Author Topic: Special Days  (Read 6241 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: Special Days
« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2019, 08:29:22 am »
Today's the day in 1789 when Fletcher Christian led a mutiny on HMS Bounty against its captain, William Bligh.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline Blongb

  • Management board member
  • *
  • Posts: 1077
  • I love living in Llandudno.
Re: Special Days
« Reply #16 on: April 29, 2019, 01:19:06 pm »
Today's the day in 1789 when Fletcher Christian led a mutiny on HMS Bounty against its captain, .William Bligh

Captain William Bligh is the most maligned man in Royal Naval History. His superb contribution to Navigation is only surpassed By Captain James Cook. After the Mutiny on the Bounty, Bligh completed a 6.000 mile open boat voyage across the Pacific to Britavia in what was then the Dutch East Indies and never lost a member of his loyal crew. on his return to the U.K. he was exonerated at his Court Martial for the loss of the Bounty,promoted and ended up in Botany Bay as the Governor of New South Wales. His life story is well worth reading, and to Hell with Hollywood for damaging the reputation of one of Britain's most illustrious mariners  $uk   
Quot homines tot sententiae: suus cuique mos.
(There are as many opinions as there are people: each has his own view.)


Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: Special Days
« Reply #17 on: April 29, 2019, 01:47:15 pm »
Today's the day 1990 when cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: Special Days
« Reply #18 on: July 29, 2019, 09:00:30 am »
Today's the day in 1921 on which Hitler became leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party. Interestingly close to our new PM's election. In the words of George Santayana "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

On a cheerier note, it's also International Tiger Day.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline DVT

  • Management board member
  • *
  • Posts: 1045
Re: Special Days
« Reply #19 on: July 29, 2019, 09:47:30 am »
I am unsure as to why you are comparing the date of Hitler becoming leader of a nasty group of people with it being NEAR the same date as Boris becoming our Prime Minister.  I do get the impression you don't like our latest PM!

Today (29 July) is the date that Charles and Diana got married (1981) - is there any significance in that?  It is exactly the same date as Hitler's appointment, not near as in BJ's case.

Had he lived, my father would be 99 today - Hitler becoming leader happened on Dad's first birthday.  It was because of Hitler declaring war that Dad joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was stationed in Kent at the end of the war where he met my Mum ... could you therefore blame Hitler for my existence? !!!

Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: Special Days
« Reply #20 on: July 29, 2019, 10:32:19 am »
 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Fair point, DVT. You're right about how I regard our PM, of course, but I didn't post what I did because of a date coincidence; I posted it because we (in common with many other countries elsewhere) seem to be experiencing a political shift towards the right. I posted because both involve the electorate of democracies (in the PM's case only a small number of Tory Party members, of course) but both Hitler's rise to power and Johnson's move into No 10 have some worrying similarities.

We've had a long period of what is laughingly called 'austerity' which, historically speaking, always seems to precede a move to the right. In the 20th C fewer than 20 years separated any global financial downturn from a major war.

The curious thing about austerity measures is that they never seem to impact the wealthy. And, no matter who we choose to look at it, the current government is led by the very wealthy - mostly ex-Etonians. Johnson's main plank was his intention to achieve Brexit at any cost. The government is already encouraging the lies and falsehoods that will, I suspect, characterise Johnson's tenure as PM and I really do have major concerns that true democratic process will be subverted in the determination to get us out.

So, no; Hitler had nothing to do with your existence unless you weren't conceived but voted into being $yes$
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline TELL

  • Member
  • Posts: 35
Re: Special Days
« Reply #21 on: July 29, 2019, 06:06:41 pm »
That’s strange, my memory must be going. I was sure that the Democratic Referendum vote was to leave the EU.

Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: Special Days
« Reply #22 on: July 29, 2019, 06:43:54 pm »
Not really; only around a third of the electorate voted to leave. And it was only an indicative vote: we don't have direct democracy in the UK. And since then another 2.3m have come of voting age, so surely they should get the opportunity to vote?
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline TELL

  • Member
  • Posts: 35
Re: Special Days
« Reply #23 on: July 29, 2019, 07:07:25 pm »
That’s an interesting take upon democracy Ian, I would guess that you voted “Remain”.
Anyway, “The Ashes” start on Thursday which is much more interesting?!?