Magnificent history my black ass

[malaise]

Last edited Fri Sep 9, 2022, 08:26 AM - Edit history (1)

A history of slaughter of their own and anyone else in the way, a history of theft, pillage, looting, imperialism, colonialism, And don’t forget the anti-colonial wars which took place while their perfect queen was head of state. Not once did she apologize to us - not once. They gave their slave owners reparations - and you want me to mourn for these monsters.
How fitting that she appointed this idiot as PM days before her death.
Eff your magnificent history woman.
Truss them at your peril.

[Beastly Boy]

1. Frankly, I don't understand America's fascination with their former colonial masters.

The "magnificent" British army tried to destroy the US not once, but twice.

[malaise]

2. We have our royal lovers here too and

she was still head of state here.

Meanwhile we had to ban their cricket fans from singing this shit at our cricket grounds.

When Britain first, at heaven's command
Arose from out the azure main
Arose arose from out the azure main
This was the charter, the charter of the land
And guardian angels sang this strain
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves
Still more majestic shalt thou rise
More dreadful from each foreign stroke
More dreadful, dreadful from each foreign stroke
As the loud blast, the blast that tears the skies
Serves but to root thy native oak
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves
Still more majestic shalt thou rise
More dreadful from each foreign stroke
More dreadful, dreadful from each foreign stroke
As the loud blast, the blast that tears the skies
Serves but to root thy native oak
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves
The Muses, still with freedom found
Shall to thy happy coasts repair
Shall to thy happy, happy coasts repair
Blest isle regardless, with countless beauty places
And manly hearts to guard the fair
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves
Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves
Britons never, never, shall be slaves

[Happy Hoosier]

17. ... over 200 years ago....

maybe a little perspective? We have been very close culturally and politically for more than 100 years now.

[Beastly Boy]

19. Being fascinated with all things British is different from being close allies.

For instance: British royalty and aristocracy. What do they have to do with our culture and politics? Or British accent, often badly emulated, as a signifier of superior station in life. Or even British automobile brands. They suck.

Canada is also our close cultural and political ally, and is much closer geographically. Yet I don't see Americans being fascinated with Justin Trudeau, or maple syrup, or Canadian rangers. Not even Canadian cuisine, which is superior to that of the US or England.

Ok, I will concede one British influence worthy of fascination: there are some British rock bands that made significant impact on our culture.

A further note on perspective: Britain was the only country that ever invaded the United states. Twice. Surely that ought to contribute to our perspective, even if it happened 200 years ago! If nothing else, it should accentuate the fundamental political and cultural differences between constitutional monarchy of Britain and representative democracy of the US.

[Chainfire]

20. Let the nation who is without sin cast the first stone.

While I don't give a rat's ass about the royalty, I do care for the British people. In a World full of Russia, N. Koreas, and Irans, it is comforting for me to know that we have someone on the other side of the pond that has our back.

Going back two hundred years to damn England for burning Washington is singing off-key. Times change, nations and people change, otherwise we wouldn't include Japan, Italy and Germany on a list of our current friends either. Remember that in WWII we gave all kinds of material and financial aide to the Russians. Should the Ukrainians damn us for that too?

As far as someone mentioned about us bailing England out, make no mistake we did that for us, not for them. If England had given in to Hitler, we would be living in a far different world today.

[Beastly Boy]

21. I don't care about the British people any more than I care for the people in former British colonies

And there are literally billions of them vs roughly 70 million Brits.

But I am not talking about caring. I am talking about being fascinated about all the trivial things British that I see on display in the US, especially in light of Britain's colonial history in North America.

[Happy Hoosier]

22. Our cultural heritage doesn't end at the Atlantic Ocean.

My Mom immigrated from Germany in the early 60's.

My Dad's mom's parents from Ireland in the 1880's, and my Dad's Dad's parents from England in the 1890's.

I feel a strong sense of culutral affinity with Germany and the British Isles. I am intensely interested in British history and am learning more about German history (as I learn some German.... not many books I am interested in actually written in English).

It's not up to you to decide what is worthy of interest. It's weird to me that you'd even assume you are in a position to decide that for other people. It's kinda rude.

