[exschke]

were France, Denmark, Belgium, Poland and Austria colonised by Germany during WW2? I'm not a historian and normally I don't take definitions very seriously, but I would say wartime occupation is not the same as colonisation. control is probably a good word there.

should Thailand as a whole take the blaim for not doing anything to stop the killings and slave camps? after all, it wasn't quite an elected government being responsible for everything, it was a bunch of people, not a country. I really hate that some groups (I would prefer not to name them) still play the guilt game with entire nations and countries. revealing the truth and talking about facts is important, but making people feel bad about the deeds of others two generations ago is simply mean and ugly. unfortunately, in certain cases it is difficult to discuss the truth without making the nation feel ashamed, guilty or deceived, it can weaken a nation's self-belief. I don't really know how to put this idea, but I do feel it, coming from a country that ended up pretty much in a similar situation as Thailand, which is still not openly discussed yet, only the guilt game is being played quite agressively in recent years, which is not the way to heal wounds and look forward. it is extremely difficult to strike a balance.