This is a translation of the post by Kamron, that originally appeared on the Russian version of neweurasia.

Recently I have read in Fergana.ru an article entitled as “The holiday which was taken away from veterans of war.� Having read only a headline of it, I at once understood what it was about and made up my mind to write my ideas on this topic. As I had been planning for a long time to make some thinking in boundless world wide web on how from our respected old men had been taken away their extremely deeply respected holiday to which they fought 5 long years and which they had celebrated during many decades.

Yes, the question is Victory Day above fascism, day which ended the Great Patriotic War. However, some main ideologists of our country have other views concerning how to name this period of our history. They have decided that this war will be name as World War II, instead of Great Patriotic War. Well and it is all right and not so important, as it is referred so in most countries of the world. But they didn’t stop on this! They have decided that May, 9 is not day of a victory, and day of memory and honor. As a result, the day of memory and honor, which was celebrated in the Soviet Union on June 22 (in the present – day of mourning), citizen of Uzbekistan will celebrate on May 9 (on Victory day).

According to the author of that article, the holiday has turned into memorial day of all who had died. The article further discusses absolutely other aspects of the problem, and concerns more about the big and small politics and other issues. I would like to continue my thoughts about value of this date for our veterans who fought with the sworn enemy or worked in home front. I do not use a word a holiday when refer to this day, as it is simply not for several years. I do not want to argue what guidelines authorities used in changing the history, I just want to describe the feelings of our heroes.

Just imagine what feelings may have a person, who sacrificed part of his/her life on a battlefield more than half a century ago, a person, who got so much used to get up early in the morning on May 9 and mourn friends – front-line soldiers – who forever stayed on a battlefield, and then to put on all the awards and medals to accept congratulations from members of family and others – congratulations on a sacred holiday for his/her!!! … And what this person may feel after losing these all? Yes, on this day they remember those who passed away, but s/he is still alive!!! … Every single day fighting against conditions, which are made by a “grateful” government, this person is still alive!!!

Yes, those historical times can not be unequivocally defined. However, sometimes people persistently try to change the history. A bright example is the Baltic States. The day that others name as the day of victory over fascism, the Baltic States name as the day of occupation of their native land. And it is their right! But, neither Baltic, nor Uzbek politics can understand that time is the best adviser, and it is not necessary to act rushly in a hurry. Instead, it is necessary to think of those old men who are so far from highly valued matters, such as national ideologies and other ideas, those people who are still alive, but will not live forever, like all we do. May the God give them health, as most of them have just little left in this world. So, should we take away from them this holiday???

To my beloved grandfather and all veterans