Kissing the war goodbye: Remembering iconic photo 70 years after VJ day
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- Опубліковано 14 сер 2015
- 70 years ago this weekend, the Japanese government announced the unconditional surrender of its armed forces to the Allied Nations, bringing a formal end to the Second World War. As our country broke out in celebration, a single photograph was snapped which would ultimately define this historic event. Michelle Miller takes a look at the photo known simply as “The Kiss,” and introduces us to the famous sailor and nurse whose embrace has inspired the country for seven decades.
This photo made a lot of people very happy , I have a beautiful copy of it myself
I know. The older ladies in the background look quite pleased.
There';s a picture upstairs at our local antique store.
@@SteveCarras A fantastic picture.
Sad that they both passed away. George and Greta, you will always be remembered.
I never saw the photo as a romantic one. I’ve always seen it as the purest expressions of joy and relief.
Exactly. The people viewing it as a sexual act are the ones with issues.
One of the most iconic photographs ever !
👍 🇺🇸
his girlfriend was in the background laughing
Why? He just cheated on her
Jason
According to one of the videos I watched, the girlfriend said she didn’t really care. She said it was a happy day and she was smiling like an idiot
@@jason5409 he didn’t lol. He and his girlfriend married and been together ever since till they died
That’s why she’s the wife
My great grandfather said he was there, and was trying to make his way to the train station where my great grandmother was waiting. He told us years after she passed that he "may or may not" have been kissed by a woman or two on the way there.
Exactly Bob
You know that photo? That man in the white shirt, a tie and black hair in the corner, that’s my great great grandfather!
That's pretty awesome
Are you absolutely sure?
@@bobby1970 i have a signed photo by him in my house!
Cute. Nowadays that would've been called sexual harassment. Heck I won't be surprised if some feminists will get that statue destroyed in the future.
Oh spare us all your absurd hyperbole.
It just happened. They spray painted it today.
BiellasPointofView this guy predicted the future
@@mrlopez-pz7pu it happend they actually vandalized the statue
mrlopez2681 this aged well
Wonderful!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful story
Cute story, but if think deeper this man just grabbed an unknown person and kissed. Today he would probably be in jail for this.
They're bitching about it on facebook....
That's not thinking "deep", that's as shallow as you can get. Nothing deep about seeing everything through the lense of a contemporary social movement.
I miss the old days. It will never be that way again sadly.
@@jakobkell7212 IT was a different era. Einstein. Nothing about this was nefarious in 1945. Some things about the old days WERE better.
@@m.e.d.7997 Yeah Margie you genius because life was better before women had power because nothing says "better" like being used,grabbed treated like property
I believe that a very beautiful part of this story is Rita, George's date and future wife, married for 7 decades. Now that's a true Love Story. The "Kissing Sailor" photograph was Iconic of the Joy of a terrible war being OVER and the needless death and destruction finally done.
👏👏 thank you!! So many people today are making this about sex and power and control. I m glad you see it for what it TRULY is! Totally agree with you!
And it wasnt, everyone was just glad the war was over. everyone was celebrating for 5 minutes at least and the war had just ended a few minutes before
Love the picture and story behind it
This picture shows how people eager for the peaceful world, hopefully world war never come again…
'I grabbed her, then kissed her'. By today's standards that would be considered sexual assault.
christopher Anderson well that was in 1945, not today.
@@keatonparks3421 And it was in front of a huge number of people. Doubt Greta minded.
I mean... It kinda is. Bonus points if you're ugly, if you're pretty like this guy was maybe they let it pass.
yes, because it is
it wasnt sexual harassment. it was the end if a major war. that literally ended 1-5 minutes before the photo was taken. everyone was celebrating m. the woman herself in interviews never said she was assaulted nor did she say she was bothered by it. it was a rare moment in human history where everyone was happy it eas over. if she never said it was sexual harry then you shouldnt put words in her mouth.
I guess I'm old or something. Remember seeing the photo back in 1945. I remember so many things from my early childhood, and many of them are related to things mentioned at home because I am from a family that has always kept up with news--serious and the lighter side like this. I noticed the Sullivans mentioned on this video. I remember seeing their story at the movies in my young life. Wasn't the youngest Sullivan always chasing after his brothers yelling, "Hey, fellas, wait for me"? I mean in the movie.
🤣. Yeah, My Mom told me she went to go see this movie with her Mother when it came out she was I guess about 13 or 14 and had two brothers in the service at that time. 👍😊
All the influencers and so on will never understand an authentic picture.
wow,very nice story.
Got to get another framed ! Love the famous picture
it's a beautiful shot.
However, if some random man grabbed me and tried to kiss me, id be scared...... i wouldn't be ok.
Would you be more scared of foreign enemy soldiers invading your country and doing a LOT worse than stealing a kiss, or your male friends and family members continuing to be killed and wounded in an endless war?
@@terrencedayton2788 do you know when this picture was taken? because i am trying to make sense of your comment
@@olivier2784 It was taken at the end of World War 2. That's what all the people in the picture were celebrating, the end of suffering, devastation, deprivation and sacrifice associated with that war.
What's your point in asking that question?
@@terrencedayton2788 I know when it was taken. Making sure you knew. Because your comment made no sense. You can be jubilant and not force yourself unto someone else. Seems like you're saying that women should accept that kind of behaviour because the alternative is war and death.
@@olivier2784 If there was "force" then there must also be resistance. Physics and all that. Where was there force? Where was there resistance? He didn't ask before he kissed her and she didn't know it was coming. There was no consent before hand, that's NOT the same as force. A robbery is not a burglary. Words have meanings.
He stole a kiss. Would she have wanted him to ask before he did it, or at the very least known it was coming? Of course. But in the CONTEXT of the moment, there were way more important things for her to find *truly* "scary". That's why I mentioned the possible consequences of an ongoing TOTAL war. It's like you don't really appreciate what that means.
I hate that people make this about sexual harassement....anyone who has studied the era knows that people were overcome with emotion upon the war's end....years of intense
brutal struggles finally iver. This picture represents the joy and jubilation of the Day. Please have some respect for history and this generation. This id not about sex and power at all. Anyone who thinks different doesn't understand history and the context of this image at all. By the moores of the 1940s this is not sexual harassment. it s an expression of sheer joy and relief at the wars end and from what I have read and watched the nurse took it in that spirit.
I totally and 100% DISAGREE with you! People today have NO IDEA of the struggles and hardships this generation faced. This picture is a representation of the joy and relief felt at the end of the deadliest struggle in human history. This picture is an expression of that. To say it s about sex and power and men having control is way off base.....not to mention disgraceful and disrespectful to this generation that sacraficed and suffered so much. This couple was interviewed years later and basically said as much. This type of thing was happening all over the place that day because people were so overcome with the emotion and joy of the moment. Modern day people just can't relate. The lady in the photo never made this an issue of sex and power. Modern day people who weren't there and didn't live through what this generation lived through have done that. Totally unfair and inappropriate in my opinion to judge this image in that way.
@@saraeissa4954 guess what I am a female millennial with a passion for history...esp WW2 history. I also should mention that I am progressive politically and tend to support progressive causes and canidates although I disagree with the modern viewpoint on this topic/ photo.. So I am not a baby boomer! Talk about making untrue assumptions/ concluscions which you seem to be very good at that in more ways than one! To say he felt entitled to her body is complete b.S. Again he was overcome with emption that the deadliest conflict in human history had finally ended ( something we in this generation will never understand or relate to), that he and his peers would not have to go on fighting and risking their lives and watching their friends get slaughtered...he also said years later that at that moment he also felt very grateful to the nurses and their sacrafice during the war. It was a moment of pure unbridled emotion and joy. In other words it s about heart condition. Everything we do flows from the condition of our hearts and that kiss was a manifestation of that. I don't believe for one second that he had impure or dishonorable intentions at all. Making him out to be some kind of villain who felt entitled to women's bodies/ was out to objectify and control them is a huge stretch and just wrong, disrespectful and a completely inaccurate and unfair conclusion. I do think the context of this photo is very important. This photo has nothing to do with sex or power or controlling men but represents the emotion and joy that people all across the world were feeling after years of suffering, hardship and death. And I might add that the lady in the photo seems to have taken the kiss in that spirit. Their lives had been dominated by that intense and deadly struggle for years....can u imagine the feelings you would feel when it finally ended???? Esp if you had been in the thick of it? But people in these modern times have tried to stigmatize and put a black mark on a beautiful historical moment using modern thought processes without understanding the context of this photo/ time in history.....and it is just NOT OKAY......Sorry I just completely disagree with you and am going to end now and leave it at that. I won't be engaging with you anymore regarding this. Love this pic and God Bless the Greatest Generation.
@Suni Glow THANK YOU!!! 👏👏👏The world these days, I swear....Ughh😩
it wasnt sexual harrasment at the time. A major war just ended literally 1 -2 minutes before the photo was talen. everyone was celebrating in those few minutes. the woman herself never said she was bothered by it. in fact in her interview she seemed ok with it. it was a rare moment in history where everyone was celebrating the end if a dark time. you just thinking too much into it. if it was any other tome yea it was totally be sexual harassment.
yea you’re thinking too much into it. you werent in that era so you have no idea.
