of the great icons of that earlier conflict. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )