Going Back

As I went back to reread some chapters, I found a very interesting/ ironic line.
" Just the sort of thing an American would do. No respect for the past. No idea of what a family secret is. No manners. No sensitivity. Uncouth, uneducated American" (Rosnay 266).
This line is said by Bertrand's sister when the family finds out that Julia has been researching and trying to contact Sarah Dugard's family- the family who lived in their apartment prior to them. The sister felt that it was never a good idea bringing up the past, especially whatever happened during the war. She says "No one wants to be reminded of that, nobody wants to think about that" (Rosnay 266).  I found this quote to be very ironic. Bertrand's sister stated that no one wants to remember the past-especially whatever happened during the war, and then she suggested that Julia had no respect for the past because she brought it up.