The Left: V-J Day in Times Square = Sexual Assault

Alfred Eisenstaedt's iconic "V-J Day in Times Square" photo.

A London-based blogger had a viral article in 2012 titled "The Kissing Sailor, or “TheSelective Blindness of Rape Culture"

In 2016, The New York Daily News' Andy Martino published an article entitled "How a celebrated image marking V-J Day in Times Square has taken on a sinister shade", in which they accused one of the most iconic World War II era photographs, known to most as simply "The Kiss" of being an example of "sexual assault."

Sadly, upon the news of Mendonsa's death, such articles describing the scene as “problematic” are once again coming up from sources like ABCnews4 and even Condé Nast India…

Alfred Eisenstaedt's famed photograph “V-J Day in Times Square” features an American sailor, George Mendonsa, kissing a complete stranger in a nurse uniform, Greta Zimmer Friedman, on Victory over Japan Day in Times Square, New York on August 14, 1945.

Eisenstaedt's iconic photo commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp.

—The Story—

In an interview, Mendonsa also told Lawrence Verria, co-author of “The Kissing Sailor,” published in 2012 by the Naval Institute Press, why he kissed Friedman that day in Times Square.

Mendonsa was at the helm of USS The Sullivans (DD-537), a Fletcher-class destroyer. He steered it alongside the Bountiful, a nursing ship, to transfer the wounded. Mendonsa watched as the nurses worked on the sailors. “They were in a bad way,” he kept saying, as he recited the story to Verria.

While on leave and in Times Square, the end of the war was announced.

“He sees the nurse, he can’t help himself,” Verria said. Greta Zimmer Friedman, 21 at the time, was dental assistant working near Times Square.

When being honored at the Rhode Island State House in 2015, Mendonsa said about the famous kiss, 

"I saw what those nurses did that day when we had the wounded on my ship and we put the wounded on the hospital ship. And of course, I saw what those nurses did that day and now back in Times Square the war ends, a few drinks, so I grabbed the nurse[.]"

“It’s what everybody was doing on August 14, 1945,” Verria said. “Everybody was kissing and hugging.” A statement corroborated by a Time article from 2014 by Ben Cosgrove.

“Booze flowed; inhibitions were cast off; there were probably as many fists thrown as kisses planted: in other words, once the inconceivable had actually been confirmed and it was clear that the century's deadliest, most devastating war was finally over, Americans who for years had become accustomed to almost ceaseless news of death and loss were not quite ready for a somber, restrained reaction to the surrender. That response would come, of course. In time, there would be a more considered, reflective take on the war and on the enemies America had fought so brutally, and at such cost, for so long.
But in the giddy, chaotic first few hours after the announcement, people naturally took to the streets of cities and towns all over the country. And while some of the merriment was no doubt of a quieter, G-rated variety, it's hardly surprising that countless grown men and women seized the opportunity for cathartic revelry, giving vent to joy and relief as well as to the pent-up anxieties, fears, sorrows and anger of the previous several years.
In other words: the nation let loose.”

After the kiss was over, the two went their separate ways and the photo was published a week later in Life magazine along with three additional kissing poses meant to celebrate the relief felt from the end of the war in the United States in a section titled “Victory Celebrations”.

It would be years later that the two found out about the famous picture which became a national symbol of victory.

LIFE magazine issue featuring the famous photo.

But to some on the left, this image of victory and raw emotion is nothing more than an example of sexual assault...

The London-based blogger under the pseudonym “stripedleopard”, argued that the iconic spur of the moment kiss during a period of triumphant jubilation "would be considered sexual assault by modern standards."

Friedman once said to reporters that it was not her "choice to be kissed." Also saying, "That guy just came over and grabbed," going on to say, "That man was very strong. I wasn’t kissing him. He was kissing me."

Greta Zimmer Friedman with the most famous photographs of the 20th century.

It’s important to mention that she also said, “[Y]ou know, it was just somebody really celebrating," she said, adding, "But it wasn't a romantic event. It was just an event of 'thank God the war is over' kind of thing because it was right in front of the sign."

When they reunited, she seemed to harbour no ill will towards Mendonsa, apparently understanding that emotions were running high at the time and no harm was intended. Something people don’t seem to understand as they endeavor to be offended on other’s behalf.

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