History chat thread

[Y Ddraig Goch]

Originally Posted by jkidd

I wonder, anyone here visit South Africa?

I've been twice. First time to Cape Town and second time to PE and Durban.

[FistofFury]

I recommend reading a book titled, "A Universal History of the Destruction of Books" by Fernando Baez.
So does Mr.Chomsky.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

Apartheid days are long gone but the disparity is HUGE. The whites are still very rich and detain the majority of the nation's economy. Now the black people rely on public jobs which were impossible to get during the apartheid but still it's not enough for everyone.
The whites (many of them are nostalgic of the apartheid, while almost half of them emigrated when the system was lifted) usually live secluded in big villas with private security and electric fences because the criminality in the cities and in some parts of the nation is beyond awful: Jo'burg used to be the most dangerous city in the world during the 90s and still nowadays going in the city centre on Sunday is like asking to get robbed. Don't know if the situation has improved because of the world cup but back in 2006 walking in quarters like Berea, Hillbrow and Yeoville were simply impossible. The fact that they have experienced a wild immigration didn't help the situation either.
Car hijackin is still common even though I drove for a month without any problem, but if you go through a dangerous area you drive FAST and don't stop for whatever reason.
Mandela was a great president, but his successors were not as bright or capable: corruption is widespread.
South Africa is plagued with AIDS, more than 20% of the population has HIV which is one of the highest known rates in the world.
The country economy rely heavily on its incredible natural resources but the disparity in the wealth and the poverty in the townships are problems which will linger for a long time. I saw in Soweto that the governemnt was building better houses for the people but I fear it was a drop in the ocean.

Overall it's one of the most beautiful countries I have travelled but it's up to a nearly impossible task to improve the situation for millions of people who still live in crime-ridden townships.

Yes it's AIDS and TB that was what my niece saw the most in Durban! She said the health of the little black kids is tragic!

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

Apartheid days are long gone but the disparity is HUGE. The whites are still very rich and detain the majority of the nation's economy. Now the black people rely on public jobs which were impossible to get during the apartheid but still it's not enough for everyone.
The whites (many of them are nostalgic of the apartheid, while almost half of them emigrated when the system was lifted) usually live secluded in big villas with private security and electric fences because the criminality in the cities and in some parts of the nation is beyond awful: Jo'burg used to be the most dangerous city in the world during the 90s and still nowadays going in the city centre on Sunday is like asking to get robbed. Don't know if the situation has improved because of the world cup but back in 2006 walking in quarters like Berea, Hillbrow and Yeoville were simply impossible. The fact that they have experienced a wild immigration didn't help the situation either.
Car hijackin is still common even though I drove for a month without any problem, but if you go through a dangerous area you drive FAST and don't stop for whatever reason.
Mandela was a great president, but his successors were not as bright or capable: corruption is widespread.
South Africa is plagued with AIDS, more than 20% of the population has HIV which is one of the highest known rates in the world.
The country economy rely heavily on its incredible natural resources but the disparity in the wealth and the poverty in the townships are problems which will linger for a long time. I saw in Soweto that the governemnt was building better houses for the people but I fear it was a drop in the ocean.

Overall it's one of the most beautiful countries I have travelled but it's up to a nearly impossible task to improve the situation for millions of people who still live in crime-ridden townships.

As always, buddy, much appreciated on the information and thoughts.

[JKidd]

June 1st, this day in history:

1533, Anne Boleyn is crowned queen of England.
I've always found the situation with the Boleyn's and Henry the 8th as fascinating and one of the few non-war related items I've delved into as far as research goes. Amazing (and hysterical to me, given my thoughts on organized religions) that he wanted a boy so damn bad that he created his own religion and shunned the Roman Catholic religion, just to get divorced a handful of times seeking a non-bastard son. And oh yeah, not an overly terrible movie with Eric Bana playing Henry, Scarlett Johansson playing Mary Boleyn, and Natalie Portman playing Anne Boleyn. (The Other Boleyn Girl)

1792, Kentucky becomes a state.

1918, start of the Battle of Belleau Wood during WWI. Germans punch a massive hole in the French lines, and the Marines spring into action to fill the gap. Took 3 weeks to do so.

2001, the Royal Massacre in Nepal. Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal massacres his entire family in an attempt to gain control.

[Sputnik]

Originally Posted by jkidd

1918, start of the Battle of Belleau Wood during WWI. Germans punch a massive hole in the French lines, and the Marines spring into action to fill the gap. Took 3 weeks to do so.

French: "How to win wars thanks to the others' help".

[thepolishkid88]

Originally Posted by jkidd

June 1st, this day in history:

1533, Anne Boleyn is crowned queen of England.
I've always found the situation with the Boleyn's and Henry the 8th as fascinating and one of the few non-war related items I've delved into as far as research goes. Amazing (and hysterical to me, given my thoughts on organized religions) that he wanted a boy so damn bad that he created his own religion and shunned the Roman Catholic religion, just to get divorced a handful of times seeking a non-bastard son. And oh yeah, not an overly terrible movie with Eric Bana playing Henry, Scarlett Johansson playing Mary Boleyn, and Natalie Portman playing Anne Boleyn. (The Other Boleyn Girl)

1792, Kentucky becomes a state.