Iconic photo, must never be banned.
Yknow in watchmen you could see george mendosa in the background while silhouette was kissing greta
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
Ok, but my great grandfather was in that photo 🫢
You're joking, right?
Muy bonita esena fin d la guerrea con japon.
haha awesome story lovely
"You I wouldn't mind him kissing. You ugly."
I love how some people are getting angry over this photo.
I'm trying to find a movie with the vj day kiss.
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'......
He did the same to Glenn miller at a jazz show back 1945
So you're saying the kisser was bisexual and kissed another man? If so, that's interesting.
Now feminist want the statue removed....
1945????? My country independent (INDONESIA)
Very nice….
is't photo is leyend
what a unforgetable moment, today kids, complaining about slow internet.. OMG
2018??
Lanz Dz here!!!
1945.
You know what's also so cool...Both of their first names starts with the letter G....That's a bizarre coincidence! Too cool, I say! What are the chances...
Wait the us call it vj day
Yeah, Victory in Japan day, VJ day
@@rithvikmuthyalapati9754 Victory over Japan Day
Sad this will be considered sexual assault today...crazy how people have fallen off!!
Oh you sad that you cant treat women like property again? Hahaha then live your pathetic imagination in jail
But it is.
By the very same people that defend Islam…which treats their women far worse today than American women were treated in 1945.
compared to red army this guy is a saint
the soviets raped anything that moved
Pretty amazing. This guy dies and everyone remembers the” beautiful story”. If he was running for Supreme Court, all the idiots out there would be screaming sexual assault. This world is falling apart.
ISO Awe it was sexual assault tho. He forced himself on her.
Very sad..I remember this from over 50 years ago, nearly 60.(And 75 since this was done in 1945..)
It's sexual assault
@@sia6045 you dont speak for her...
@@lozzab102 Sexual assault is sexual assault no matter your opinion is, lol.
Ok I'm saying it VJ day😂😂😂🙏
Good kiss
Guess im the first one here after that mentally ill "lady" at the V.A. Demanded this photo be removed immediately from all offices because , ugh never mind, fire her!
....then he picked up a dropped mobile phone and thought "I'm really on to something here..."
She Gave implied consent.....
Yep
How were they alive in 2015
Easily ...Do your math.
They lived to be very old, that's how.
My mom was actually chosen first to kiss the sailor, she was too nervous to kiss him, she missed the opportunity. I do believe her she has all her wits about her. She was pretty cute back then, oh well.
According to them both it was completely spontaneous. He just grabbed her and kissed her it wasn't planned. I guess technically by today's standard it would be sexual assault but she didn't hold a grudge so it's all good I guess?
@@noremac7216 A kiss is sexual assault??
@@noremac7216 I always heard it was spontaneous too.
@@m.e.d.7997 it was spontaneous, and yes grabbing a stranger and kissing them on the lips can be sexual assault I don't think you actually need that explained to you, in fact I imagine if I grabbed you dipped you down and gave you a big long smooch on the face you would probably not appreciate it lol. It just worked out this time. But yeah it was definitely spontaneous you can look up the interviews with the people in the photograph, it's not hard to find
That 💋
On 0:44 you can see a toys r us
If this happened today the woke lynch mob would crucify this guy for daring to kiss her.
❤
Wouldn’t it of been the best movie to find out the ended up married or something would of made a great movie
That would have been awesome if that had happened in real life. It would have been very romantic and emotional.
I can imagine if most of these commenters were present, they'd immediately be rushing to violently separate and lecture these two about normalizing sexual assault.
Sad people can't take it for what it is.
In the picture they look very closely matched in size not so much with the real selves ... hmmm
As if brand new, the residence of Tsars, Household know their duties well,
Out - were Tatars banished from
Where judgement over the world has to fall.
Walls now hear, and windows see,
How over the cigar the Lion coughs,
How creaks the propelled wheelchair
With the crippled democrat on the backdrop.
But no one sees and no one hears
What the mountaineer does at Crimean night,
When with a gesture of devoted comrades,
He instills his legendary might.
Do not hold grudges against Stalin,
He wasn't the one behind this deal.
After all he's not to blame
That Roosevelt in Yalta had no will.
When the triumvirate jointly mulled
Over the historic shape of the world,
- It's well-known, who the Caesar was -
And this is what you need to know of Yalta.
In the wan ember of cigar's end,
The Albion Lion's face floated.
"Let's not talk about the Baltic Sea,
Who needs in Europe so many states?"
"Poles? What's important is just that
They could finally live somewhere."
"This Poland always causes problems,"
The Cripple worries and shudders.
