Happy "We Beat British Butt" Day!

[Stephen Thomas]

Still it's not anywhere near as scandalous as the reparations we were forced to pay the French after WW1 for the use of their railways to transport our troops and materials to save their miserable hides!

Ha ha, never heard that one before.

If it wasn't for us and the Yanks they would all be Germans

But they'll never admit it.

[Cogidubnus]

Lease Lend et al

Yes, but we kept on repaying the "charity" until as late as 2006 I believe...The discount rates and terms were admittedly generous but no wonder the country was broke for so long...the costs of maintaining resistance to the Nazis virtually solo from 1939 to 1941 were especially crippling...

Still it's not anywhere near as scandalous as the reparations we were forced to pay the French after WW1 for the use of their railways to tranship our troops and materiel to save their miserable hides!

All the best

Dave

[Stephen Thomas]

I'd be more convinced about Americans rejoicing over losing the yoke of the British monarchy, if every single magazine or tabloid in the supermarket checkout in the last six months hasn't had an article about Prince William, Kate Middleton, or her uterus. The way Americans fawn over British royalty is strange and ironic, since most Americans can't even name another country with a monarchy.

Not strange or ironic at all, RC.

British history is the only meaningful history you've got, like it or not.

Your tabloid/magazine buyers know that, if only subconsciously.

[Fleetwood Mac]

The last time you saw a war from begining to end.

Usually you don't come it until half time, when all the hard graft is done.

Monty

Isn't that the whole point, Monty?

Minimum casulaties; maximum gain?

I'd have thought that the Americans have gone about things with a certain amount of wisdom, in the old Sun Tzu maxim.

We're the fools. I think it was Wilson who said something like: "keep lending to the British and they'll soon be under our watch".

We borrowed from them and shipped the money to France to keep the war going. Except the French never payed their debts to us, but we paid our debts to the Americans; in effect, the Americans loaned money to the French and we repaid the debt. Not the brightest lot going are we.

And in WW2, the Americans kept the whole thing going for a while. Fed, clothed and provided armoured vehicles to the Russians, and provided the majority of the soldiers in the West.

My take on them is that by and large they're a likeable people and country. Not beyond erring - just look at the whole Sandinista episode - but on the whole infinitely more likeable than the French and associates.

[lynn cates]

"Americans haven't used it in years."

Hello Neil.

"You even speak our language."

Umm?

Cheers.
LC

[Cogidubnus]

I'll raise your Dixie Chicks a Jedward...please feel free to keep them


Dave

[Hunter]

CD, America gave the world the singing of Barbara Streisand. How can you ever atone for this?

We sent the Dixie Chicks afterwards.

[RivkahChaya]

Uh huh. We beat, your pasty white British empire butts, with a couple of pitchforks and a winning disposition. I realize you are trying desperately to put up every "since then" scenario you can possibly muster, but the bottom line remains:

Colonial farmers demolished to glory of the British empire. Whooped by a bunch of farmers. I can understand how you want to redirect.

That sounds vaguely familiar. Oh, yeah...didn't the Vietnamese do that to us? People always fight harder for their homes than for an ideal. That probably has something to do with the whupping Custer got from Sitting Bull's troops, too.

I'd be more convinced about Americans rejoicing over losing the yoke of the British monarchy, if every single magazine or tabloid in the supermarket checkout in the last six months hasn't had an article about Prince William, Kate Middleton, or her uterus. The way Americans fawn over British royalty is strange an ironic, especially since most Americans can't even name another country with a monarchy.

Today is also my mother's birthday. When she was little, she thought the parades and n fireworks were just for her. That explains a lot.

Seriously, while I think the US has many problems, I'd rather be a citizen here than anywhere else. Except when I get a sinus infection or sprain an ankle. Then, I'd like to be Canadian.

[Mayerling]

This is the third time I have tried to leave a message. Something is wrong (again) with the connections on this website.

1) Canada really was the winner of the War of 1812, which showed her willing to fight and beat the Yanks in several battles. I believe the anniversary of the 1867 Confederation was in June. Belatedly I wish them well - they showed us where to get off!

2) We do misbehave, but we try to make amends - I think of my country as a work in progress, from 1776 onward. Sometimes we need more than one lesson. Eventually it sinks into our collective brains. Jefferson did not free his slaves in his lifetime, even after writing about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", and only freed Sally Hemings and their children in his will. Madison wanted to end slavery in Virginia, but he was horrified (when attending the Virginian Constiturional Convention of 1831) by the death and destruction from Nat Turner's Revolt, and decided not to press for the reform. When he died in 1836 he did not free his slaves. But Washington did free his slaves in his will.

3) Sir Guy Carleton defeated the American invasion of Canada in 1775, and was in charge of the evacuation of New York by British forces and Tories in 1783. He refused to turn over the ex-slaves who fought for their freedom under the British flag. He shipped them to safety in Canada and Great Britain (where they wanted to be). Three cheers for Sir Guy!!

4) While I am moved by the death of our spy hero, Nathan Hale, I also mourn the death of Major John Andre, spy for the British, friend of Sir Henry Clinton, and substitute for the more guilty Benedict Arnold. Even Washington did not enjoy this execution - Andre was a decent fellow. In the best known film about the Arnold - West Point conspiracy ("The Scarlet Coat") Andre (Michael Wilding) is the hero and central figure - and the last shot in the film is of the tablet in his honor at Westminster Abbey. For anyone interested, Robert Douglas played Arnold (Douglas usually played villains).

Happy Independence Day
To the British, Happy "Thanksgiving" (if it is their Thanksgiving).
To our French Allies who sent us Lafayette, Rochambeau, D'Estaing, and De Grasse, thanks for helping us achieve our victory, and Happy Bastille Day coming up.

Jeff

[Robert]

I never knew the Americans invaded Canada?!

[Errata]

Today is the day when our forefathers threw off the yoke of oppression and tyranny, and announced to the world that they were declaring independence from Great Britain. The day they said that England would no longer interfere with our administration of the Colonies. All of them. The day when we decided to free not only ourselves, but liberate our brothers in Canada and the Caribbean so that they would would be free to dedicate their livelihoods to us instead of England. Ladies and gentlemen, today is the day that we decided to rule Britain's western Empire. Today is the day we decided to conquer the west for our own profit. Whether the rest of the Western colonies liked it or not.

Dear Canada, sorry for invading. But you know... Imperialism is only wrong when it's being applied to us. I'm sure we would have made you a state... eventually.

[Errata]

And you gave the Olympics "Eddie the Eagle". Let's call it even.

c.d.

I have an irrational love for Eddie the Eagle

[Graham]

At least here in America we know which side of the damn road you are supposed to drive on. Plus you are just jealous that we have great beers like Bud Light readily available to us.

c.d.

Now come on, fellow Brits - don't ever let it be said that Yanks don't have a sense of humour (correct spelling, by the way).

G

[c.d.]

CD, America gave the world the singing of Barbara Streisand. How can you ever atone for this?

And you gave the Olympics "Eddie the Eagle". Let's call it even.

c.d.

[Robert]

CD, America gave the world the singing of Barbara Streisand. How can you ever atone for this?