1918, start of the Battle of Belleau Wood during WWI. Germans punch a massive hole in the French lines, and the Marines spring into action to fill the gap. Took 3 weeks to do so.

2001, the Royal Massacre in Nepal. Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal massacres his entire family in an attempt to gain control.

Had no idea about the massacre in Nepal. Pretty messed up

The French have this thing called trust in their neighbors, that would prove very silly by WW2.

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by thepolishkid88

The French have this thing called trust in their neighbors, that would prove very silly by WW2.

That... and the French fighting spirit got kicked out of them after Waterloo.

At least in WWII they made that very pretty (and useless/pointless) Maginot line!

I guess Germany forgot to tell them that Blitzkrieg was the new trench warfare!

[thepolishkid88]

Originally Posted by jkidd

That... and the French fighting spirit got kicked out of them after Waterloo.

At least in WWII they made that very pretty (and useless/pointless) Maginot line!

I guess Germany forgot to tell them that Blitzkrieg was the new trench warfare!

Haha. I remember being taught in 8th grade by my teacher how illogical the Maginot Line was. Still confused to this day why they didn't just build it all the way across.

[fcm]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

French: "How to win wars thanks to the others' help".

Originally Posted by thepolishkid88

The French have this thing called trust in their neighbors, that would prove very silly by WW2.

We must rectify things here.
Yes France has always failed during the last two centuries at war.

But France was a very powerful nation until the Napoleonian times.

From the 1450's to the 1800's, France probably was the most feared in-land Europe power. But they failed to the British as they were unable to establish strong colonies since their navy was overpowered by the British.

From the One Hudred Years war to the Napoleonian times, it has won many many very important wars that francophobes do not like to think about.

I can't see how France always had "trust in their neighbours" or "thanks to the others' help". They used to pick up wars against every of their neighbours at the same time (and win a lot)... The Hundred Years war (Burgundy, England, Portugal, Hainaut, Flanders, Navarre), and think about Louis XIV, Napoleon...

Why only blaming France for relying on its allies? They're not a great power. It's as simple as this. Canada isn't a great power too. If it's invaded by the Russians to take over ouor northern territories, I mean, are we gonna blame these goddamn Canadians for always needing the help of their allies if the Americans help us?

And we're not mentionning that the Germans were not alone during the WW1. They were fighting along with the powerful Austrian-Hungarian kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. What's the shame in ... winning while fighting along with the Americans and the British then???

Originally Posted by jkidd

That... and the French fighting spirit got kicked out of them after Waterloo.

True. When Napoleon felt by fighting Great-Britain/Netherlands/Prussia/Nassau/Brunswick/Hanover/Austria/Russia/Spain/and many many others...
The population didn't want to hear about fighting anymore, as we can notice through the literary movements in the 19th century.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by habs # 1

here is a video you guys may find interesting...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f54_1337075813

wow!!!

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by jkidd

I wonder, anyone here visit South Africa?

Was born there.

[antonio106]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

Looking at it from a different point of view other than the american one is also very interesting. My house was literally one hundred metres far from the Iron Curtain (the former Yugoslavia) and I saw directly how things were there. Unlike the US, western Europe was right on "the front" vs the eastern block. Travelling then in countries which were theatres of proxy wars between CCCP and USA and seeing that they are still affected but those conflicts are really some eye-opening experiences.

Lol. My mom's family is Hungarian. Her and my grandparents walked to Italy from Yugoslavia, probably came across that stretch of land!

[thepolishkid88]

Originally Posted by fcm

We must rectify things here.
Yes France has always failed during the last two centuries at war.

But France was a very powerful nation until the Napoleonian times.

From the 1450's to the 1800's, France probably was the most feared in-land Europe power. But they failed to the British as they were unable to establish strong colonies since their navy was overpowered by the British.

From the One Hudred Years war to the Napoleonian times, it has won many many very important wars that francophobes do not like to think about.

I can't see how France always had "trust in their neighbours" or "thanks to the others' help". They used to pick up wars against every of their neighbours at the same time (and win a lot)... The Hundred Years war (Burgundy, England, Portugal, Hainaut, Flanders, Navarre), and think about Louis XIV, Napoleon...

Why only blaming France for relying on its allies? They're not a great power. It's as simple as this. Canada isn't a great power too. If it's invaded by the Russians to take over ouor northern territories, I mean, are we gonna blame these goddamn Canadians for always needing the help of their allies if the Americans help us?

And we're not mentionning that the Germans were not alone during the WW1. They were fighting along with the powerful Austrian-Hungarian kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. What's the shame in ... winning while fighting along with the Americans and the British then???



True. When Napoleon felt by fighting Great-Britain/Netherlands/Prussia/Nassau/Brunswick/Hanover/Austria/Russia/Spain/and many many others...
The population didn't want to hear about fighting anymore, as we can notice through the literary movements in the 19th century.

The thing with the French for me is stupidity of not building a wall that stretches all the way across the territory towards the East. There is no shame in how they fight or who they fought with.

Everyone relies on America's military power and there is no arguing that. It's just how it is.

[antonio106]

Originally Posted by thepolishkid88

The thing with the French for me is stupidity of not building a wall that stretches all the way across the territory towards the East. There is no shame in how they fight or who they fought with.

Everyone relies on America's military power and there is no arguing that. It's just how it is.

Except for the Russians and the Chinese.