But the Host calms them down,
With yellowing palm caressing his mustache.
"My country will give them a helping hand,
Then let them govern as they wish."
Do not hold grudges against Churchill,
He wasn't the one behind this deal.
After all the Triumvirate only was
To give Stalin just what he wished.
Who deeply cares for peace
Before the rape will always cease.
He, who's not afraid of wars shall win,
And this is what you need to know of Yalta.
The wall of the palace strains the ear,
When to the Cripple the Lion says,
"I trust the sincerity of Stalin's words,
Surely he cares for the Soviet blood."
And the Cripple nods in agreement,
The unwavering democracy's guard,
"Stalin is the right man of this age,
Here is the patriot, here's the chief!"
For the agreement of the grands is not collusion;
It is the future of the world - freedom, law -
Thanks to it the weak shall survive
And his part shall take - the one who lost.
Do not hold grudges against Roosevelt
Think of how much he had to bear.
Pipes, cigars' smoke and the bottle,
Churchill, who about alliance didn't give a damn.
That were the three empires debating,
Over the borders, which had fade,
- In details, though, there was Beria,
And this is what you need to know of Yalta.
So delegations flew away,
Tzar polis in Crimea began to ease.
While in the West cannons blared,
Transports of people went to East.
Then the free world celebrated its triumph,
The fronts suddenly got deserted,
In flowers already the president's grave was,
And there still transports and transports.
Red dawn is waking after the night,
By will of the voters Churchill left,
And there are the transports of living people,
And there are the camps of prolonged death.
So, do not hold grudges against the Trinity,
The will of history was behind them,
Polished up to the very inch.
Each of them protected what he had.
(He) could be wrong, deceived by a moment...
(He) wasn't a Pole nor a Balt.
Only the victims are never wrong!
And this is what you need to know of Yalta
They should make a permanent statue in bronze.
Once the AIDS epidemic hit in the eighties everyone became germophobic. Back then this was no big deal. Bet she loved it and the background women look thrilled at the sight.
she didn't
@@amazing_bastard Do you know that at the time she did not like it?
@@m.e.d.7997 I believe what she said in her interview.
@@amazing_bastard It really was a different era though. Even in the seventies men did it. Many if not all women thought it was great and okay. Ever see the Workplace Christmas party scene in Kramer vs Kramer in that 1979 movie?
@@m.e.d.7997 you're not an ambassador for "many if not all women", nor for the woman in this photo. she gave an interview.
the "era" defense is nonsense. the concept of etiquette and consent has always existed.
and some piece of fiction is definitely not historical evidence, lol
After the pandemic I plan to recreate the picture
The Last Great War
You have to understand why they did that, so every girl that sees me. Disappointed.
#me-too written all over that.
So he kiss a random lady, and y'all find this ROMANTIC?!
50ksavage Good Savage the lady didn’t find it disrespectful. You must not understand the end of WWII especially in the pacific where it was awful for the American soldier not to mention the war in the European front was bitter as well. A man who came home safe, got to see the land he protected. During that time period, men of service would be as young as 18. Who wouldn’t be so happy that they got home and won against one of the most major global conflicts in history? People find it romantic. Get over it. Don’t be so obtuse and look at the surface of the photo.
@@mikeyspikey2 ww2
@@mikeyspikey2 did you ever listen to her recounting the story?
It wasnt romantic. it was the end of a major war. the sailor kissed her as a way ti say “thank you,” because women during that time did a lot for the men during the war.
the woman wasnt bothered by it nor did she say she was assaulted. dont put words in peoples mouths
yea i listened to her interview and read her interview.
“It was a way to say thank you”
“I didnt think much about it until years later.”
Would You have still kissed Her if You hadn't had a few?.... The correct answer is of course, Yes Yes Yes! rip George and Greta.
I know I would not have kissed her or even touched her, because I know that women don't like that, and besides, it's illegal to do so without her verbal consent.
Hi Bobby, check the date and the law at that time! Society's attitude to the world, on that day, also made a difference.
#MeToo
Even though the nurse he's kissing in the photo was very sexy and attractive back then, he had no right to go against her will. I'll admit, she was beautiful, but I would not have done anything to her.
I think that sailor is Donald Trump because he does whatever he wants and gets away with it.
Oh I forgot Donald Trump had a bone spur so no, it is not him.
Do not insult this sailor who served in World War 2. He is happy the War is over. Shame on you.
@@m.e.d.7997 Or Donald Trump, wasn't born till next year, 1946, and he served his country just like the sailor.
Bruh😂
So we are celebrating sexual harrasment.
Mmmh
👀
A kiss and sex are two different things.
Swon flake generation