And no, the fact that Britain invaded the U.S. twice MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO, doesn't accentuate squat in my view. The government of Britain today is not the same as 200 years ago. The British Monarchy holds only ceremonial power.

[Beastly Boy]

25. I have neither the standing nor the inclination to be an arbiter of what is worthy of interest.

By the same token, I affirm my right to comment on what I consider an inexplicable fascination with all things British. I don't consider royal gossip or (often fake) British accent to be in the same category as British history. However, this doesn't prevent me from being mindful of a historical role Britain played in colonizing North America, which, in my opinion, is not worthy of affinity. You are welcome to disagree. I promise, I won't stop you.

[mitch96]

18. And we had to pull their ass out of a crack, not once but twice in the last century.. nt

[Floyd R. Turbo]

3. We agree! Others here:🙉🙈🙊❗️

[BeyondGeography]

4. Thank you for lending some necessary balance to the, um, presentation

Colonialism was human and material plunder. Its underlying motivations are still very much in play. We have forgotten and/or failed to recognize that at our ongoing peril.

[malaise]

5. This is why CRT is necessary

We literally have to stop whitewashing history

[NewDayOranges]

8. +1,000!

[Doc Sportello]

14. Well said

There is an unbroken link between monarchies and authoritarianism even though the current ones are supposedly just figureheads. The latter argument from the apologists doesn't make sense at all. If they are figureheads then keeping the institution is like saying a body part that evolution has deemed useless must be kept. I suspect some simply like the pomp and people playing dress up so they try to find ways to justify the whole business - blindly ignoring your points about underlying motivations and sordid history.

[pwb]

7. But we have moved on?

Germany, Japan, Korea, Vietnam all did the same and are now strong allies. This is a good time for all of use to rid ourselves of watching news all day. If you think about it, it is the same as everyday with the cable news . Repeat repeat repeat all day long, now it is the Queens death. Everyday doesn't have to be Election Day. I cut that cable shit news off when Joe was elected after seeing how they treat him. I can watch some on HULU but when I try it is always the same.

The Queen dying is an all day repeat with a new talker every hour saying the same thing. Normal.

[BSdetect]

9. Seems not all former victims are grieving

Link to tweet

[malaise]

10. On the other hand 😀😀😀

Link to tweet

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

12. A-effing-men, malaise.

Thank you for making it pellucidly clear.

[malaise]

13. LOL

😀😀

[Happy Hoosier]

15. There are few peoples in the world....

.... who do not trace their line back through some bad people who did bad things. I guess for some folks that means they cannot embrace the positive aspects of that history. And that any romanticization of the past is somehow bad.

That's a legit point of view. It's not one I share.

I choose to embrace the positive aspects on my history, and yes, I do engage in some romanticazation of it. But I also choose to strive to do better in the future. I don't think it has to be an all or nothing proposition. I celebrate my Irish heritage. I celebrate my English heritage. I celebrate my German heritage. All those peoples did some things I'm not proud of. I still love their history and culture.

I find the desire of some here to spit vitriol, especially at this time, rather distasteful. I support their right to feel that way, but it seems.... tasteless at this moment.

[BoomaofBandM]

16. No mourning in my home.

[Maeve]

23. From an Irish historic perspective, I have to agree. However...

Liz II did try to make nice (somewhat) and she wasn't really the one in power, so some slack given to her. I do try to limit judging individuals, so. Which leads to the second HOWEVER---

we ignore the horrors of history at our own peril. If you feel good about history, you probably don't really know much about it. Humans always fall short of our better ambitions and sometimes wallow in our worst vices.

[malaise]

24. Love your posts

😀

[llmart]

26. My only foray into Irish history vis a vis the UK was in college English class.

"Trinity" by Leon Uris was required reading. Until that time, I had next to no knowledge of what had gone on in Ireland. I came away with a not so favorable opinion of the British. I now have a more mature and balanced opinion. Times change, the monarchy changed and will probably continue to change with the younger generations.

[Happy Hoosier]

27. We can embrace some cultural history...

… but should always keep our eyes wide open.