I do take the Atomic Bomb seriously, because Dec 7th, 1941 was the day that would live in infamy, when the Japanese attacked the US in Hawaii. And even though I wasn't alive when it was dropped, I remember and think about August 6th and August 9th each year, when the US dropped the atomic bomb on Japan. Jan 1st 1863 is the date the Abraham Lincoln ended slavery with his famous speech (although it took a couple years for it to take full effect). And December 1, 1955 is when the Civil Rights movement in the US began.

I wasn't alive for any of that. I played no role. I had no hand in any of it. But, I just so happened to be born American. And, I'm generally pleased with the state of affairs and what my nation stands for. I wish did many things better, and we could. But so be it.

Why should I care about these things?

Because like it or not, I was born American. The identity of the nation is part of who I am. I cannot escape that. If I go to any other country in the world, I need to say "I am an American."

I want to be proud of that. I want to say, "I am an American." and have it mean something good. That means that I need to recognize my history and all the horrors that my country committed.

It does not mean that I am a bad person. It does not mean that I did bad things. But, people will have certain thoughts about me because of my nationality. Well, let's confront them. Lets get out the scales and balance.

So, your 12 year-old German girl should not be blamed for WWII. But, she should acknowledge it. And then point out what good has come from it. She should know that from horror grew greatness! the wirtshaftwunder came from losing a war. That's something to be both ashamed about, but doubly proud about!